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.
Dear Darkness
PJ Harvey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you cover, cover me again?
Dear darkness, dear
I've been your friend for many years
Won't you do this for me, dearest darkness?
And cover me from the sun
And though the words tightening
Around the throat of the one I love
Tightening, tightening, tightening
Around the throat of the one I love
Tightening, tightening, tightening
Dear darkness, dear darkness
Now it's your time to look after us
?Cause we kept your clothes, we kept your business
When everyone else was having good luck
So now it's your time, time to pay
To pay me and the one I love
With the worldly goods you stashed away
With all the things you took from us
The song "Dear Darkness" by PJ Harvey speaks of a deeply rooted relationship with the darkness as a force to ease the pain and to demand its protection from the light. Harvey, in the first verse says, "Dear Darkness, won't you cover, cover me again?" This repetition in the first line plays a significant role in showcasing the intimacy between the artist and the darkness. She is asking the darkness to hide her away from the world yet again, like an old friend helping her through her worst days.
In the second verse, the artist switches her attention to the darker sides of life. She sings, "And though the words tightening, the words are tightening around my throat and the throat of the one I love." At this point, it is believed that she speaks of an illness or a crippling anxiety that makes it difficult to express herself. The 'tightening' refers to the constriction brought on by the fear and panic, a symbol of being held back from the light or the good parts of life.
Throughout the song, the artist addresses the darkness as a friend, an equal, looking after her in her times of need. The darkness, which represents the hardest parts of life, is a force to be learned from instead of shying away from. Harvey uses the song as a plea for the darkness to take care of those who have been faithful to it and to give back to those who have given much to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear darkness, dear darkness
Addressing the darkness as a dear friend
Won't you cover, cover me again?
Asking the darkness to protect and shelter me
Dear darkness, dear
I've been your friend for many years
Recognizing the long-lasting relationship with the darkness
Won't you do this for me, dearest darkness?
And cover me from the sun
Pleading the darkness to provide its shade from the harsh reality
And though the words tightening
The words are tightening around my throat and, and
Expressing the suffocation caused by the overwhelming emotions
Around the throat of the one I love
Tightening, tightening, tightening
Around the throat of the one I love
Describing the pain and pressure felt by the singer and their loved one
Dear darkness, dear darkness
Now it's your time to look after us
Asking the darkness to take care of the singer and the loved one
?Cause we kept your clothes, we kept your business
When everyone else was having good luck
Reminding the darkness of the loyalty and support provided in the past
So now it's your time, time to pay
To pay me and the one I love
Expecting compensation from the darkness for the hardships endured
With the worldly goods you stashed away
With all the things you took from us
Referring to the shadowy gains and losses caused by the darkness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: POLLY JEAN HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind