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.
Sheela-Na-Gig
PJ Harvey Lyrics
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Look at these, my child-bearing hips
Look at these, my ruby red ruby lips
Look at these my work strong arms and
You've got to see my bottle full of charm
I lay it all at your feet
You turn around and say back to me, "he said"
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, he said
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Heard it before, he said
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
The song "Sheela-Na-Gig" by PJ Harvey is a powerful commentary on societal perceptions of female sexuality and the ways in which women are often objectified and judged for their bodies. Throughout the song, Harvey uses vivid and sometimes shocking imagery to drive home her message. The first verse, for example, describes the singer's "child-bearing hips," "ruby red ruby lips," and "work strong arms." These body parts are often seen as signs of femininity and sex appeal, and Harvey seems to be defiantly presenting them to the listener, as if to say "This is who I am and I won't apologize for it."
The chorus repeats the phrase "Sheela-Na-Gig," which refers to a medieval statue of a woman with her legs spread wide open, exposing her genitals. This statue was often used as a talisman to ward off evil spirits, and many believed that its provocative posture was intended to shock and awe people into submission. Harvey seems to be reclaiming this symbol of female sexuality, transforming it from an object of fear to a symbol of empowerment.
The later verses of the song also touch on themes of power dynamics and domestic abuse. The singer vows to "wash that man right out of her hair," but also acknowledges that there will always be another man waiting around the corner. The repeated refrain of "Put money in your idle hole" also seems to be a commentary on the ways in which women's bodies are often commodified and exploited by men.
Overall, "Sheela-Na-Gig" is a powerful and provocative song that forces listeners to confront their own assumptions and biases around gender, sexuality, and power.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been trying to show you over and over
I've been trying to express myself to you several times
Look at these, my child-bearing hips
Look at my hips that are capable of bearing children
Look at these, my ruby red ruby lips
Look at my lips that are red as rubies
Look at these my work strong arms and
Look at how strong and capable my arms are
You've got to see my bottle full of charm
You need to see how charming I can be
I lay it all at your feet
I offer all of myself to you
You turn around and say back to me, "he said"
You ignore me and repeat someone else's words to me
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
Referring to the statue of a woman exposing her genitals that is common in medieval architecture
You exhibitionist
You are shamelessly showing off
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
I will get rid of that man
Heard it before, no more
I'm tired of hearing the same old excuses
Turn the corner, another one there
There's another man around the corner
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
I will give my love to someone who deserves it
Put money in your idle hole
You are wasting your money on frivolous things
He said "wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He asked me to wash my breasts to appease his own cleanliness standards
He said "please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He asked me to remove my breasts from his presence because he found them dirty
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: POLLY HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind