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.
Who the Fuck
PJ Harvey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you think you are
Get out
Of my hair
Who the fuck
Do you think you are
Comin' round
Here
Who the fuck?
Who the fuck?
Who the fuck
Do you think you are
Get your comb
Out of there
Coming out
My hair
I'm not like other girls
You can't straighten my curls
I'm not like other girls
You can't straighten my curls
Who the fuck
You tryin' to be?
Get your dog
Away from me!
What the fuck
You doing in there
Get your dirty fingers
Outta my hair!
Who?
Who?
Who?
Who?
Fuck!
Fuck!
Fuck!
You
I'm free
You'll see
I'm me
You'll see
Who?
The lyrics to PJ Harvey's song "Who The Fuck" consist of a strong and assertive message of someone who is being bothered and annoyed by an individual who is trying to control them. The use of strong language and repetition throughout the lyrics emphasizes the frustration and anger of the person in the song. The opening lines, "Who the fuck do you think you are? Get out of my hair" immediately set the tone for the song, with the singer asserting their dominance and telling the listener to leave them alone.
The lyrics then go on to challenge societal norms and expectations, with the singer declaring that they are not like other girls and cannot be controlled or manipulated. This is highlighted with the lines, "You can't straighten my curls," emphasizing the individuality and unique nature of the singer. The repetition of "Who?" throughout the song is almost like a challenge to the person bothering them, demanding that they explain themselves and their actions. The use of expletives adds to the defiance of the singer, making it clear that they will not be controlled or subdued by anyone.
Overall, the lyrics to "Who The Fuck" are a bold and empowering message of not allowing anyone to control or manipulate you, and standing up for your individuality and uniqueness.
Line by Line Meaning
Who the fuck
A questioning and incredulous expression of not understanding the reason or authority of the addressed person
Do you think you are
Asking the addressed person to explain the basis of their actions or statements
Get out
Demanding the addressed person to leave a place or situation
Of my hair
Expressing annoyance at the addressed person's unwelcome presence or interference
Comin' round
Asking why the addressed person has come to the artist's location or approached them
Here
Asserting the singer's ownership of the space the addressed person has entered
Get your comb
Asking the addressed person to remove and take their object of disturbance out of the singer's personal space
Out of there
Directing the addressed person to remove their object of disturbance from the artist's location
Coming out
Referring to the addressed person's disruptive behavior and how it is affecting the artist
My hair
The artist's personal space or autonomy
I'm not like other girls
Asserting the singer's unique individuality and rejecting the addressed person's expectations and assumptions
You can't straighten my curls
Metaphorically rejecting the addressed person's attempts to control, mold or change the artist's personality or behavior
You tryin' to be?
Questioning the addressed person's authenticity or motive for behaving a certain way
Get your dog
Demanding that the addressed person remove their aggressive or invasive companion from the singer's personal space
Away from me!
Reiterating the singer's desire to have control over their personal space and stating their boundaries
What the fuck
An expression of disbelief, shock or disgust at the addressed person's actions
You doing in there
Questioning the addressed person's purpose and actions in relation to the artist's personal space
Get your dirty fingers
Demanding that the addressed person remove their infected or contaminating hands from the singer's personal space
Outta my hair!
Reiterating the singer's demand for autonomy, privacy and control over their personal space
Fuck!
An exclamation of anger, frustration or emphasis in response to the addressed person's behavior
You
Addressing the person who is responsible for the issues brought to light in the previous lines
I'm free
Asserting the artist's independence, autonomy and freedom from external control
You'll see
Asserting the validity and certainty of the singer's claim, and predicting the addressed person's eventual recognition of it
Who?
A reiteration of the initial questioning tone aimed at the addressed person's lack of legitimacy or authority in relation to the artist's personal space and autonomy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: POLLY JEAN HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@angelcoyote9802
Thank you, PJ Harvey, for creating this piece of gold song.
I feel triumphant putting nasty, underqualified men in their place, and I love watching you celebrate that in your video.
@axelazaryan
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
@DreamingInTechnicolor
My quarantine dance moves.
@neurochunk
Anything that Polly has released is brilliant, can't think of anything bad.
@MephProduction
apart from this.
@billkormas3460
she simply does not miss
@Ulysses76
second that!
@the2ndcoming135
Absolutely adore her. One of my personal faves😅
@Alexandernero666
This is the greatest low budget video of all time !!! An artist actually jamming out to their own song in their own apartment....brilliant!!!
@Ulysses76
yeah, brilliant in its simplicity