Mary Lou Lord (born March 1, 1965 in Salem, Massachusetts) is an indie/folk… Read Full Bio ↴Mary Lou Lord (born March 1, 1965 in Salem, Massachusetts) is an indie/folk rock musician, busker and recording artist.

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.

His Indie World
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't think I fit into his indie world
Guided By Voices and Velocity Girl
Eric's Trip and Rocket Ship, Rancid and Rocket from The Crypt
Bikini Kill and Built to Spill, it's plain to see that I don't fit
He says my songs are too deep and gloomy
He wishes that I could be more like Jenny Toomey
Just give me my Joni my Nick, Neil, and Bob
You can keep your Tsunami, your Slant 6 and Smog

What's the story he says Butterglory
I say what's the news he says the Silver Jews
His heavenly hang-up is getting me down
And it's making me wonder why he's hanging around

Cause I don't fit into his indie scene
Huggy Bear and Helium and Half-Japanese
Sebadoh and Sentridoh and Superchunk and I don't know
Doug and Lou and Calvin too and Kim and Kim and Kim and Kim
Yeah I'm stuck in the past and he's stuck on his four-track
But I can't get through to his one-track mind
I push play and record and a major chord

Maybe I'll win his heart this time
Maybe I'll win his heart this time

Overall Meaning

Mary Lou Lord's song His Indie World is about feeling out of place in a certain subculture, particularly the indie rock scene. The singer references a range of popular indie bands from the 90s, such as Guided by Voices, Velocity Girl, and Helium, suggesting that her partner is enamored with these groups. However, despite her love for bands like Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan, the singer doesn't fit in seemingly because her music is "too deep and gloomy," contrasting with the upbeat and lighthearted sound of the indie rock bands her partner venerates.

The singer is frustrated by her partner's attitude towards her music, which leads to a feeling of isolation and disconnection. She tries to bridge the gap by mentioning indie bands that she knows, but ultimately realizes that she and her partner are on different wavelengths. The chorus, "Cause I don't fit into his indie scene," encapsulates this disjunction. The singer is resigned but also hopeful, suggesting that there may still be a chance for her to win her partner's heart by showing him her music.

Overall, Mary Lou Lord's His Indie World speaks to the difficulty of maintaining a relationship when two people have different cultural interests and values. It touches on themes of isolation, rejection, and the struggle to communicate across cultural boundaries, making it a relatable song for many.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't think I fit into his indie world
The singer believes that her interests and musical preferences do not align with her partner's Indie culture

Guided By Voices and Velocity Girl
Her boyfriend's music taste includes bands like Guided By Voices and Velocity Girl

Eric's Trip and Rocket Ship, Rancid and Rocket from The Crypt
Additionally, he likes Eric's Trip, Rocket Ship, Rancid, and Rocket from The Crypt

Bikini Kill and Built to Spill, it's plain to see that I don't fit
The contrast of their taste is evident as he likes bands such as Bikini Kill and Built to Spill

He says my songs are too deep and gloomy
Her partner finds her music too introspective and melancholic

He wishes that I could be more like Jenny Toomey
He would prefer it if she resembled the musician Jenny Toomey in style and personality

Just give me my Joni my Nick, Neil, and Bob
The singer expresses her music taste, which includes artists like Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan

You can keep your Tsunami, your Slant 6 and Smog
She dismisses the bands he likes, such as Tsunami, Slant 6, and Smog

What's the story he says Butterglory
Her partner asks her about the band Butterglory

I say what's the news he says the Silver Jews
She reciprocates by asking him about the band Silver Jews

His heavenly hang-up is getting me down
She is bothered by his obsession with Indie music

And it's making me wonder why he's hanging around
She questions why he is still with her if their interests clash

Cause I don't fit into his indie scene
She reiterates that she does not belong in his Indie world

Huggy Bear and Helium and Half-Japanese
Her partner likes lesser-known Indie bands like Huggy Bear, Helium, and Half-Japanese

Sebadoh and Sentridoh and Superchunk and I don't know
Additional bands he likes include Sebadoh, Sentridoh, and Superchunk, among others she is unaware of

Doug and Lou and Calvin too and Kim and Kim and Kim and Kim
Individuals associated with the Indie music scene, such as Doug Martsch, Lou Barlow, Calvin Johnson, and Kim Deal are mentioned

Yeah I'm stuck in the past and he's stuck on his four-track
The singer acknowledges that she has an affinity for older music, while her partner prefers to use a four-track for recording

But I can't get through to his one-track mind
She struggles to connect with him due to his single-minded focus on Indie music

I push play and record and a major chord
She records a song with a major chord progression that she hopes will appeal to him

Maybe I'll win his heart this time
She hopes that her music can bring them closer together

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARY LOU LORD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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