Her 2006 debut solo album entitled Beloved One was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize and was released through Lou's own label Infinite Bloom. Rhodes' second album, Bloom (A&G Records/Infinite Bloom), was released in October 2007. Her third album, One Good Thing (Motion Audio/Infinite Bloom), was released in early 2010.
She released her third solo album One Good Thing in 2010 and became an author in 2012 with her children's picture book, The Phlunk (Strata Books). Follow-up, The Phlunk's Worldwide Symphony was published in 2014.
In 2012 Rhodes also contributed an essay to The First Time I Heard The Smiths, part of an ongoing series where musicians/writers tell their stories of first hearing the music of an iconic artist or band.
Rhodes released the singles "All The Birds" in April, and "All I Need" in June 2016. A month later, the album theyesandeye was released through Nude records. The album includes a cover of the song "Angels" originally performed by The xx. Other musicians on the album include Ian Kellet (guitars), Nikolaj Bjerre (drums), Danny Keane (strings) and [atist]Tom Moth (harp).
Treat Her Gently
Lou Rhodes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made me fall apart and writhe in pain
Could it be the one I love could hate me so
And will I find the love I lost again
All in a day
And the cruel things we say
Love runs away
Treat her gently, oh
Sticks and stones will break my bones but now I know
Your words go so much deeper down inside
Now every dream we ever had has turned to stone
You'll never know the rivers that I cried
All in a day
And the cruel things we say
Love runs away
If you don't
Treat her gently, oh
All in a day yeah
And the cruel things we say
Love runs away
If you don't
Treat her gently, oh
Lou Rhodes's song "Treat Her Gently" is about the pain and hurt caused by the cruel words of someone whom the singer loves. The lyrics describe a moment when something the person said became stuck in the singer's throat and caused them to fall apart in pain. The singer questions whether the one they love can hate them so much and wonders if they will ever find that love again. The chorus repeats the phrase "Treat her gently" as a plea to the person to treat their loved one with care and kindness so as not to lose them.
The song deals with the theme of the fragility of love and the damage that can be caused by careless words. The singer reflects on how words can hurt more than physical violence, and the aftermath of hurtful words can often be permanent. The tone of the song is mournful and reflective, with a sense of resignation that the damage has been done, and there is no going back.
Overall, "Treat Her Gently" is a poignant and emotional song that speaks to the universal experience of love, hurt, and loss. It is a powerful reminder to be mindful of our words and actions to those we love and care for deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Something that you said just stuck in my throat
Your hurtful words have deeply affected me and made it difficult for me to speak or breathe
Made me fall apart and writhe in pain
Your words have caused me emotional and physical pain, leaving me feeling broken and helpless
Could it be the one I love could hate me so
I am struggling to come to terms with the fact that someone I love could be capable of hurting me in such a way
And will I find the love I lost again
I am left questioning whether or not I will ever be able to find love again after experiencing such heartache
All in a day
These intense emotions and experiences can happen in a single day and leave a lasting impact
And the cruel things we say
Our words can be incredibly hurtful and have the power to cause pain and damage in relationships
Love runs away
Love can be fleeting and easily lost if not treated with care and respect
If you don't
If we are not mindful of our actions and words, we risk losing the love and connection we have with others
Treat her gently, oh
We must handle our relationships with tenderness and empathy in order to maintain them and keep love alive
Sticks and stones will break my bones but now I know
Physical violence may cause harm, but words and emotional violence can hurt just as much if not more
Your words go so much deeper down inside
The emotional impact of hurtful words can linger and affect a person deeply, causing long-lasting pain
Now every dream we ever had has turned to stone
The pain caused by hurtful words can shatter hopes and dreams, leaving us disillusioned and broken-hearted
You'll never know the rivers that I cried
The person who caused the pain may never truly understand the depth of hurt and tears that result from their actions
Contributed by Hudson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cyntia S.
Once you hear this song you will never forget it...And that’s why I played as a lullaby to my son🌺
charlie z
wonderful song. except for a few, her debut is really very good
MrPink
How this can have so few views and so few comments blows my mind. LOVE.
David Caune
Thx... first decent copy I've been able to find in a long time...
Ferdia Neary
Oh wow. . . b-e-a-utiful!