1. Lisa Maxwell is an American… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists with this name:
1. Lisa Maxwell is an American jazz vocalist.
2. A concoction of noise, aggression, rock, humour, “gruff anthems”, upbeat music, downbeat music, true stories and total fabrications: rock songwriter/musician Lisa Maxwell’s debut longplayer, Select Vacancy.
Produced by Jamie Durrant and Lisa Maxwell, the album’s title track and opener is packed with energy and intense melancholy. Rampant guitars are fronted by Lisa's vitriolic snarl on Anna and the ferocious I Know.
But it’s not always just about rock guitar: dulcimer, Wurlitzer piano and 'fly spray can' slide on Not So Easy, subsonic bass and a hint of synth on Out Of Sight, slide guitar on Same Story and 80's-inspired keyboards and electronic rhythmic sounds courtesy of a collaboration with producer Chris Gates on Waste Of A Life. Even pieces of Lisa's original demos, recorded herself on her laptop computer with a $10 microphone, made it into the final mix.
Select Vacancy follows the release of Lisa’s 2005 Bad Day EP, which produced the Rage (ABC-TV) and Rage On Demand viewer favourite Harmonic Rock, a chaotic instrumental with a video inspired by the Japanese horror film Ring. Tracks from the EP and new album have received national airplay in Australia, along with a favourable response and airplay in the UK, Japan, USA, and Canada.
Hear for yourself: we recommend playing this one loud. Enjoy it.
Feel a little more neurotic and isolated than usual...
Anna
Lisa Maxwell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never saw it turning out that way
No Anna, I bet you look so bad today
I never, you always turn the other way
I don't think I like you at all
You're anything in everything I hate
Something that I just can't tell, tell myself you're not there
Anna, I bet France looked good today
I never, you love your debt that you can't pay
No Anna, did you have something to say?
You'll never turn out any other way
I don't think I like you at all
You're anything in everything I hate
Something that I just can't tell, tell myself you're not there to hate
You look so bad today
Turn the other way
I don't think I like you at all
You're anything in everything I hate
Something that I just can't tell, tell myself you're not there to hate
Based on the lyrics of Lisa Maxwell's song Anna, it is quite clear that the subject of the song is someone named Anna whom Maxwell is not fond of. Anna is a person who might be going through a rough time as the lyrics suggest that she looks or feels bad. However, Maxwell seems indifferent to Anna's struggles as she mentions that she never saw it coming, meaning she probably did something to bring it upon herself. The second verse suggests that Anna might be in debt and likes France but this doesn't change anything about her character as she will never turn out any other way.
The chorus expresses Maxwell's disdain for Anna, noting that she dislikes her because she represents everything that she hates. There's a suggestion that Anna might be the type of person that turns a blind eye to negative events or situations and this is what makes Maxwell not like her. It's also interesting to note that Maxwell repeatedly tells herself that Anna is not there to hate which might suggest that perhaps Maxwell doesn't have any real reason to dislike her, and it's just a feeling that she can't shake off.
In conclusion, Lisa Maxwell's song Anna is a commentary on the relationship between two people, one of whom dislikes the other. There are some suggestions that the disliked person, Anna, might have a negative character and outlook on life, and this is what makes it difficult for the other person to like them. Overall, it's a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to reflect on the people in their lives who they might not like as much as they should.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Anna, I bet you feel so bad today
Lisa assumes that Anna is having a bad day and feeling miserable.
You never saw it turning out that way
Lisa thinks Anna didn't expect things to turn out the way they did.
No Anna, I bet you look so bad today
Lisa assumes that Anna doesn't look good because of what has happened.
I never, you always turn the other way
Lisa thinks Anna always avoids confronting her problems.
I don't think I like you at all
Lisa has a dislike for Anna.
You're anything in everything I hate
Lisa despises everything about Anna's traits and personality.
Something that I just can't tell, tell myself you're not there
Lisa is trying to convince herself that Anna doesn't exist.
Anna, I bet France looked good today
Lisa thinks Anna is trying to escape her problems and go to France.
I never, you love your debt that you can't pay
Lisa thinks Anna enjoys being in debt and can't pay it back.
No Anna, did you have something to say?
Lisa is questioning whether Anna has anything to say about her situation.
You'll never turn out any other way
Lisa thinks Anna is stuck in her ways and won't change.
You look so bad today
Lisa continues to point out that Anna appears to be doing poorly.
Turn the other way
Lisa thinks Anna will continue to ignore her problems and not face them.
Contributed by Noah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.