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.
Supergun
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics
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I hooked up with anyone that I could find
Why don't you answer me
I bear you no ill
You never notice me but someday you will
And there you go lead and time
Skin and chrome supergun so fine
You're burned up with speed
You ditch your paramour
I got what you need
And I'm not a child
And I'm not a fool
Oh no not again - your supergun so cruel
I got up - a new day dawned
I believe I've been reborn
I threw out my dolls and pins
I go out and reel you in at last
Oh yea, yea yea
No injured innocence - no wounded pride
Accept what has to be, I so long denied
And I take it off and you follow suit
I close my eyes
But your supergun won't shoot
No it won't shoot
No it won't shoot
No it won't shoot
The song Supergun by Mary Lou Lord tells a story of the singer who seems to have made some regrettable choices in life. She has run out of time and options, and has resorted to hooking up with just about anyone. The singer is lamenting the fact that the subject of her affection has not noticed her yet, although she harbors no ill will towards him. There is an air of envy in the song as the singer is burned up with jealousy, while the subject of her affection is burned up with speed. They seem to be playing a game, the singer wanting to reel him in and the subject of her affection just out of reach.
The song is full of metaphors and the title itself, Supergun, is used metaphorically to mean anything powerful or addictive. The singer acknowledges that she is not a child or a fool, implying that she knows that her pursuit of the supergun may be dangerous. In the end, the singer seems to have come to a realization that she needs to accept what has to be and move on. The supergun won't shoot, and so she needs to let go of her obsession and start afresh.
Line by Line Meaning
I ran out of Lexington - I ran out of time
I was in a hurry and had to leave Lexington in order to be on time for something.
I hooked up with anyone that I could find
I was desperate for companionship and had relationships with anyone I could find.
Why don't you answer me
I am trying to communicate with you and wish you would respond.
I bear you no ill
Despite any negative feelings I may have towards you, I mean you no harm.
You never notice me but someday you will
I feel invisible to you now, but I hope that one day you will see me.
And there you go lead and time
You are always ahead of me, with more time to spare.
Skin and chrome supergun so fine
Your car is impressive in its style and appearance.
I'm burned up with jealousy
I am consumed by feelings of jealousy towards you.
You're burned up with speed
You are focused on the speed and thrill of driving your car.
You ditch your paramour
You abandoned your love interest in favor of your car.
I got what you need
I can provide what you desire, despite the fact that you may not realize it.
And I'm not a child
I am mature enough to handle this type of relationship.
And I'm not a fool
I am aware of the potential consequences of getting involved with you again.
Oh no not again - your supergun so cruel
I do not wish to repeat the hurtful experiences of our past encounters.
I got up - a new day dawned
I am ready to start fresh and move on from the past.
I believe I've been reborn
I feel like a new person with a newfound sense of purpose.
I threw out my dolls and pins
I let go of childish things and am ready to embrace more mature experiences.
I go out and reel you in at last
I am determined to attract your attention and win you over in the end.
No injured innocence - no wounded pride
I am at peace with the past and ready to move forward without any feelings of sadness or hurt.
Accept what has to be, I so long denied
I am finally accepting the reality of what needs to happen, despite having denied it for so long.
And I take it off and you follow suit
I let my guard down and opened up to you, and you responded in kind.
I close my eyes
I am ready to fully commit to this relationship and trust you completely.
But your supergun won't shoot
Despite my readiness to commit, you are not capable of doing the same, and our relationship will not work out.
No it won't shoot
Our relationship is doomed to fail.
No it won't shoot
No matter how much we may hope for success, it will never come to fruition.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NICK SALOMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind