Raised in Nevada City, CA, Sioux released two albums independently on CD in 2005 and 2006 respectively: "Pray Me a Shadow" and "A Bundled Bundle of Bundles."
Her official debut, "Faces in the Rocks" - partially consisting of re-recorded demos from her previous albums - was recorded in May of 2007 and released via Grass Roots Records in October of that same year. A friend of Alela Diane since childhood, the two worked together for Mr. Toad's Sessions.
"Gift for the End," her second album, was released in Europe on March 5, 2012, on the Almost Musique label, and in the USA in April 2012 on Whale Watch Records.
In 2019, she released "Grief in Exile" on Night Bloom Records, and, in 2023, "Circle of Signs," her debut solo EP.
Bundles
Mariee Sioux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tied with the stems of clover and brambles
Oh, pick me up I'm this bundle
Wrapped in shrouds of muscle
And patched with cedars and shadows
Patched for a million miles
Waiting like a praying mantis
To be found by a curious child
Like the jaws of a yawning coyote
Or a cactus blooming early
And loving dawn like a mother
Loving dawn like a mother
And wishing that rain was the answer
And loving dawn like a mother
Loving dawn like a mother
And wishing that rain was the answer
And in curious jars we're a spinning'n 'n 'n
Spinning, spinning, spinning into sickness
Spinning, spinning, spinning into sickness
And singing for stillness
Spinning, spinning, spinning into sickness
Spinning, spinning, spinning into sickness
And making up a still bed, making up a still bed
So I'm notching my spine with thorns pulled from
your thumb, notching my spine with thorns pulled
from your thumb, and I am swallowing my, I'm
swallowing my bees down
I'm buckling my, I'm buckling my knees up
I'm eating my own hide to hide in my own skin
I'm eating my own hide to hide in my own skin
'Till I am left a hanging
Upside down and draining
Like skinned does a dangling
From a hunters oak limb
Like my sisters those does, woven in red shrouds
Wearing bare ribbons of tightly wrapped muscles
And bearing the burden of being that gift from the forest
That turns humans wooden when opened
So can you, can you, can you tell me?
So can you, can you, can you tell me?
If it's easier to be emptier but lighter
Or if it's easier to be the lantern or the fire
If it's easier to be a lover or an echo
If it's easier to be the bull or the fighter
Or if it's easier to die by arrows or by tigers
If it's easier to fly by monarchs or by sparrows
By monarchs or by sparrows
Oh, let me know
And there's a grizzly bearing in me
There's a grizzly bearing in me
And in you and in us and in we
In you and in us and in we
Grizzly paws hide me
Grizzly paws hold me
Grizzly cradles me
Raising my like an offering
Of a bundle of sticks to the sun
Of a bundle of sticks to the sun, to the sun
Now I'm sewing, sewing, sewing medicine bundles
With grass threads and porcupine quills
I'm filling them up with galaxy beams
And with all the stars you've snuffed
And all the ghosts you've been
With every shape you've morphed
And all the trees you've stumped
I'm filling them up with all the blood
Your heart has pumped and pumped
And with all of the love that your mouth has rushed
With all of the voices that your ears have rung
With all of the life that your dirt has sprung
And with all of the magic that your gardens have grown
I'm filling up these bundes with all the seeds
You've sewn, and sewn, and sewn
All the roots you've webbed and all the wind
You've blown, and blown, and blown
All the roots you've webbed and all the wind you've blown
And I'm filling up these bundles with all the twins you've born
With every brother lost and all the organs you've loaned
With every brother lost and all the organs you've loaned
So, pick us up we're these bundles
Tied with the stems of clover and brambles
Oh, pick us up we're these bundles
Wrapped in shrouds of muscles
The song "Bundles" by Mariee Sioux is a hauntingly beautiful melody that seems to be a reflection on life, death, and the relationship between humans and nature. The song begins with the image of the singer as a bundle of sticks, tied with the stems of clover and brambles, waiting to be discovered by a curious child. The singer likens herself to a praying mantis, waiting patiently for her prey. She longs for the rain to be the answer to her questions and expresses a deep appreciation for the dawn.
The second verse is sung in a more somber tone. The singer talks about spinning into sickness and singing for stillness. She is notching her spine with thorns pulled from the thumb and swallowing bees down. She refers to herself as a skinned doe hanging from a hunter's oak limb. The imagery evoked is that of a person who is suffering and seeking a way to escape the pain.
The chorus repeats the same question in different variations: Is it easier to be emptier but lighter? To be the lantern or the fire? To be a lover or an echo? To die by arrows or by tigers? To fly by monarchs or by sparrows? The questions reflect a deep uncertainty and confusion about life.
Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the human condition and the beauty and fragility of life. Mariee Sioux's poetry and ethereal vocals come together to create an emotional and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, pick me up I'm this bundle of sticks
The singer is asking to be taken care of, likening themselves to a bundle of sticks.
Tied with the stems of clover and brambles
The bundle of sticks is held together with natural materials.
Wrapped in shrouds of muscle
The bundle of sticks is covered in organic matter, symbolic of its connection to nature.
