Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Phair followed this with her second album, Whip-Smart (1994), which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998). Ten years after the release of her debut, Phair's fourth album, Liz Phair (2003), released on Capitol Records, moved towards pop rock, earning her a mainstream audience but alienating critics.
After the release of her fifth album, Somebody's Miracle (2005), Phair left Capitol and released her sixth album Funstyle independently in 2010. In 2018, it was announced that Matador Records would be releasing a retrospective set for Phair's debut album Exile in Guyville which includes remastered recordings from her original Girly-Sound demo tapes. Phair released her seventh studio album, Soberish, in 2021.
Big Tall Man
Liz Phair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cut the grass
My left eye hurts
I am waiting and reading parts
I can be a complicated communicator
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache.
Zeus and Athens
Florida driveway
Asphalt and tires
Sand and the beach,
Rocker panel
Headlights in the dark
I'm drag racing
Drag
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache
Fog and the distance beyond it
Boats and the quiet morning noises
I'm walking the shoreline
A beer and a cigarette
A bug with twitching antennae
A button up short-sleeved shirt
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache
I'm a big tall man
I cut the grass
My left eye hurts
I can be a complicated communicator
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache
(repeated several times with background vox:
Yes, I'm careening down!
Winding the canyons, now!
Yes, I am broadcasting myself!)
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache
The lyrics to Liz Phair's song "Big Tall Man" seem to be describing a man going through a range of experiences and emotions. He describes himself as a big, tall man who cuts grass and has a complicated communication style. He then switches to describing himself as winning, spinning, and feeling a release of energy, almost like a catharsis. The description of his experiences then shifts to some specific places and things such as Zeus and Athens, Florida driveways, and the beach. He's racing, walking along the shoreline, drinking a beer and feeling good. The final refrain repeats earlier lines, reinforcing the idea of winning, feeling good and broadcasting himself.
It seems as though the artist is portraying a character who is in control of his life, despite any challenges or complexities he may face. The use of repetition highlights the feelings of power, freedom and release the character experiences. The references to specific locations and scenarios are vivid and create an immersive experience for the listener. These references may be interpreted as a way of grounding the character’s experiences in a physical reality, providing a sense of relief from the ambiguity and complexity that may exist in his personal life. The overall message may be one of self-reflection, empowerment, and an appreciation of life's simpler pleasures.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a big, tall man
I have a strong appearance and commanding presence
I cut the grass
I am responsible for maintaining my property
My left eye hurts
I am experiencing physical pain
I am waiting and reading parts
I am currently waiting and passing the time by reading various materials for entertainment
I can be a complicated communicator
I sometimes struggle to express myself clearly and concisely
Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache.
I feel like I am succeeding in life and the positive attention and energy I am receiving is invigorating me with joy and relief.
Zeus and Athens
Florida driveway
Asphalt and tires
Sand and the beach,
Rocker panel
Headlights in the dark
I'm drag racing
Drag
I am fondly reminiscing about past experiences of car racing on different terrains and environments.
Fog and the distance beyond it
Boats and the quiet morning noises
I'm walking the shoreline
A beer and a cigarette
A bug with twitching antennae
A button up short-sleeved shirt
I am painting a vivid image of the peaceful and relaxing scenery of walking along the beach with a casual outfit and a drink and smoke while observing the natural environment around me.
(repeated several times with background vox:
Yes, I'm careening down!
Winding the canyons, now!
Yes, I am broadcasting myself!)
I am expressing my excitement and confidence in my own abilities, comparing my current state to that of driving down a winding path and sharing what I find with others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHASKO, PHAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind