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.
Plants and Rags
PJ Harvey Lyrics
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Ease myself into a body bag
Plants and rags
Ease myself into a body bag
Dreamt of a man
He fed me fine food
He gave me shiny things
He fed me fine food
He gave me shiny things
White and black
You looking for the sun, boy?
The sun doesn't shine down here, no, no, no
White and black
You looking for the sun, boy?
The sun doesn't shine down here, in the shadows
House and home
Who thought they could take away that place?
Outside, and they lead us out quietly
Lead us outside, and the lead us out quietly
House and home
Who thought they could take away that place?
Outside, and they lead us out quietly
Lead us outside, and they lead us out quietly
In "Plants and Rags", PJ Harvey sings about the intersection of poverty, exploitation, and systemic violence that many individuals who are marginalized or living in poverty constantly face. The first verse starts with the repeated phrase "plants and rags," which connotes a sense of despair or resignation. The subject "easing" themselves into a body bag suggests a sense of giving up or accepting their fate. The second verse talks about a dream: "I dreamt of a man / He fed me fine food / He gave me shiny things." This dream alludes to the illusions people can have of a better life or someone coming to save them, but these illusions are often fleeting or lead to disappointment.
The third verse introduces the theme of race, with the lines "White and black / You looking for the sun, boy? / The sun doesn't shine down here, no, no, no." Here, PJ Harvey suggests that regardless of race, people who are impoverished are on the margins of society and will continue to be overlooked by the system. The repetition of "white and black" sets up a contrast that highlights how race is often used to divide people instead of uniting them.
The final verse talks about the loss of a "house and home" and the sense of betrayal that comes from having that taken away. The last two lines "Outside, and they lead us out quietly/ Lead us outside, and they lead us out quietly" emphasize the powerlessness of the individual in the face of larger systems or institutions that can uproot their lives with little warning. The lyrics of "Plants and Rags" are powerful in their depiction of how those in poverty can be disposed of and overlooked without a second thought.
Line by Line Meaning
Plants and rags
The singer is relying on basic, everyday items to cope with difficult emotions.
Ease myself into a body bag
The singer feels as though they are already dead and is accepting their own mortality.
Dreamt of a man
The singer is escaping reality by retreating into their dreams.
He fed me fine food
The artist's dream represents a desire for luxury and comfort.
He gave me shiny things
The artist feels unfulfilled and is searching for material possessions to provide a sense of worth.
White and black
The world is divided into dichotomies, but the singer cannot find any positivity or hope within them.
You looking for the sun, boy?
The singer is addressing someone who is searching for positivity and light in a dark world.
The sun doesn't shine down here, no, no, no
The artist does not believe that happiness or positivity is possible in their current situation.
House and home
The artist yearns for a sense of stability and comfort, but is struggling to find it.
Who thought they could take away that place?
The artist is angry that something they valued was taken from them.
Outside, and they lead us out quietly
The singer was removed from their home without resistance and feels powerless.
Lead us outside, and they lead us out quietly
The repetition of this line emphasizes the artist's sense of oppression and lack of control over their own life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: POLLY HARVEY, ROBERT DAMIAN ELLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind