Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automatic Dlamini as a vocalist, guitarist and saxophonist. The band's frontman, John Parish, became her long-term collaborator. In 1991, she formed an eponymous trio called PJ Harvey and subsequently began her career as PJ Harvey. The trio released two studio albums called Dry (1992) and Rid of Me (1993) before disbanding, after which Harvey continued as a solo artist. Since 1995, she has released a further nine studio albums with collaborations from various musicians including Parish, former bandmate Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey and Eric Drew Feldman, and has also worked extensively with record producer Flood.
Among the accolades Harvey has received are both the 2001 and 2011 Mercury Prize for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) and Let England Shake (2011), respectively, making her the only artist to have been awarded the prize twice. She has also garnered eight Brit Award nominations, seven Grammy Award nominations and two further Mercury Prize nominations. Rolling Stone awarded her three accolades: 1992's Best New Artist and Best Singer Songwriter, and 1995's Artist of the Year. Rolling Stone also listed Rid of Me, To Bring You My Love and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea on its list of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2011, she was awarded for Outstanding Contribution To Music at the NME Awards. In the 2013 Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music.
A Line in the Sand
PJ Harvey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By now we should have learned
If we don’t then we’re a sham
Bad overwhelms the good
Bad overwhelms the good
Ooh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Yes, it’s changed how
I see humankind
I used to think progress was made
We could get something right
We could get something right
Enough is enough
A line in the sand
Seven or eight thousand people
Killed by hand
They stepped off the edge
They did not step back
If we have not learnt
By now
Then we’re a sham
When we first got to the camp
Our supplies were not enough
I saw a displaced family
Eating a cold horse's hoof
Oh a cold horse's hoof
Ooh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
We sent up tents
Brought in water
Air drops were dispersed
I saw people kill each other
Just to get there first
Oh just to get there first
Enough is enough
A line in the sand
Seven or eight thousand people
Killed by hand
They stepped off the edge
They did not step back
If we have not learnt
By now
Then we’re a sham
What we did?
Why we did?
I make no excuse
We got things wrong
But I believe
We also did some good
What we did?
Why we did?
I make no excuse
I believe we have a future
To do something good
Ooh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
In PJ Harvey's song A Line in the Sand, the lyrics seem to be inspired by experiences she had while visiting a war-torn country or refugee camp. The song is a reflection on humanity's capacity for violence and the need for us to learn from our mistakes. The song title, "A Line in the Sand," refers to a metaphorical boundary beyond which violent actions are unacceptable and must be stopped.
The first verse suggests that we have seen enough violence in our world to know that it is wrong, and if we continue to allow it to happen, then we are not living up to our highest ideals as human beings. The second verse recounts a personal experience of witnessing violence and suffering, which has led to a change in perspective for the singer. Rather than seeing progress, there is a sense of hopelessness and a need to draw a line in the sand and take a stand against the violence.
The third verse gives an account of a relief effort that was not fully sufficient and resulted in people resorting to violence against each other just to survive. The final verses offer a reflection on the actions taken and what can be done in the future to make things right.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the nature of violence and our responsibility as human beings to do something about it. It offers a call to action for us to draw a line in the sand and take a stand against the senseless killing that seems to be such a pervasive part of our world.
Line by Line Meaning
How to stop the murdering?
What can be done to prevent killings?
By now we should have learned
We ought to have gained knowledge by now
If we don’t then we’re a sham
If we do not learn, we are not genuine
Bad overwhelms the good
Evil prevails over righteousness
What I’ve seen
My personal observations
Yes, it’s changed how
Certainly transformed my perspectives
I see humankind
I observe humanity
I used to think progress was made
I previously believed that advancements existed
We could get something right
We could achieve something correctly
Enough is enough
The limit has been reached
A line in the sand
A boundary that must not be crossed
Seven or eight thousand people
A large number of individuals
Killed by hand
Perished by human actions
They stepped off the edge
They took a risk
They did not step back
They did not retreat
If we have not learnt
If we have not gained knowledge
Then we’re a sham
Then we are not genuine
When we first got to the camp
Upon arrival at the facility
Our supplies were not enough
Our resources were inadequate
I saw a displaced family
I witnessed a refugee family
Eating a cold horse's hoof
Consuming a horse's cold hooves
We sent up tents
We erected tents
Brought in water
Provided drinking water
Air drops were dispersed
Airdrops of provisions were scattered
I saw people kill each other
I observed individuals murdering one another
Just to get there first
Merely to arrive at a destination ahead of others
What we did?
What actions we took
Why we did?
Our motivation
I make no excuse
I am not offering any justification
We got things wrong
We made errors
But I believe
Nevertheless, I hold the conviction
We also did some good
We contributed positively as well
I believe we have a future
I hold confidence that we can have a positive tomorrow
To do something good
To make a valuable contribution
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: POLLY JEAN HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind