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.
Fountain
PJ Harvey Lyrics
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Fountain
Cool skin
Washed clean
Wash him from me
Along comes the wind
A big bone shaker
Completely naked, what to do?
When everything's
Left you
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-dum
Out of the blue
It is he
Vision to me
Bearing leaves
Petals green
Covers me
In all my shame
Hand in hand
He's my big man, stays with me
Some forty days, no words
Then goes away
I cry again
On my hill I wait for wind
And on my hill I wait for wind
And on my hill I wait for wind
And on my hill I wait for wind
And on my hill I wait for wind
And on my hill I wait for wind
The lyrics to PJ Harvey's "Fountain" appear to be about a woman who is trying to wash away a relationship or a past lover. She stands under a fountain and feels the cool water washing her skin clean, hoping it will wash her ex-lover away from her. The wind then comes along and blows off her clothes, leaving her completely naked and exposed. She is left to figure out what to do when everything has been stripped away and she has been left alone. The lyrics suggest that she is looking for some kind of emotional purity or rebirth through the cleansing power of water, but she is left with a feeling of loneliness and longing after her lover leaves her.
The second half of the song seems to introduce a new character or vision to the singer. The lyrics are somewhat ambiguous, but it seems that the singer encounters a man who bears leaves and petals and covers her in her shame. He stays with her for a period of time before leaving abruptly, leaving her to cry once again. The reference to "forty days" might suggest a biblical reference to Jesus' time in the wilderness or perhaps the length of time it takes to cleanse and purify oneself. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is waiting for something, perhaps for the cleansing wind to come and sweep away her troubles.
Overall, the lyrics to "Fountain" are somewhat open to interpretation, but they seem to touch on themes of cleansing, purification, and the search for emotional renewal. The water of the fountain represents this cleansing power, but the song also acknowledges the difficulty of letting go of past relationships and hurts. The references to leaves and petals suggest the possibility of growth and renewal, but the singer is left waiting for the wind to bring change.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand under
Be in the presence of
Fountain
A symbol for renewal, rebirth and salvation
Cool skin
Feeling refreshed
Washed clean
Cleansed of previous sins, mistakes or hardships
Wash him from me
Cleanse myself from the memory of a past lover
Along comes the wind
A change in circumstances or fate
A big bone shaker
A sudden and powerful force of change
Blows off my clothes
Leaves nothing to hide or conceal
Completely naked, what to do?
Feeling exposed and vulnerable, not sure how to react
When everything's Left you
When all else fails and you're left with nothing
Out of the blue
Unexpectedly
It is he
A familiar face or presence
Vision to me
Appears as a vision or dream
Bearing leaves
Brings new life or growth
Petals green
Symbolizing rebirth and renewal
Covers me
Provides comfort and shelter
In all my shame
Despite feeling exposed and vulnerable
Hand in hand
Together, connected
He's my big man
A protector or source of strength
Stays with me
Remains a constant presence
Some forty days, no words
A period of time where nothing is communicated
Then goes away
Leaves without explanation
I cry again
Emotional pain or heartbreak
On my hill I wait for wind
Hope for a change or relief from hardships
And on my hill I wait for wind
A repetitive and ongoing search for hope
And on my hill I wait for wind
Persistently longing for change
And on my hill I wait for wind
Holding onto hope, despite the odds
And on my hill I wait for wind
Refusing to give up and continuing to search for renewal
And on my hill I wait for wind
Enduring perseverance and faith in the face of adversity
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Written by: POLLY HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind