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.
Metal Firecracker
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You told me I was your queen
You told me I was your biker
You told me I was everything
Once I was in your blood
And you were obsessed with me
You wanted to paint my picture
You wanted to see me in your future
All I ask, don't tell anybody the secrets
Don't tell anybody the secrets, I told you
All I ask, don't tell anybody the secrets
Don't tell anybody the secrets, I told you
Once you held me so tight
I thought I'd lose my mind
You said, "I rocked your world"
You said, "It was for all time"
You said that "I would always be your girl"
We'd put on ZZ Top
And turn 'em up real loud
I used to think you were strong
I used to think you were proud
I used to think nothing could go wrong
All I ask, don't tell anybody the secrets
Don't tell anybody the secrets, I told you
All I ask, don't tell anybody the secrets
Don't tell anybody the secrets, I told you
In the song "Metal Firecracker" by Mary Lou Lord, we hear the story of a passionate relationship between two people. The title of the song refers to a motorcycle, as the two main characters ride together on this "metal firecracker." The female character is told by her lover that she is his "queen," his "biker," and his "everything." He was obsessed with her and wanted to paint her picture and undress her. She was in his blood, and he wanted to see her in his future.
The lyrics suggest that the relationship was intense and passionate, with the male character telling the female that he would always be her girl. They would listen to ZZ Top and turn them up loud, and she used to think that he was strong and proud. However, a dark cloud looms over this picture of passion and desire, as the female character asks her lover not to tell anyone the secrets that she has told him.
The song describes a relationship that is both passionate and possessive. Although the lovers see each other as everything, there is a suggestion that the intensity of their passion might lead to dangerous behavior. The requests not to share secrets implying there may have been something that the singer was ashamed of or didn't want to get out.
Line by Line Meaning
Once we rode together in a metal firecracker
Once we were together in a fast and exciting way, like a firecracker made of metal. It was thrilling and intense.
You told me I was your queen
You treated me like a queen, the most important person in your life. You respected and cared for me deeply.
You told me I was your biker
You identified me as part of your own biker culture, indicating how closely we were connected, and how important our shared identity was to you.
You told me I was everything
You made me feel completely valued and loved, like there was nothing more important in the world than our relationship and the moments we shared together.
Once I was in your blood
Once I was a part of you, and you couldn't get enough of me. You were fully invested in our relationship, and felt that I was an essential part of your life.
And you were obsessed with me
You were completely consumed by your feelings for me, indicating an intense and passionate connection that took over your thoughts and emotions.
You wanted to paint my picture
You wanted to capture my essence, my inner beauty and personality, on canvas - a sign of how much you appreciated and admired me.
You wanted to undress me
You desired to see me naked, to explore and appreciate my body in a physical way. This shows the depth of your attraction to me.
You wanted to see me in your future
You saw a long-term future with me, one where we were together for a long time. This showed your commitment and devotion to our relationship.
All I ask, don't tell anybody the secrets
I shared intimate and personal information with you, and I am asking you to keep that information confidential. It was a sign of trust between us, and I need to know that you will honor that trust.
Don't tell anybody the secrets, I told you
Reinforcement of the previous line, indicating how important the confidentiality of the secrets I shared with you really are.
Once you held me so tight
You were physically demonstrative, holding me tightly in your arms and expressing your passion for me physically. It was evidence of your intensity and commitment to our relationship.
I thought I'd lose my mind
It was overwhelming and intense, and I couldn't believe the depth of the emotions that I was experiencing. You took me to another level, tempting me to believe that everything was meant to be.
You said, 'I rocked your world'
You indicated that I had affected you in a profound way, that I had turned your world upside down and given you a new perspective on life. This statement indicates the strength of our connection.
You said, 'It was for all time'
You made a commitment to me for the future, indicating that our relationship would last a lifetime - that we were truly meant to be together forever.
You said that 'I would always be your girl'
You saw me as yours forever, a statement of love and devotion that affirmed that I was the most important person in your life and that you considered me yours forever.
We'd put on ZZ Top
We shared a love of music, specifically the band ZZ Top, which brought us together and gave us an opportunity to enjoy our passions together. It was something that we shared and enjoyed mutually.
And turn 'em up real loud
We turned up the volume, physically and emotionally - it was more than just listening to music, it was creating an emotional resonance that connected us deeply.
I used to think you were strong
I used to believe that you were powerful and unbreakable, a symbol of my own feelings and aspirations for our relationship. I had faith in you and our connection.
I used to think you were proud
I used to think that you had confidence in us, in yourself, and in our relationship - this made me feel valued and respected, as though our love was something to be proud of.
I used to think nothing could go wrong
We had such a deep and intense connection, that I felt invincible - it was as though our love was enough to overcome any obstacle. I felt a deep sense of trust and confidence in our future.
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.