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.
Run All You...
Nina Nastasia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chase me round the green grass,
Burn all your little houses
Down to their shadows
In howling flames
For nights we stared
Biting at the blackened air
Quiet, all you smoke dogs
Snarling at the willows,
Fighting in the leaves,
Tearing at the hollows
Of little dead dogs
The lyrics of Nina Nastasia's song, "Run All You..." are somewhat enigmatic and carry multiple interpretations. Initially, the lyrics may appear to relate to some sort of fear or anxiety due to being chased by big dogs. However, the lyrics may also carry deeper connotations of social and political issues.
The first few lines "Run, all you big dogs, chase me round the green grass" could be interpreted as an accusation of those in power, those in society who use their strength and authority to chase and subjugate others who are weaker than them. The second line "Burn all your little houses down to their shadows/ In howling flames," could symbolize the destructive and oppressive nature of those in power, who burn down people's homes, maybe even metaphorically in the form of oppression or systemic exclusion. The latter lines may signify the idea that even when people try to resist and fight against such oppression, they find little support and are stamped down and destroyed, leaving them feeling bleak and hollow.
Nina Nastasia has exhibited symbolic storytelling in her music, laced with deeper meanings and commentaries that can only be understood through close analysis of her lyrics. Surely, the physical world and the metaphoric one converge in her work to make statements about fight and change.
Line by Line Meaning
Run, all you big dogs,
You may pursue me, powerful and dominant beings
Chase me round the green grass,
But you will never catch me, I am nimble and elusive
Burn all your little houses
You can destroy all that I have built and cherish
Down to their shadows
Reducing everything I hold dear to ashes and memories
In howling flames
The destruction will be loud and chaotic
For nights we stared
I will be left to endure the aftermath, alone and sleepless
Quiet, all you smoke dogs
Calm yourselves, ephemeral beings made of smoke
Snarling at the willows,
Do not pretend to be fierce, when in reality you are weak and powerless
Fighting in the leaves,
Struggling in a futile battle for dominance
Tearing at the hollows
Destroying the remains of inferior, lifeless creatures
Of little dead dogs
Whose insignificant existence is already over
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NINA NASTASIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind