For years fans of Boston born singer/songwri… Read Full Bio ↴Biography
For years fans of Boston born singer/songwriter Lily Holbrook all had one thing in common...a subway token! Lily was a regular fixture inside the Park Street Subway Station, performing to ever increasing enthusiastic crowds of commuters.
With the 2008 release of her new album, "Wicked Ways," an opening performance for Brian Wilson and a slot at New Jersey's "All Points West" festival headlined by Radiohead, Lily is no longer an underground sensation. Her music has caused pedestrian traffic jams in Boston's Harvard Square and Newbury Street, Santa Monica's famed Third Street Promenade and, more recently, in San Francisco's Castro area.
Lily first unleashed her voice on a wider audience with her independent debut "Running from the Sky" in 2000. Described by fans as "a somber fairy tale" the ethereal vocals and dark lyrics quickly earned a cult following resulting in the street singer selling over 20,000 copies as an unsigned artist. With her steady street buzz she was a natural choice for the film, "Playing for Change"-a rocumentary highlighting the lives of 16 street musicians across the country. The film struck a chord with audiences and was added into rotation on the Sundance Channel, the Independent Film Channel and Comcast On Demand. It also secured Lily her first record deal and in 2005 BackPorch/Virgin released her second album "Everything Was Beautiful and Hurt."
Describing her music as melancholic rock, Lily's influences have always been diverse, ranging from Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to Tori Amos, PJ Harvey and The Cure. Of her latest album the artist says "This is my most accomplished work and fully represents who I am as an artist." As legendary producer Glen Ballard (Alanis Morisette, No Doubt, Michael Jackson) says: "Lily Holbrook is the real deal!"
Lily now calls San Francisco her home and has begun working on her fourth album. Her passion for causes such as LGBTQI rights, animal welfare, at risk youth and women's issues has her donating her musical talents to various charitable organizations throughout the bay area. She continues to busk and delight fans, locals and tourists with her impromtu concerts.
Bleed
Lily Holbrook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Painted with plastic surgery
And replace so easily
By a girl like you or me
Expectations are unrealistic
Between the mirror and the tube of lipstick
Thought you could be what they wanted you to be
But you'll never be what they wanted you to be
'Cause you bleed
Bleed
Sad, pathetic little me
Never thought I'd be so eager to please
And replaced so easily
By a girl like you or me
You thought you'd be what they wanted you to be
Thought you could be what they wanted you to be
But you'll never be what they wanted you to be
'Cause you bleed
Bleed
You see, the world is different now
Everybody's different now
Everybody needs a little fixing up
But when's it gonna stop
'Cause I don't even recognize you anymore
Do you love yourself now?
Do you love yourself now?
Gloss over all those magazines
Painted with plastic surgery
You thought you'd be what they wanted you to be
Thought you could be what they wanted you to be
But you'll never be what they wanted you to be
'Cause you bleed
Bleed (11x)
The song "Bleed" by Lily Holbrook is about the unrealistic expectations put on women to conform to society's beauty standards. The lyrics start by criticizing the glossy magazines that promote plastic surgery and photoshop as solutions to "imperfections." The singer implies that these standards are impossible to achieve and maintain, as anyone can be easily replaced by someone else who fits the mold.
As the song progresses, the perspective shifts to someone who has fallen victim to these expectations. The singer describes herself as "sad" and "pathetic," feeling the pressure to conform to the same beauty standards that are being criticized earlier in the song. She confesses to feeling replaced by other women who fit the mold better than she does, highlighting the toxic cycle of exclusion and comparison that perpetuates these unrealistic expectations.
Towards the end of the song, the tone becomes more hopeful. The singer acknowledges that the world is changing and that everyone needs a little "fixing up." However, she questions when this cycle will end and if anyone is truly happy with themselves. The repeated line "Do you love yourself now?" serves as a reminder that self-love and acceptance are the antidotes to the damaging beauty standards that are perpetuated in society.
Overall, "Bleed" is a powerful critique of the beauty standards that are imposed on women and a reminder that self-love and acceptance are essential for true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Gloss over all those magazines
Ignore the unrealistic beauty standards portrayed in magazines
Painted with plastic surgery
These magazines often feature celebrities who have undergone cosmetic procedures to achieve a certain look
And replace so easily
However, anyone can be replaced by another person who fits that idealization just as easily
By a girl like you or me
Even regular people can aspire to these false standards of beauty
Expectations are unrealistic
Trying to meet these beauty expectations is futile because they are unattainable
Between the mirror and the tube of lipstick
The pressure to conform to these beauty standards is present in our everyday practices such as applying lipstick
You thought you'd be what they wanted you to be
The media has convinced people that they should strive to meet these unrealistic beauty standards
Thought you could be what they wanted you to be
Although these standards are unrealistic, people still believe they can achieve them
But you'll never be what they wanted you to be
In reality, nobody can truly achieve these standards, no matter how hard they try
'Cause you bleed
The pressure to conform to these beauty standards takes a toll on one's mental health and self-esteem
Sad, pathetic little me
The singer laments their own inability to meet these standards
Never thought I'd be so eager to please
The pressure to conform to these beauty standards has made the artist feel a sense of desperation to fit in
You see, the world is different now
Society is increasingly focused on looks and beauty, which has created unrealistic standards
Everybody's different now
Despite the impossible standards set by the media, everyone is different and should be celebrated for their uniqueness
Everybody needs a little fixing up
Although people should embrace their uniqueness, everyone has insecurities and may want to make some improvements
But when's it gonna stop
The pressure to conform to these beauty standards is so pervasive that it's unclear when it will end
'Cause I don't even recognize you anymore
The artist doesn't recognize the person who has been so consumed by the pressure to conform to these beauty standards
Do you love yourself now?
The singer questions whether the person has learned to love themselves despite the pressures of society
Bleed (11x)
The repeated use of the word 'bleed' emphasizes the toll that trying to conform to these beauty standards takes on one's mental health and well-being
Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.