And patched with cedars and shadows
The bundle has been repaired and strengthened with the help of the natural world and shadowy forces.
Waiting like a praying mantis
The bundle is patient and still, waiting for its true purpose.
To be found by a curious child
The bundle's purpose will be discovered by someone innocent and curious.
Those tiny ones with open-eyed wonder
The child who will find the bundle will be full of wonder and amazement.
Like the jaws of a yawning coyote
The child who finds the bundle will be like a wild, open-mouthed coyote.
Or a cactus blooming early
The child who finds the bundle will be like a desert plant, blooming before others expect them to.
And loving dawn like a mother
The child who finds the bundle will appreciate the newness and freshness of each day.
And wishing that rain was the answer
The child wishes for the nourishment and growth that comes with rainfall.
And in curious jars we're a spinning'n'n'n
The contents of curious jars are spinning, symbolizing the mystery and excitement of life.
Spinning, spinning, spinning into sickness
Sometimes the mystery and excitement of life can make us feel ill or unbalanced.
And singing for stillness
The singer sings for calm and peace in the midst of chaos.
So I'm notching my spine with thorns pulled from your thumb
The singer is hurting themselves with thorns in order to feel closer to someone else.
I'm swallowing my bees down
The artist is doing something difficult or painful without showing it to others.
I'm buckling my knees up
The artist is becoming physically and mentally tense.
I'm eating my own hide to hide in my own skin
The singer is covering up their true self in order to protect themselves.
'Till I am left a hanging
The singer continues to sacrifice themselves until they are completely vulnerable.
Upside down and draining
The artist feels defeated and exhausted.
Like skinned does a dangling
The artist feels exposed and helpless, like a skinned animal hanging from a tree.
From a hunters oak limb
The artist feels like they are being hunted or pursued.
So can you, can you, can you tell me?
The singer is seeking advice or guidance from someone.
If it's easier to be emptier but lighter
The artist wonders if it's easier to be less emotional, despite the cost.
Or if it's easier to be the lantern or the fire
The singer is wondering if it's easier to be a source of light or to be the one who is illuminated.
If it's easier to be a lover or an echo
The singer is questioning whether it's easier to express love or simply repeat the words of others.
If it's easier to be the bull or the fighter
The singer is wondering if it's easier to be aggressive and stubborn or to fight for what is right.
Or if it's easier to die by arrows or by tigers
The artist is questioning whether it's easier to die as a result of external forces or because of their own instincts.
If it's easier to fly by monarchs or by sparrows
The artist is wondering if it's easier to follow a predictable path or to take risks and be spontaneous.
Oh, let me know
The singer is pleading for answers and guidance.
And there's a grizzly bearing in me
The singer feels a fierce, protective energy within themselves.
In you and in us and in we
This energy is present in all aspects of life.
Grizzly paws hide me
The energy within the artist provides a shield of protection.
Grizzly paws hold me
The energy within the artist provides a strong, grounding force.
Grizzly cradles me
The energy within the singer provides comfort and safety.
Raising my like an offering
The artist's energy is offered up as a gift.
Of a bundle of sticks to the sun
The gift being offered is like a bundle of sticks being presented to a higher power.
Now I'm sewing, sewing, sewing medicine bundles
The singer is creating bundles that will bring healing and restoration.
With grass threads and porcupine quills
The bundles are made using natural materials, symbolic of their connection to the earth.
I'm filling them up with galaxy beams
The bundles are filled with cosmic energy and light.
And with all the stars you've snuffed
The bundles contain the lost energy of those who have passed.
And all the ghosts you've been
The bundles contain the spirits of the departed.
With every shape you've morphed
The bundles contain the pieces of your past, present, and future self.
And all the trees you've stumped
The bundles contain the challenges you have overcome, symbolic of the rootedness and strength you have gained.
I'm filling them up with all the blood
The bundles contain the life force and passion within you.
Your heart has pumped and pumped
The bundles are filled with the energy of your heart.
And with all of the love that your mouth has rushed
The bundles contain the words of love you have spoken.
With all of the voices that your ears have rung
The bundles contain the messages of love and wisdom you have heard.
With all of the life that your dirt has sprung
The bundles contain the growth and vitality you have created.
And with all of the magic that your gardens have grown
The bundles contain the beauty and wonder you have cultivated.
I'm filling up these bundes with all the seeds
The bundles contain the potential for growth and change within you.
You've sewn, and sewn, and sewn
These seeds have been carefully tended and cultivated.
All the roots you've webbed and all the wind
The bundles contain the deep roots and winds that have shaped your life and character.
You've blown, and blown, and blown
The bundles are filled with the energy and breath of your being.
And I'm filling up these bundles with all the twins you've born
The bundles contain the things you have given birth to, both physically and metaphorically.
With every brother lost and all the organs you've loaned
The bundles contain the sacrifices and losses you have experienced.
So, pick us up we're these bundles
The artist and their creations are ready to be received and accepted.
Wrapped in shrouds of muscles
The bundles are still connected to the natural world and its rhythms.
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.