After dropping out of college, Leah began pursuing a record deal as a solo artist while working at a restaurant, all the while honing her act in the clubs of Sand Diego and Los Angeles. She was able to pass along a demo to some RCA record execs who dined at her restaurant, signing Andreone exactly 24 hours later, after witnessing a live performance.
Her first release, 1996's alterna-pop Veiled was a major hit in France (along with it's single, "It's Alright, It's OK"), which led to an appearance with the inaugural Lilith Fair Tour.
Hooking up with heavy rock producer Bob Marlette for her next album, 1998's Alchemy, naturally led to a heavier and more varied sound, including cameos by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and Marilyn Manson/Two/David Lee Roth guitarist John Lowery.
In 2006, Leah released her first Indie EP of demos called "Unlabeled-The Demos" which includes 7 songs. The songs on the EP will be on her record but no longer in demo form. These demos are Leah's way of "thinking out loud" before she commits to production. They are a brief peak into the creative process and what really happens before the produced version of a record comes out.
Problem Child
Leah Andreone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pray every night I'll make you happy
If I'm real bad will you punish me
The contact hurts but at least you're touching me
Can't you see can't you read please read me please
Hard to believe I'm your flesh and blood
Watch your mistakes swimming down my face
Jump up and down and I'll even fall
You're hurting me you don't notice me you're hurting me
I'm screaming I'm breaking I'm grieving get angry
I'm rebelling I'm trying I'm losing be proud of me
I'm sickening I'm learning please notice me I'm your baby
Am I all you hoped that I would be
Must be no boundaries guess no one cares
What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine to get
I'll make you listen until you're blue
The contact hurts but at least I'm touching you
I'm raping I'm craving I'm begging get angry
I'm weakening I'm regretting I'm sorry be proud of me
I'm invisible I'm multiplying
I'm pleading I'm killing
Am I all you hoped that I would be
La la's
I'm crippling I'm sobbing I'm degrading
I know you want me
I'm deprecating I'm demoralizing
I'm sad humiliating I'm empty
I'm destroying I'm guilty I'm ashamed
I'm wrong I know I'm wrong
Why won't you pay attention
Hung from a rope then you'll know me
The lyrics of Leah Andreone's song "Problem Child" depict the desperation of a child seeking attention and affection from her parent. The child is willing to misbehave and endure pain just to gain the slightest amount of acknowledgement from her neglectful parent. The repeated line, "why won't you pay attention?" emphasizes the child's repeated attempts to win her parent's love and recognition. She hopes that by being "real bad," her parent will notice her and "punish" her, even if it means physical contact that brings her pain.
Throughout the song, the child's emotions range from anger to sadness to emptiness. She is rebelling, trying, losing, and seeking to be noticed. She feels invisible and insignificant, as if her existence doesn't matter to her parent. The chorus with "I'm sickening, I'm learning, please notice me, I'm your baby" highlights the innocence of the child and her desire for parental validation. The final verse with "I'm destroying, I'm guilty, I'm ashamed, I'm wrong I know I'm wrong, hung from a rope then you'll know me" is a haunting ending that suggests the desperation of the child has reached such an extreme level that she contemplates suicide just to be seen and understood.
Overall, "Problem Child" is a powerful song that sheds light on the devastating impact of neglectful parenting on a child's emotional and mental wellbeing. It serves as a reminder to parents of the importance of showing love and affection to their children.
Line by Line Meaning
Why won't you pay attention
I crave your attention and feel ignored.
Pray every night I'll make you happy
I hope my actions will make you happy.
If I'm real bad will you punish me
I'm willing to be punished if it means getting your attention.
The contact hurts but at least you're touching me
I'll take any attention, even if it's painful.
Can't you see can't you read please read me please
I need you to see my pain and understand me.
Hard to believe I'm your flesh and blood
Our connection feels weak and unimportant.
Watch your mistakes swimming down my face
Your mistakes hurt me deeply and visibly.
Jump up and down and I'll even fall
I'll go to great lengths to get your attention and approval.
To your feet you're stepping on me
You're treating me poorly and it makes me feel small.
You're hurting me you don't notice me you're hurting me
Your actions are hurting me and you're not even aware of it.
I'm screaming I'm breaking I'm grieving get angry
My pain is so intense that I want you to feel angry about it.
I'm rebelling I'm trying I'm losing be proud of me
I'm trying to be independent, but I still want your approval.
I'm sickening I'm learning please notice me I'm your baby
I'm growing up and changing, but I still need your attention and love.
Am I all you hoped that I would be
I worry that I'm not meeting your expectations.
Must be no boundaries guess no one cares
I feel like there are no limitations or rules, and that nobody cares.
What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine to get
I'm taking what I can get, regardless of whether it's mine or yours.
I'll make you listen until you're blue
I'll do whatever it takes to get you to pay attention to me.
The contact hurts but at least I'm touching you
Even if it's painful, I'll take any attention I can get from you.
I'm raping I'm craving I'm begging get angry
I feel like I'm taking from you without your consent, and I want you to feel angry about it.
I'm weakening I'm regretting I'm sorry be proud of me
I'm not perfect, but I'm trying and I want you to be proud of me.
I'm invisible I'm multiplying
I feel like I'm being ignored and my problems are growing.
I'm pleading I'm killing
I'm desperately asking for help, even if it means being vulnerable.
La la's
I'm struggling to express myself or find the right words to say.
I'm crippling I'm sobbing I'm degrading
My pain is so intense that I feel like I'm falling apart.
I know you want me
I feel like you only want me when it's convenient for you.
I'm deprecating I'm demoralizing
I'm putting myself down and feeling hopeless.
I'm sad humiliating I'm empty
My pain is so intense that I feel empty and devoid of emotion.
I'm destroying I'm guilty I'm ashamed
I'm making mistakes and feeling guilty and ashamed about them.
I'm wrong I know I'm wrong
I'm aware of my mistakes and shortcomings.
Hung from a rope then you'll know me
If I were to die, maybe then you would understand my pain.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEAH ANDREONE, LEAH G. ANDREONE, RICK NEIGHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind