Case moved around often as a child, spending the largest part of her youth in Tacoma, Washington. She left her parents at age 15 and three years later she started playing drums for several bands around the Northwest's punk rock scene. In 1994, she moved to Vancouver, BC to enter art school, and simultaneously joined the punk group Maow, who released a record on the Mint label. She also played with roots rockers the Weasles, and eventually formed her own backing band, the Boyfriends, which initially featured alumni of the Softies, Zumpano, and Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.
Case released her solo debut, The Virginian, in 1997, delving wholeheartedly into traditional country via a mix of covers and originals. She went on to perform with Carolyn Mark in the old-timey side project the Corn Sisters, and recorded with the Vancouver indie supergroup the New Pornographers, which she continues to be a member of. In 1998, Case completed her studies and, with her student visa expired, returned to Washington and began work on her second solo album. The lovely, melancholy Furnace Room Lullaby was released on Bloodshot Records in 2000 and won high praise from most critics.
Case subsequently relocated to Chicago, home of a thriving alt-country scene, and released the home-recorded Canadian Amp EP in 2001. Its moody, late-night ambiance carried over to 2002's Blacklisted, a darker yet more eclectic affair; it garnered Case her strongest reviews up to that point, making many year-end critics' polls, and landed her a tour slot opening for Nick Cave. Blacklisted was recorded at Wavelab Studio in Tuscon AZ, where Case had moved to in 2002.
In 2004, Case signed with Anti Records in the United States, and that year she released a live album, The Tigers Have Spoken, recorded during several dates with Canadian surf-country band the Sadies.
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, hailed by critics as an instant classic and Case's most realized work yet, followed in 2006. Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino contributed guitar, cello, bass, and drums to the album.
On March 3, 2009, Case released Middle Cyclone. It was her first album to reach the top ten's on the Billboard charts in the US.
Middle Cyclone was followed by "The worse things get, the harder I fight, the harder I fight, the more I love you" which came out September 4th 2013.
Case now lives on her farm in Vermont.
Middle Cyclone
Neko Case Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did someone make a fool of me
'fore I could show 'em how it's done?
Can't give up actin' tough,
It's all that I'm made of.
Can't scrape together quite enough
To ride the bus to the outskirts
Of the fact that I need love.
There were times that I tried,
One for every glass of water
That I spilled next to the bed,
Wrenching pennies in a boiling well
In a dream that it once becomes
A foundry of mute and heavy bells.
They shake me deaf and dumb
Say, "Someone made a fool of me
'fore I could show 'em how it's done."
It was so clear to me
That it was almost invisible.
I lie across the path waiting,
Just for a chance to be a spiderweb
Trapped in your lashes.
For that, I would trade you my empire for ashes.
But I choke it back, how much I need love...
In Neko Case's song Middle Cyclone, the lyrics speak to the singer's struggle with vulnerability and the fear of being seen as weak or foolish. The song begins with the singer asking why they are worried now, and questions if someone has made a fool of them before they were able to prove themselves. This fear of judgment and failure is something that the singer cannot let go of, as it is a part of their identity. They must keep up the facade of being tough, even though they do not have enough strength to face their need for love.
The lyrics then shift to a dream sequence, where the singer recounts times where they have tried to be vulnerable and have failed. They use the metaphor of "wrenching pennies in a boiling well" to describe the difficulty of revealing one's emotions. The dream becomes a nightmare as the singer imagines heavy bells ringing, representing their fear of being seen as foolish. The lyrics end with the singer expressing their desire for love, but still struggling to let go of their fear of vulnerability.
Overall, Middle Cyclone speaks to the universal struggle of being vulnerable and the fear of judgment that can come with that vulnerability. The lyrics are poetic and introspective, using vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the singer's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, why'm I worried now,
I am feeling anxious and unsure of myself, and I wonder what is causing it.
Did someone make a fool of me
I feel like someone tricked me or made me look foolish.
'fore I could show 'em how it's done?
Before I was able to prove to them that I am capable and competent.
Can't give up actin' tough,
I can't let my guard down and show my vulnerability.
It's all that I'm made of.
My tough exterior is a big part of who I am.
Can't scrape together quite enough
I am struggling to gather the resources I need.
To ride the bus to the outskirts
I don't have enough money to leave this place.
Of the fact that I need love.
Despite my tough exterior, what I really need is love and connection.
There were times that I tried,
In the past, I have made efforts to change my circumstances.
One for every glass of water
I have tried as many times as the number of glasses of water I have spilled next to my bed.
That I spilled next to the bed,
I am clumsy and make mistakes, but I keep trying.
Wrenching pennies in a boiling well
I have struggled to save enough money for my needs.
In a dream that it once becomes
I have hoped and dreamed for a better future.
A foundry of mute and heavy bells.
A place where my hopes and dreams can be realized, but it feels distant and difficult to reach.
They shake me deaf and dumb
My doubts and fears overwhelm me and make me feel helpless and unable to act.
Say, "Someone made a fool of me
I believe that someone has tricked or taken advantage of me.
'fore I could show 'em how it's done."
Before I had a chance to prove myself to them.
It was so clear to me
I had a moment of clarity and understanding.
That it was almost invisible.
But the insight was fleeting and difficult to recognize.
I lie across the path waiting,
I am patiently waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
Just for a chance to be a spiderweb
I am willing to take on a fragile and vulnerable role for the chance at something greater.
Trapped in your lashes.
Being caught up in someone else's life and being at their mercy.
For that, I would trade you my empire for ashes.
I am willing to give up what I have and start again for the possibility of love and connection.
But I choke it back, how much I need love...
I suppress my true desires and needs, but deep down I know what I really want is love and connection.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Neko Case, Paul Rigby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@uvp5000
This song and "Vengeance is Sleeping" hit the target at dead-center describing some of my most formative experiences and root feelings in love.
@zedcecelja2993
A beautiful, eerie and haunting lullaby to my ears. Love this album.
@wengrrrl1
Neko has my favorite voice in years. Her writing is amazing, and there’s nothing not to love about this brilliant musician. Add M. Ward,& this 2 chord song sounds symphonic. Absolutely stunning. 🎄🌹💕
@uvp5000
The odd and changing time signature, haunting lyrics, and elegantly complicated simplicity make this one of my favorite songs to play, but it consists of six chords, not two.
@wengrrrl1
@@uvp5000 You’re right
@modarXmodar
My favorite
@billfire666
Mine too.
@aurorahaydostian7272
A spiderweb trapped in your lashes—
@wengrrrl1
Absolutely sublimely PERFECT. She’s such great writer. And that beautiful VOICE!
@cherylmontgomery2893
Nice..........