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.
Smoke
Liz Phair Lyrics
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"What's in the box?"
"What's in the box?"
It's my little Voice of self-doubt.
"Liz, ATO will never put this out! You won't be washing dishes in this town!
They'll make mud out of you! Is that what you want?
Kaput! Kablooey! Kablam!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
"Um, 'Liz Phair'?"
"Sorry, you're not on the list."
"Could you check it again please?"
"I already checked it. Please move to the back of the line."
"Which list do I have to be on?"
"If you have to ask, you're not on it."
"Wait... Whoa! Whoa, whoa!"
"You're NOT getting in."
"Fine - fuck you!"
"Have fun on land!"
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
"No, I mean, Jon Brion's really cool, I just think we should do something a little more 'Chicago'."
"Yeah, we could give a track to iTunes."
"I don't know John Mayer. I met him."
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night!
You dummy!
The song "Smoke" by Liz Phair is a satirical take on the music industry and the pressures put on artists to conform to a certain image or sound. The lyrics begin with a voice asking Liz what's in the box, to which she responds that it's her "little voice of self-doubt." This inner voice is personified throughout the song as a nagging, critical force that tells Liz she'll never make it and that she's committing career suicide with her music. Despite this, Liz and her imaginary voice decide to "smoke all night" and ignore the negative beliefs.
The song then shifts to a scene outside a club where Liz is trying to get in but is rejected because she's not on the list. She argues with the bouncer before ultimately giving up and telling him to "fuck you." This scene highlights the exclusivity of the music industry and the difficulty artists face in gaining entry and recognition.
In the final section of the song, Liz and her voice continue to mock the industry and its players, including Jon Brion and John Mayer. The repetition of "you dummy" throughout the song serves to further emphasize the satire and ridicule of the music business.
Overall, "Smoke" is a biting commentary on the pressures and challenges faced by artists in the music industry, and the ways in which they are often made to feel inadequate or not good enough.
Line by Line Meaning
"Hey, Liz, what's in the box?"
Someone is asking about Liz's creative output
"What's in the box?"
The inquiry is repeated, indicating a demand to understand her output
"It's my little Voice of self-doubt. "
Liz reveals the nature of her creative work and the concerns she has about it
"You won't be washing dishes in this town!"
Someone is warning Liz about the consequences of her creative endeavor
"They'll make mud out of you! Is that what you want?"
Liz is being cautioned that her work will be ruined and misinterpreted
"You're well on your way, kid! It's CAREER SUICIDE! Kaput! Kablooey! Kablam!"
The warning to Liz intensifies in its critical and disastrous suggestions
"Let's smoke all night, let's smoke all night! You dummy!"
Liz seems to be combating the criticism by smoking, and a mocking or jocular tone is implied
"Sorry, you're not on the list."
Liz is attempting to enter somewhere exclusive, but is not allowed in
"If you have to ask, you're not on it."
Liz's exclusion is further enforced with a patronizing and exclusionary statement
"Fine - fuck you! Have fun on land!"
Liz responds with frustration and anger, indicating her desire to be involved with something exclusive
"No, I mean, Jon Brion's really cool, I just think we should do something a little more 'Chicago'."
A discussion about creative direction is happening, and Liz is suggesting a Chicago sound
"Yeah, we could give a track to iTunes."
A potential course of action in distribution or publicity for Liz's work is suggested
"You dummy!"
This phrase is repeated in various instances, possibly indicating Liz's self-directed critique or frustration with the people around her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LIZ PHAIR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind