She released four albums and three EPs without any label support via Bandcamp from 2012-2014, and gathered a large following on blogging platform Tumblr, where she would also post song demos and covers. In 2015, Canadian artist Grimes discovered her music via the site, and created Eerie Organization, an artist collective/incubator for the release of Dollanganger's fifth album Natural Born Losers, stating that it was a crime for it not to be heard, and that Dollanganger is North America's greatest living songwriter. Grimes also invited Dollanganger on her Rhinestone Cowgirls tour, where they both opened for Lana Del Rey. Natural Born Losers also marked the beginning of Dollanganger's collaboration with Matthew Tomasi, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and co-founder of indie label Homie Shit Magazine.
Following these successes, Dollanganger's first four albums were re-released digitally via GTR Records, and physically via Run for Cover Records, in 2016. In 2018, she released her sixth album, Heart Shaped Bed, through Eerie Organization. It was co-produced by Matt Tomasi, and included a finished version of her song "Chapel," which made an appearance in TV series The Walking Dead in 2016 and remains one of her most popular songs. In order to promote the album, she also released music videos for her songs Lemonade, Heart Shaped Bed, and Lacrymaria Olor, all directed by Mac Boucher, brother of Grimes.
In 2019, Nicole Dollanganger befriended Ethel Cain after hearing her cover of "Poacher's Pride" on Tumblr, and invited her to open for her performance at Beat Kitchen in Chicago. Through Dollanganger, Ethel Cain met Matt Tomasi, who later released two of her EPs on CD and cassette through his label, and co-produced the tracks "Ptolemaea" and "August Underground" on her debut album.
In January 2023, Nicole Dollanganger released her highly-anticipated seventh album, Married in Mount Airy.
American Tradition
Nicole Dollanganger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we put the medals on the wall
lost in the room of starving vultures
gold trophies, he got em all
he wants to be just like his father
we play the knife game on the table
i bleed to death, it doesn't matter
he holds me in his arms but it's no good
things don't go like they should
sleep on the carpet through the night
we're living off a TV dinner
hanging me up by his gold chain
he used to be a hockey player
i used to be a figure skater
cutting my leg with the blade
in the blue and red arena
trying to pretend we're the same
The song "American Tradition" by Nicole Dollanganger speaks of a toxic father-son relationship influenced by societal pressure and the American culture of winning. The first verse presents the son as someone who idolizes fighting for the sake of getting stronger. The father takes pride in putting up medals and trophies as evidence of his son's success. However, being surrounded by "starving vultures" in the room indicates the negative environment the son had to endure while striving for victory. The second verse exemplifies the father's insensitivity and carelessness towards his son's life. He introduces a dangerous game, a knife game, as a form of entertainment. When the singer starts bleeding, the father does not seem to care because his son is still the "winner" in this game of American toughness. The chorus acknowledges the dramatic irony of the situation, where the singer is held by someone who is supposed to care for them, but they find no comfort.
The third verse uses imagery that shows a distorted view of a family dinner. The family eats a TV dinner—presumably not out of choice but due to financial struggles. The father also wears a gold chain, representing his past success as a hockey player, which he uses to hang the singer. The verse demonstrates the father's failed dreams and his attempt to live vicariously through his son. The last line of the verse is crucial as it shows the singer's conflicting identity with his father's aspirations; he is a figure skater, a sport that is usually associated with femininity. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the lack of comfort and acceptance despite the physical affection.
Line by Line Meaning
He wants to lift weights like a fighter
He aspires to resemble a boxer in terms of strength and fitness
we put the medals on the wall
Our family decorates walls with the trophies won by dad and son
lost in the room of starving vultures
We seem consumed by our obsession with the pursuit of victory, win after win
gold trophies, he got em all
He has achieved all or most of his goals of winning trophies
he wants to be just like his father
He yearns to follow in his father’s footsteps, emulating him at every opportunity
we play the knife game on the table
We play a dangerous game that involves stabbing the table with a knife. This could represent a potential hazard in the household
i bleed to death, it doesn't matter
I sustain a significant injury from the knife game but it has no influence on the overall theme or tone of the song
cuz my baby he's still the winner
His ability to outperform me at the game is all that's important to me
he holds me in his arms but it's no good
Despite his affectionate actions, they may not necessarily represent an emotional connection or relationship between us
things don't go like they should
Our hopes and goals for the future are not realized as planned
sleep on the carpet through the night
We spend the night sleeping rough on the floor
we're living off a TV dinner
We are forced to make do with a less than appealing meal
hanging me up by his gold chain
He is showcasing his wealth and status by using his gold jewelry to hang me onto something
he used to be a hockey player
At one point he played ice hockey professionally or at an amateur level
i used to be a figure skater
I used to excel at discipline, grace, and beauty in figure skating
cutting my leg with the blade
I purposely slice my leg with a razor blade or a skate blade
in the blue and red arena
Referring to the ice rink in the figure skating competition or the playing area of a hockey game, which are usually decorated in blue and red colors
trying to pretend we're the same
We are attempting to bridge the gap between our differing interests and talents to allow us to feel equal, united and happy
Contributed by Caden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@YoEmoMom
He wants to lift weights like a fighter
We put the medals on the wall
In a room of starving vultures
Gold trophies, he got 'em all
He wants to be just like his father
We play the knife game on the table
I bleed to death, it doesn't matter
'Cause my baby, he's still the winner
He holds me in his arms, it's no good
Things don't go like they should
He holds me in his arms, it's no good
Things don't go like they should
Sleep on the carpet through the night
We're living off a TV dinner
Hanging me up by his gold chain
He used to be a hockey player
I used to be a figure skater
Cutting my leg with the blade
In the blue and red arena
Trying to pretend we're the same
He holds me in his arms, it's no good
Things don't go like they should
He holds me in his arms, it's no good
Things don't go like they should