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.
Fantasize
Liz Phair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kind of special guy
He's a run-around
Hey, you've got to hide your love away!
I hear people are talking about us
And I just have to say
I lie awake every night
All around us people are changing
You've got to hide your love away
I hear people are talking about us
He's a special guy
Kind of sentimental inside
Hey, you've got to hide your love away
I hear people are talking about us
That's OK with me
Get it easily inside
The lyrics of Liz Phair's song "Fantasize" describe the singer's secret feelings for a friend. The lines "He's a friend of mine/Kind of special guy/ He's a run-around" indicate that the singer's friend is someone who enjoys women's attention but is not committed to anyone. This could be the reason why the singer believes that "You've got to hide your love away," as the friend might not share the same feelings or even might not be ready for a serious relationship. Despite the rumors that people are talking about them, the singer reveales that she thinks about him every night and fantasizes about their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer is sentimental and emotional, as she describes her friend as being "special" and with a softer side.
The reference to the Beatles' song "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" hints at the singer's need to keep her feelings hidden from others. The title refers to the famous track by the Beatles, where they sing about hiding their love and "smiling faces" while dealing with difficult times. In "Fantasize," the singer talks about people who are changing around them without specifying what type of changes they are facing. It could refer to the changes in society, relationships, or even personal struggles.
Overall, the lyrics of "Fantasize" suggest a yearning for a connection with someone who may not be ready or willing to reciprocate. The words are typical of Liz Phair's style, which often deals with raw emotions and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a friend of mine
I am acquainted with this person
Kind of special guy
He is unique in his own way
He's a run-around
He is known to be unfaithful in relationships
Hey, you've got to hide your love away!
You need to conceal your true feelings for the sake of social conventions
I hear people are talking about us
There are rumors circulating about our relationship
And I just have to say
I want to express my thoughts on the matter
I lie awake every night
I can't sleep because I am preoccupied with thoughts of you
Thinking about you, I fantasize
I have romantic daydreams about us being together
All around us people are changing
The world and people's attitudes are evolving
You've got to hide your love away
Society does not accept non-traditional relationships
That's OK with me
I am not concerned about other people's opinions
Get it easily inside
I can easily keep my feelings to myself
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind