"Sunday Best" was released in 2008 to celebrate the band's 14 years of performing, recording and touring. The album is a compilation of favourites, re-records of old classic raven tunes, as well as brand new songs.
Current touring line-up:
Janine Maunder (voc., piano),
Stephanie Lindner (violin),
James Richmond (drums, percussion),
Anne-Christin Schwarz (cello),
Arne Jansen (guitar)
Pity
Naked Raven Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look how far you're come
You can always go home
You cannot call it failure
Least of all regret
Is this the sum and substance
What defines
Never really had "it"
Never had the goods
Wasn't quite the shape to fit
A favourite of fortune
What a lucky girl
It's what we all believed in
There's no shame
Tell me something true (x 6)
The day turns angry
And I'm pushed and pulled
I'm turned up and over
Like a bag on the wind
It's my storm in a teacup
Honestly I'm drowing
But who wants to know
Compare it to suffocation, stagnation
It's not a bad way
It's not a bad way to go
Sift through and discard
Try to make sense of it
All this talk
Confuse and distort
Try to make sense of it
All this talk
I can see your lips move
I can hear the sound
I believe you believe what you say
Static in the signal
Hammer in my head
I'm helpless to receive
Close it down
Tell me something true (x 6)
The song "Pity" by Naked Raven is a powerful and introspective piece that speaks to the experience of feeling like an outsider and grappling with the expectations and judgments of others. At its core, the song is about the struggle to find one's place in the world and to define oneself in a way that is authentic and true.
The first verse of the song speaks to the idea that success and failure are subjective, and that it's important to define those terms for oneself rather than relying on the expectations of others. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "Tell me something true," suggests a longing for honesty and authenticity in a world that often seems fake and superficial. The second verse continues this theme, exploring the idea that we are all shaped by luck as well as our own abilities and choices, and that there is no shame in not fitting into society's narrow ideas of success or beauty.
The bridge of the song is a powerful metaphor for the turmoil and chaos that can come with the search for self-discovery. The image of a storm in a teacup suggests that even the most intense inner struggles can seem small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn't make them any less meaningful or important. The final verse of the song brings things full circle, suggesting that even when we try to make sense of our experiences and feelings, it can be difficult to find clarity or understanding. The final line, "Close it down," suggests a sense of resignation, as though the singer has given up on trying to find answers and is instead retreating into herself.
Overall, "Pity" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that speaks to the universal human experience of grappling with identity, belonging, and the expectations of others.
Line by Line Meaning
It took a lot of courage
You needed bravery to get here.
Look how far you're come
Reflect on your journey and progress.
You can always go home
You have a safe place to return to.
You cannot call it failure
Your efforts were not a waste.
Least of all regret
You have no reason to feel guilty.
Is this the sum and substance
Is this what defines your experience?
Tell me something true (x 3)
I want to hear honest things from you.
Never really had "it"
You never quite had what was needed.
Never had the goods
You lacked what was necessary to succeed.
Wasn't quite the shape to fit
You didn't match the expectations.
A favourite of fortune
Luck was on your side.
What a lucky girl
You were fortunate in your experiences.
It's what we all believed in
Everyone had high expectations.
There's no shame
You have nothing to be embarrassed about.
The day turns angry
The situation has become difficult.
And I'm pushed and pulled
You are being dragged in different directions.
I'm turned up and over
You are being tossed around like the wind.
Like a bag on the wind
You are being carried away helplessly.
It's my storm in a teacup
It's a small problem but feels huge.
Honestly I'm drowing
You feel overwhelmed and helpless.
But who wants to know
You don't want to burden others with your struggles.
Compare it to suffocation, stagnation
It feels like being trapped and stagnant.
It's not a bad way
But it's not a terrible situation either.
It's not a bad way to go
It's not a terrible place to end up.
Sift through and discard
Try to separate the important from the unimportant.
Try to make sense of it
Make sense of what's left.
All this talk
All that has been said and done so far.
Confuse and distort
It's difficult to understand and make sense of.
I can see your lips move
You hear people talking, but it feels meaningless.
I can hear the sound
You hear the noise, but it's not helpful.
I believe you believe what you say
You trust that others mean what they say.
Static in the signal
There's interference in the communication.
Hammer in my head
It's frustrating and painful to deal with.
I'm helpless to receive
You feel powerless to take in what's being said.
Close it down
Shut out the noise and distractions.
Tell me something true (x 6)
I need honesty and truth to feel reassured.
Contributed by Parker Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.