McKee is the half-sister of Love guitarist Bryan MacLean, with whom she played in a duo as a teenager. In 1982 McKee was a founding member of the cowpunk/country rock band Lone Justice with whom she released two albums. Her band opened for such acts as U2.
She released her first solo, self-titled album in 1989. Her song "Show Me Heaven", which appeared on the soundtrack to the film Days of Thunder, was a number one single in the United Kingdom for four weeks in 1990. Later her eerie, country-tinged single, "If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)" was released on the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction. (1994).
Her recorded output has varied between the rootsy country-folk of You Gotta Sin To Get Saved (1993) and Peddlin' Dreams (2005), and experimental rock on Life Is Sweet (1996) and High Dive (2003). She even made a foray into early-90s dance music with her "Sweetest Child" single.
Life Is Sweet was seen at the time as an artistic about-face from her country-rock sound, full of guitar feedback and complex, baroque songwriting. Confounding both fans and critics, it was her last release for seven years and her last for a major label.
In 2007 she released Late December, an album rooted in classic 60s pop songwriting.
She is the half-sister of Love guitarist/singer/songwriter Bryan Maclean, with whom she played in a duo as a teenager. In the nineties, she spent time living in Dublin and the East Village.
I'm Not Listening
Maria McKee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You kicked open my world you pricked open my eyes
I couldn't make a sound and when you finally yanked it out
You took that scream and tied it ‘round your pretty box to poison hands
What I wanted wasn't really what I wanted
How can you claim to know me when you have other things to occupy your time
And this is all I think about
I'm not listening, I'm not listening I'm not listening I'm not listening anymore
Tied my tongue off with a wire now my head is full of liars
I'm not listening I'm not listening I'm not listening I'm not listening
Guess I was that girl you tripped her down the stairs
You've kicked away her books she eats her lunch alone
She suffers leers and jeers and stares
And she knows she'll win you over once and over twice
Or maybe not but that's alright
If I'm a phoenix if I'm a demon or a sage or a fake
Or if I'm gutless leave me alone and let me be this
You've nearly killed me once
Chorus:
I'm not listening (etc.) I'm immune now to your poison
Unmoved by a plague of voices
Where I'm going, you should know where I'm going
You tied that blindfold ‘round my head hung that sign on my back
Spun me ‘round spun me ‘round and sent me out I'm still spinning I'm still spun
I'm still shunned...blind blind blind
I'm not listening...I'm not...listening
You're in my head you're at my door
You're gonna have to fight me for it...
The lyrics of "I'm Not Listening" by Maria McKee are about a struggle to break free from the toxic ties of an abusive relationship. The singer begins by admitting to never feeling like anything special until the person of interest came along and opened their eyes. However, this person also took advantage of the singer's newfound vulnerability and silenced them. The singer realizes that the relationship was not what they truly desired, and accuses the other person of not caring enough to try and understand them. The chorus emphatically declares that the singer will no longer listen to the other person's poisonous words or manipulation tactics.
The second verse is an attempt to draw parallels between the singer's situation and that of a bullied girl at school. The idea is that both of them are being oppressed in some way, with the singer being trapped in a toxic relationship while the girl at school is forced to deal with cruel treatment from others. However, the singer acknowledges that the two situations are not the same, and that the girl at school still has hope of winning people over despite her struggles. The song ends with the singer proclaiming their newfound strength and agency, telling the other person that they will have to fight to keep control over the singer's life.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'm Not Listening" are a powerful statement of agency and resistance against toxic relationships. The song highlights the ways in which people can be silenced and controlled in abusive situations, but ultimately encourages listeners to break free and take control of their own identities.
Line by Line Meaning
I never was the girl the wonder and surprise
I was never the kind of girl that people found impressive or extraordinary
You kicked open my world you pricked open my eyes
You dramatically changed my worldview and perception
I couldn't make a sound and when you finally yanked it out
I felt like I was unable to express myself, until you helped me release my emotions
You took that scream and tied it ‘round your pretty box to poison hands
You took my expression of fear/pain and used it to your advantage to manipulate others
What I wanted wasn't really what I wanted
Although I thought I wanted something specific, I realized that what I truly wanted was something else
How can you claim to know me when you have other things to occupy your time
You claim to understand me when you're too distracted to give me the attention I deserve
And this is all I think about
All I can think about is the situation at hand
I'm not listening, I'm not listening I'm not listening I'm not listening anymore
I refuse to hear or believe anything you say or do
Tied my tongue off with a wire now my head is full of liars
I feel like I have lost my ability to speak my mind and the voices in my head are lying to me
Guess I was that girl you tripped her down the stairs
I suppose I was the girl you intentionally harmed and caused to suffer
You've kicked away her books she eats her lunch alone
You have caused her to lose interest in things she once enjoyed and she feels isolated
She suffers leers and jeers and stares
She experiences unwanted attention, teasing, and judgment
And she knows she'll win you over once and over twice
She believes that if she keeps trying, she can earn your love and approval
Or maybe not but that's alright
Maybe she won't be able to, but it's ok either way
If I'm a phoenix if I'm a demon or a sage or a fake
Whether I'm someone who rises from the ashes, a villain, a wise person, or a fraud
Or if I'm gutless leave me alone and let me be this
If I am afraid of confrontation, please let me be and don't force me to engage
You've nearly killed me once
You have almost destroyed me before
I'm immune now to your poison
I am now resistant to your harmful tactics
Unmoved by a plague of voices
I am not affected by the many opinions or criticisms that come my way
Where I'm going, you should know where I'm going
You should understand where I'm headed in life
You tied that blindfold ‘round my head hung that sign on my back
You blinded me and labeled me
Spun me ‘round spun me ‘round and sent me out I'm still spinning I'm still spun
You confused me and sent me away, and I am still struggling to find my footing
I'm still shunned...blind blind blind
I am still an outcast and feel lost at sea
You're in my head you're at my door
I am constantly thinking of you and you are always around
You're gonna have to fight me for it...
You will need to engage in a battle with me if you want something from me
Contributed by Jonathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.