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.
I'm Talking to You
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For quite a long time
Doing what was natural
Just to try to unwind
Then I took a tumble
And promises were mumbled
Next thing in the morning
I wake up in this jungle
I feel my heart is pumping
To the beat of the band
Certain things are happening
That I don't understand
Everyone is glaring
The saxophone is blaring
Hope you understand
But I just can't keep from staring
I'm talking to you
I'm talking to you
I'm talking to you
Well, I walk around town
With a dime-store smile
Trying to find a little comfort
Trying to show a little style
Man tried to fake me
When others tried to take me
Never really sure
If they're ever going to break me
Sitting in this bar and I'm almost broke
Choking on emotion and the cigarette smoke
As long as you can pay
The band is going to play
Hope you understand
But I feel I gotta say it
I'm talking to you
I'm talking to you
I'm talking to you
In Mary Lou Lord's song "I'm Talking to You", the lyrics depict a journey of self-discovery and realization after a fall from grace. The singer was once "high and mighty" but fell from that position and found themselves waking up in a jungle. This could be interpreted as a literal or metaphorical jungle, but it carries the idea that the singer has found themselves in a difficult or unfamiliar situation.
The next verse describes how the singer is still trying to find their place in the world, with "certain things happening" that they don't understand. There is a sense of being lost or out of place, as "everyone is glaring" and the saxophone is blaring. Despite this, the singer can't help but stare and try to make sense of what's happening.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'm talking to you" emphasizing the singer's desire to connect and communicate with someone, perhaps searching for a sense of belonging or understanding. The last verse takes place in a bar, where the singer is almost broke but still trying to find some semblance of comfort or style. The lyrics convey a sense of struggle and uncertainty, but also a willingness to keep trying and seeking connections.
Overall, the song presents a poignant and relatable message about the difficulties of finding one's place in the world and the desire to connect with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I was high and mighty
I used to have a lot of confidence and pride.
For quite a long time
This was a consistent feeling I had for a while.
Doing what was natural
I was doing what came naturally to me as a way to relax.
Just to try to unwind
It was my way of unwinding or letting go of stress.
Then I took a tumble
I experienced a fall or failure of some kind.
And promises were mumbled
I made promises to myself or others that I didn't keep.
Next thing in the morning
The next day after my fall, I woke up feeling disoriented.
I wake up in this jungle
I found myself in a chaotic or confusing situation that I didn't know how to handle.
I feel my heart is pumping
My heart is racing or beating fast due to anxiety, excitement, or stress.
To the beat of the band
This could be a literal reference to music playing or a metaphor for the rhythm of life.
Certain things are happening
I'm experiencing things that I can't explain or understand.
That I don't understand
I'm struggling to make sense of what's happening, and it's causing confusion or frustration.
Everyone is glaring
People are looking at me with disapproval or judgment.
The saxophone is blaring
There's a sense of chaos or intensity in the environment around me, possibly due to loud music or other stimuli.
Hope you understand
I'm hoping that you can empathize or relate to what I'm saying.
But I just can't keep from staring
I'm compelled to keep looking at something or someone, and I can't help it.
Well, I walk around town
I'm moving about my everyday life in my hometown or familiar surroundings.
With a dime-store smile
I try to appear happy or content, but it's not the real deal.
Trying to find a little comfort
I'm looking for a way to feel better or more at ease.
Trying to show a little style
I want to present myself in a way that looks fashionable or impressive.
Man tried to fake me
Someone attempted to trick, deceive, or manipulate me.
When others tried to take me
Other people tried to exploit, harm, or use me for their own gain.
Never really sure
I'm not confident or certain about what's going on or what to do.
If they're ever going to break me
I worry that these experiences will damage me mentally or emotionally to the point of breaking down.
Sitting in this bar and I'm almost broke
I'm in a financial bind and struggling to make ends meet, such as being unable to afford a drink at a bar.
Choking on emotion and the cigarette smoke
My feelings and the environment around me are overwhelming, making me feel like I'm suffocating or unable to breathe easily.
As long as you can pay
As long as someone has money, they can enjoy certain privileges or access to good things in life.
The band is going to play
People can enjoy music or entertainment as long as they can pay for it.
Hope you understand
I hope that you can empathize with my predicament or perspective.
But I feel I gotta say it
I strongly feel the need to express myself or speak up about something.
I'm talking to you
I'm addressing the listener directly or trying to speak to someone who can relate or understand me.
I'm talking to you
I'm emphasizing that my message is directed towards the person listening.
I'm talking to you
I'm reiterating that I want to be heard and understood by the person or people I'm addressing.
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.