Nastasia has released six albums so far, the first of which, Dogs, was initially released in 2000 in a miniscule edition of 1000 copies on Socialist Records. The album sold out quickly and her subsequent albums, The Blackened Air (2001) and Run to Ruin (2003) were released on indie label Touch and Go Records. The label also re-released Dogs in 2004. All three albums were recorded by Steve Albini, as were later albums released on Fat Cat Records. These include On Leaving in 2006 and You Follow Me (produced in collaboration with Jim White) in 2007. Her sixth and most recent album, Outlaster, was also recorded by Steve Albini and was released in June 2010, preceded by the single Cry, Cry, Baby in May.
Nastasia was a favorite of late BBC disc jockey John Peel and recorded six sessions for his shows. The last one was recorded with the help of Tuvan throat singing group Huun-Huur-Tu. Nastasia also contributed a song to the tribute compilation for Peel named "Bird of Cuzco". Two of Nastasia's songs made Peel's annual Festive Fifty: "Ugly Face" (ranked 4th in 2002) and "You, Her & Me" (13th in 2003).
Discography:
Albums
2000 Dogs (Socialist)
2004 Dogs re-released (Touch and Go)
2001 The Blackened Air (Touch and Go)
2003 Run to Ruin (Touch and Go)
2006 On Leaving (Fat Cat)
2007 You Follow Me [with Jim White] (Fat Cat)
2010 Outlaster (Fat Cat)
Singles
2008 What She Doesn't Know (Fat Cat)
2010 Cry, Cry, Baby (Fat Cat)
Nina's official myspace page can be found at www.myspace.com/ninanastasia.
Ocean
Nina Nastasia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lighting's so dim I hardly see
You're talking and waiting for me
You're getting much smaller as you speak
You're pulling out your hair for nothing
What you say to me rings clear
I'm growing so big, so dumb and blind
Don't run away from me
I tell you, my eyes are black as iron
I'm stepping on houses, trees, and towns
My crying makes everybody drown
I died right in the ocean
I died just like a whale
I died right in the ocean
The lyrics to Nina Nastasia's "Ocean" suggest a sense of distance and disconnection between two people. The first verse describes a scene where the singer is in a dimly lit room with someone else, but despite their proximity, they feel far away. As the other person talks, they seem to shrink in the singer's perception. The phrase "You're pulling out your hair for nothing" suggests frustration or desperation, perhaps indicating that the other person is trying to communicate something important but is not being understood.
The second verse takes a strange turn, with the singer suddenly describing themselves as growing "big, so dumb and blind" and towering "forty stories high." The imagery here is surreal and dreamlike. It's as if the singer is losing touch with reality and getting lost in their own thoughts. The phrase "Don't run away from me" suggests that the distance between the two people is increasing, even if they're physically still in the same room. The final lines of the song continue the theme of isolation and despair, with the singer saying they died "right in the ocean" like a whale.
Overall, the lyrics to "Ocean" seem to be exploring themes of loneliness, disconnection, and internal struggle. The surreal imagery and disconnected narrative create a dreamlike atmosphere that helps to reinforce these ideas.
Line by Line Meaning
You're leagues across a room
You're far away from me, unable to connect
The lighting's so dim I hardly see
The environment is not conducive for seeing clearly, making it hard for me to understand
You're talking and waiting for me
You're trying to communicate with me but I'm not responsive
You're getting much smaller as you speak
As you try to reach out, I become more distant and unapproachable
You're pulling out your hair for nothing
Your efforts are in vain because I'm not listening
What you say to me rings clear
Despite your clarity, I'm unable to understand
I'm growing so big, so dumb and blind
My ignorance and stubbornness is growing, making me difficult to reach
I'm forty stories high
I'm unreachable and unapproachable, like a skyscraper
Don't run away from me
I'm trying to engage you but I'm not making it easy
I tell you, my eyes are black as iron
I'm in a dark place emotionally, making it difficult to see past my own issues and understand yours
I'm stepping on houses, trees, and towns
My attitude and behavior is having a negative impact on those around me
My crying makes everybody drown
My emotional distress is spreading and affecting others
I died right in the ocean
I've hit rock bottom and feel helpless
I died just like a whale
I feel like I'm suffocating and can't breathe with the weight of my problems
I died right in the ocean
I feel overwhelmed and lost, like I've drowned in my own issues
Contributed by Mateo D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.