Mary Lou Lord first gained notice playing acoustic guitar and singing in and around Boston subway stations (particularly on the Red Line, as noted by the name she chose for her music and lyric publishing company, On the Red Line Music.)
She has claimed that she had a romantic relationship with Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain before the group's rise to mainstream fame. This claim was disputed by some, including Cobain himself, though it has been suggested that Cobain's wife Courtney Love made him publicly lie about his past relationships to prove his devotion to her. In 1994, Lord showed up uninvited at a party for Courtney Love's band Hole, which ended with Love chasing Lord down Sunset Strip.
Lord toured three separate times with Elliott Smith during the 1990s. He also wrote and helped Lord record a song called, "I Figured You Out", in 1997. Smith would later say that, "I gave that song away 'cause I thought it sounded like The Eagles and that it sucked."
Her recordings have been a mixture of covers (including songs by Elliott Smith and Richard Thompson) and original material, with a number of songs written by, or in collaboration with, Nick Saloman of the British band The Bevis Frond.
Her recording of Daniel Johnston's "Speeding Motorcycle" (which was originally featured on her self-titled 8-song Kill Rock Stars release) was featured in commercials for Target stores, after which her label reissued the song as the lead-off track of a CD single which also included two demo recordings from the sessions for Got No Shadow.
In 2001, Lord released Live City Sounds. This was a self-released disc of Mary Lou playing live in the Boston subway. The disc was later re-released after Mary Lou signed to Rubric Records.
She announced in 2005 that she suffered from a rare vocal chord affliction known as spasmodic dysphonia. She thereafter became more involved in A&R work and started Jittery Jack Management with her husband, Kevin Patey.
Cinderella Backstreet
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An eye on the moon if there were no tune
And for the kids with no place to go
Me and Scottie were talking that nervous way that we always did
That's when I realized I had something there to show him
And that I would have to keep it hid
I said I wanna walk on down in the ally
Down where the light shines so very dimly
With miss Cinderella backstreet
Now I try to teach naivetй to kids brought up on tv
I tried hard to smile but I got hung up in style
Yeay it seems they saw right through me
You know, me and Ricky were talking
Between all the noise, the smoke and the jive
And I said play'em those blues
That you learned from the English dudes
Ever what does it really satidfy
I said I wanna walk on down in the ally
Down where the light shines so very dimly
Out where the ally cat walks on silent padded feet
With miss Cinderella backstreet
There was one down for the leather boys
And one for the never been kissed
Still another for all the
Yeah we just somehow seemed to miss
And one more that we could dream on
And still another one for the show
Well Denise, she did my eyes and I felt just like a prize
Until those tears began to flow
And I decided to go and take care of some business
With the gentleman from Morning Side Avenue
Who introduced me to his very best friend from Denver
He took me aside and advised me what it was that I should do
And I said right now I wanna walk on down in the ally
Down where the light shines so very dimly
Out where the night is so complete
With miss Cinderella backstreet
I wanna walk down in the ally
Down where the light shines so very dimly
Out where the ally cat walks on siled padded feet
With miss Cinderella backstreet
With miss Cinderella backstreet
The song "Cinderella Backstreet" by Mary Lou Lord is a nostalgic recollection of life in the backstreets, with all its good times and bad. Through the eyes of the singer, we get a glimpse into their life as a "backstreet boy," a term which is synonymous with someone who is rebellious and stands out from the norm. The singer speaks about their experiences with different people they have met on the backstreets, including a guy named Scottie with whom they shared a secret, and Ricky who they tried to teach the blues.
The lyrics also mention a few other characters like the "leather boys," the "never been kissed," and Denise, who did the singer's eyes. These characters serve as a representation of the diversity of individuals found on the backstreets. The narrative then takes a turn when the singer meets a gentleman from Morningside Avenue who advises them on what to do. While the song's conclusion may seem ambiguous, it suggests that the singer has found comfort in the backstreets and wants to spend more time with "miss Cinderella backstreet."
Overall, the song is a bittersweet tribute to the nostalgia of youth and the people that are often forgotten about in mainstream society. It is a story of the off-beaten path, a place where people who don't quite fit in can band together and create their own community.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I am a backstreet boy and anyone will tell you so
I am a man who comes from the wrong side of the tracks and it's no secret.
An eye on the moon if there were no tune
I have big dreams, but they have not yet come to fruition.
And for the kids with no place to go
I want to help those who are lost or forgotten.
Me and Scottie were talking that nervous way that we always did
I was confiding in my friend, Scottie, and feeling anxious about it.
That's when I realized I had something there to show him
I had a talent or an idea that I wanted to share with him.
And that I would have to keep it hid
I knew that sharing this secret might come with consequences.
I said I wanna walk on down in the alley
I want to explore the less glamorous areas of life.
Down where the light shines so very dimly
I want to go where there is little hope or happiness.
I wanna shake hands with all the creatures that I meet
I want to empathize and connect with those who are different from me.
With miss Cinderella backstreet
I want to find someone who is also a misfit and take comfort in each other's company.
Now I try to teach naivetй to kids brought up on tv
I want to show the younger generation a different way of life than what they see on TV.
I tried hard to smile but I got hung up in style
I was trying to fit in, but I got tripped up by external appearances.
Yeay it seems they saw right through me
I was not as cool or confident as I wanted to appear.
You know, me and Ricky were talking
I had a conversation with my friend Ricky.
Between all the noise, the smoke and the jive
We were in a loud, chaotic environment.
And I said play'em those blues
I urged Ricky to play some authentic, honest music.
That you learned from the English dudes
I wanted Ricky to play music that was inspired by genuine experiences.
Ever what does it really satisfy
What is the point of music or anything else, really?
There was one down for the leather boys
There was a person who belonged to a certain subculture.
And one for the never been kissed
There was a person who felt lonely or inexperienced in love.
Still another for all the
There was another person who felt left out or misunderstood for another reason.
Yeah we just somehow seemed to miss
Some people felt left behind or excluded.
And one more that we could dream on
There was a dreamer in the group.
And still another one for the show
There was a person who liked to put on an act or a show for others.
Well Denise, she did my eyes and I felt just like a prize
I received some kind of makeover or attention that made me feel special.
Until those tears began to flow
I realized that my outward appearance did not match my inner feelings.
And I decided to go and take care of some business
I needed to handle something important on my own.
With the gentleman from Morning Side Avenue
I encountered a man who was successful and respectable.
Who introduced me to his very best friend from Denver
He introduced me to another influential person.
He took me aside and advised me what it was that I should do
He gave me some guidance or wisdom.
And I said right now I wanna walk on down in the alley
Despite the advice, I still had a yearning to explore the darker side of life.
Out where the night is so complete
I want to be in a place that is completely removed from the familiar.
With miss Cinderella backstreet
I want to be with someone who shares my unconventional view of the world.
I wanna walk down in the alley
I want to step out of my comfort zone.
Down where the light shines so very dimly
I want to experience something that is not immediately visible or obvious.
Out where the alley cat walks on siled padded feet
I want to feel stealthy and unseen, like a cat.
With miss Cinderella backstreet
I want to connect with someone who feels out of place like me.
Contributed by Jason E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.