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.
People Got a Lotta Nerve
Neko Case Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An elephant never forgets
Standing in the concrete cave
Swaying side and sing
They walked over the ocean
And their dreams they dreamed awake
Until the lights grew dim
Until the cop cars came
But I'm a man man man man man man man eater
But still you're surprised when I eat ya
You know they call them killer whales
But you seem surprised
When it pinned you down to the bottom of the tank
Where you can't turn around
It took half your leg and both your lungs
And I craved I ate hearts of sharks, I know you know it
I'm a man, man, man, man, man, man, man eater
But still you're surprised when I eat ya
It will end again in moonlit song
It will end again in moonlit song
The lyrics to Neko Case's song People Got a Lotta Nerve seem to draw a parallel between human behavior towards animals and the idea of a predator who is misunderstood. The opening lines refer to the popular notion that elephants never forget, implying that animals are more intelligent and emotionally sensitive than humans give them credit for. This is followed by a description of a concrete cave where an animal, possibly an elephant or killer whale, is swaying and singing, revealing its emotional and intellectual complexity. The song then goes on to describe how humans have exploited and mistreated animals, ignoring their dreams and aspirations until it's too late. The phrase "everybody tells me this is crazy, yes I know" suggests that the singer is aware of how society views their actions but is still compelled to behave in a certain way.
The chorus of the song contains the memorable phrase "I'm a man-eater", which could be seen as a reference to predatory behavior or to the way humans consume and exploit animals. The line "But still you're surprised when I eat ya" highlights the fact that humans tend to ignore the consequences of their actions and are often shocked when confronted with the reality of animal suffering. The second verse focuses on the killer whale, a creature that is often portrayed as a villain in popular culture, despite its intelligence and social skills. The singer suggests that the killer whale's behavior is a result of its environment and need for survival, rather than an innate desire to harm humans.
The song ends on a hopeful note, with the line "It will end again in moonlit song", implying that there is still beauty and wonder in the natural world, despite human efforts to destroy it. Overall, the lyrics to People Got a Lotta Nerve are a powerful critique of human behavior, encouraging listeners to rethink their relationship with nature and to show more empathy and respect towards animals.
Line by Line Meaning
So the saying says
There's a common saying, an idiom that's frequently used.
An elephant never forgets
Elephants have an incredible memory according to popular belief.
Standing in the concrete cave
The killer whale is trapped in a concrete tank and can't escape.
Swaying side and sing
The killer whale is moving from side to side and making sounds.
They walked over the ocean
The killer whale's ancestors were believed to have walked over the ocean before evolving into sea creatures.
And their dreams they dreamed awake
They have dreams and aspirations that they're aware of.
Until the lights grew dim
As time passes, things become more difficult or challenging.
Until the cop cars came
Trouble or danger arrived, represented by police cars.
Everybody tells me this is crazy, yes I know
The singer is aware that some people think she's crazy for her actions.
But I'm a man man man man man man man eater
The singer sees herself as a predator who preys on men.
But still you're surprised when I eat ya
The singer can't understand why people are shocked when she actually does what she claims to do.
You know they call them killer whales
Killer whales are also known as Orcas.
But you seem surprised
People are amazed or taken aback when the Orca attacks.
When it pinned you down to the bottom of the tank
The Orca used its strength to trap its prey.
Where you can't turn around
The victim is entirely at the mercy of the Orca, with no way to escape.
It took half your leg and both your lungs
The Orca inflicted severe harm on the victim.
And I craved I ate hearts of sharks, I know you know it
The singer is boastful about her predatory nature and how she enjoys consuming the hearts of other killers.
It will end again in moonlit song
Things will come to a conclusion, perhaps a harmonious one.
It will end again in moonlit song
The previous line is repeated for emphasis at the end of the song.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Neko Case, Paul Rigby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yadwig
Lyrics
So the saying says
An elephant never forgets
Standing in the concrete cave
Swaying side and sing
They walked over the ocean
And their dreams they dreamed awake
Until the lights grew dim
Until the cop cars came
Everybody tells me this is crazy, yes I know
But I'm a man man man man man man man eater
But still you're surprised when I eat ya
You know they call them killer whales
But you seem surprised
When it pinned you down to the bottom of the tank
Where you can't turn around
It took half your leg and both your lungs
And I craved I ate hearts of sharks, I know you know it
I'm a man, man, man, man, man, man, man eater
But still you're surprised when I eat ya
It will end again in moonlit song
It will end again in moonlit song
@seaport7421
I love the lyrics to this song, honestly, because you have to realize that Neko isn't saying that she's a man-eater. She's literally singing from the animal's perspective. This song is about animals going insane from being kept in captivity and then killing people, and her wondering why anyone is surprised by this. So great, I love the subject matter that she chooses!
@diojiwoolf4723
I think it's comparing her experience with relationships to a frustrated animal lashing out against captivity.
I don't think it's the animal rights anthem we've been looking for.
@YaelTiferet
@Dioji Woolf as someone who is very much not an animal "rights" person (animal welfare is another matter) I don't think you have to believe that meat is murder and nobody should ever own pets to think people are stupid for not expecting mistreated, caged wild animals in bad zoos to want to eat them.
@diojiwoolf4723
@Yael Tiferet What?
I'm just saying she's using caged wild animals as a metaphor in the song. It's a parable not an anthem.
@danzinder179
@Dioji Woolf definitely a metaphor in a few directions. Also a huge FU to Hall and Oates.
@fjdubya5726
I've always identified with those elephants who get SICK and TIRED of performing to the expectations of others.
@matthewsan78
Whoever did this should do all of Neko's videos. The style just fits her music so perfectly! Love it.
@ianfink2751
I remember my mother listing to this song often while I was in the backseat of the car. I remember a few of the lyrics and decided to search for it. I almost gave up until discovering this, still great like I remembered. Thank you mom!
@lelehart3
Her music is so refreshing and the melody just rings like bells all around. Its really really nice. I just love her.
@bookjunk
I could not agree more. Her work is always interesting and wonderful, but she really nailed it with Nothing to Remember. Not only is the song itself hauntingly beautiful, it also ties in perfectly with the spirit of the film. Just all-around awesome.