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.
The Wind Blew All Around Me
Mary Lou Lord Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at me joking
I'm having so much fun, oh
And look at me screaming
Look at me choking
I've been overcome
And look at me hang from your windowsill
And look at me stand on the top of your hill
And the wind blew all around me
Look at me dancing
Look at me dying
My muscles have shook me
Look at me sleeping
Look at me flying
Way out on my body
Look at my plane
Should we go for a spin?
And look at the kids asking where we've been
You took the controls and I stood on the wing
And the wind blew all around me
All around
All around
All around
All around
Yeah
Look at me aging
Look at me shrinking
Though I feel the same
And look at me smoking
Look at me drinking
Tell me, what's my name?
And look at me lying on the golden sand
And look at this note I got here in my hand
It says I lost my gig to a tribute band
And the wind blew all around me
All around
All around
All around
All around
Yeah
The wind blew all around
The wind blew all around me...
Mary Lou Lord's "The Wind Blew All Around Me" is a song about the highs and lows of life, and how they all come together to create a unique experience. The opening lines of the song set the tone for what is to come - the singer is laughing and joking, having a great time. However, as the song progresses, we see that there are darker moments as well. The line "Look at me screaming/Look at me choking/I've been overcome" is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the feelings of being overwhelmed that we all experience at times.
The song also touches on themes of mortality, with lines like "Look at me aging/Look at me shrinking/Though I feel the same". These lyrics suggest that even as we get older, we still feel like the same person we always have been. However, the line "Tell me, what's my name?" hints at a loss of identity or sense of self.
Throughout the song, there are references to motion and movement, such as "Look at me dancing/Look at me dying/My muscles have shook me". The line "And look at my plane/Should we go for a spin?" suggests a desire for adventure and excitement. However, the line "It says I lost my gig to a tribute band" speaks to the disappointment that comes when things don't go as planned.
Overall, "The Wind Blew All Around Me" is a song that speaks to the ups and downs of life, and how they all come together to create a unique experience. Through the use of vivid imagery and emotional language, Mary Lou Lord captures the complexity of human emotion and the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me laughing
I am showing a joyful emotion on my face and expressing happiness.
Look at me joking
I am making humorous comments and trying to make others laugh.
I'm having so much fun, oh
I am genuinely enjoying myself and having a great time.
And look at me screaming
I am shouting loudly and expressing my emotions in a heightened manner.
Look at me choking
I am having difficulty breathing and feeling overwhelmed.
I've been overcome
I have been defeated or overwhelmed by something.
And look at me hang from your windowsill
I am desperately clinging to a window frame, possibly in danger or needing help.
And look at me stand on the top of your hill
I am standing tall on a hill to show my strength and ability to overcome challenges.
My voice rang out like a dentist's drill
I spoke with a loud and unpleasant tone, possibly annoying or bothering others.
And the wind blew all around me
The powerful force of nature surrounded me and affected me physically and emotionally.
Look at me dancing
I am moving my body rhythmically to music or to express my emotions.
Look at me dying
I am experiencing death or a feeling of despair and hopelessness.
My muscles have shook me
My body has experienced involuntary muscle movements, possibly due to fatigue or anxiety.
Look at me sleeping
I am resting and unconscious, possibly dreaming or in a state of peace.
Look at me flying
I am soaring through the air, free and weightless.
Way out on my body
I have left my physical body and am experiencing an out-of-body sensation.
Look at my plane
I am showing off my aircraft or mode of transportation.
Should we go for a spin?
Shall we take a ride or go for a joyride in my plane?
And look at the kids asking where we've been
Children are inquiring about our whereabouts or what we have been doing.
You took the controls and I stood on the wing
Someone else took control of the plane and I stood on the wing, possibly showing trust or relinquishing control.
All around
The wind is present and affecting everything.
Yeah
An exclamation of emotion or enthusiasm.
Look at me aging
I am visibly getting older and aging.
Look at me shrinking
I am becoming smaller or physically weaker.
Though I feel the same
Although my physical appearance may be changing, I still feel like the same person inside.
Look at me smoking
I am inhaling and exhaling smoke from a cigarette or other substance.
Look at me drinking
I am consuming alcohol or another drink.
Tell me, what's my name?
I am asking for identification or recognition, possibly due to being under the influence.
And look at me lying on the golden sand
I am resting on a beach, surrounded by golden sand.
And look at this note I got here in my hand
I am holding a written message, possibly important or unexpected.
It says I lost my gig to a tribute band
The message reveals that I have lost a performance opportunity to a different act.
The wind blew all around me
The wind continued to be a physical and emotional force in my life.
Contributed by Elizabeth N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.