Some have described PAPA vs PRETTY as certain to “rock your face”. Others have urged you “catch them before they explode into a fireball of fame that is too bright for your puny mortal eyes to look at”.
Drum Media put it a little more simply when they said “…may god, strike me down if it isn’t the greatest thing I’ve heard all year…the arrival of what should soon be a formidable talent.”
Already making their festival debut this year at 2008’s Parklife Sydney, PAPA vs PRETTY have been added to the end-of-year Peat’s Ridge lineup, sharing the billing with well-known acts like Salmonella Dub, Sparkadia, The Temper Trap, and Pivot.
Having won the hearts and minds alike of Sydney’s indie crowd, the band have enjoyed repeated airplay on sydneys FBi radio and some occasional play on the J’s, as well as numerous comparisons from the blogosphere and street press worlds to Arcade Fire, Joy Division, and Radiohead.
PAPA vs PRETTY have played with the likes of Dappled Cities Fly, British India, Goldfrapp, Soulwax, Dizzie Rascal, Bluejuice, The Devoted Few, 78SAAB, Malcolm Middleton, Grafton Primary & The Temper Trap, and graced many of Sydney’s most sought-after stages, including the Oxford Art Factory, World Bar, and The Factory and Festivals such as Parklife.
As blog Kent Garage put it – “Mais quelle fraicheur dans le son ! Ils livrent une indie puissante, terriblement originale et si rÈflÈchie…C’est la dÈcouverte de ce dÈbut d’automne.”
Or, for the non-French speakers amongst us, “But what freshness in the sound! They deliver powerful indie, terribly original and thoughtful!...
It is the discovery of this Autumn.”
Charity Case
Papa vs Pretty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's with some street like rain
Touch a statistic, face to face with sickness
I can do it, and I'll do it again
If you want me, you just have to say
Come on try hard to me
I've been waiting all day
Well go cos you're stalling, work it out
I am your charity case
Working on dead days
Well go cos you're stalling, work it out
I am your charity case
Working on dead days
Dirty sheets I drift through the harbour
Watching spotlights trying to lose myself
Oh but I can't come down, I see you aint like murder on the shore choking
With no help
I was trying to get the message to you
Yes I was trying to get the message through
Well go cos you're stalling work it out
I am your charity case
Working on dead days
Well go cos you're stalling work it out
I am your charity case
Working on dead days
Ooohh
I'm your charity case
I'm your charity case
Noo noo
The lyrics of Papa vs Pretty's song Charity Case depict a person who seems to be experiencing a state of emotional turmoil. The line "Open hands closed eyes in the casquet" can be interpreted as the person being vulnerable and accepting, yet unaware of their surroundings. The following line, "That's with some street like rain" implies that this person is in a difficult situation, akin to being caught in a storm.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more nuanced. The line "Touch a statistic, face to face with sickness" refers to the person confronting their problems head-on, no matter how difficult or overwhelming they may seem. The repeated refrain "Well go cos you're stalling, work it out" is a reminder to confront the issues that are holding them back.
The song seems to convey a sense of hopelessness and desperation, but also determination and perseverance. Despite being a "charity case," the person is willing to work hard and fight for their survival. The lyrics also suggest an underlying message of reaching out to others and asking for help; the line "If you want me, you just have to say" implies that the person is willing to lend support to others, as long as it's reciprocated.
Line by Line Meaning
Open hands closed eyes in the casquet
I am ready and willing to help, but I am blind to the harsh reality of the situation.
That's with some street like rain
The streets are like rain, because they are constantly changing and unpredictable.
Touch a statistic, face to face with sickness
When I see the numbers, I am confronted with the devastating reality of illness and disease.
I can do it, and I'll do it again
Although it is difficult, I am always willing to help those in need.
If you want me, you just have to say
I am here to help you, all you have to do is ask.
Come on try hard to me
Make an effort to reach out, and I will do everything in my power to help.
I've been waiting all day
I am ready to help, and have been waiting for someone to ask for assistance.
Well go cos you're stalling, work it out
Stop hesitating, and figure out a plan of action.
I am your charity case
I am someone who is in need of help and support.
Working on dead days
I am working tirelessly, even on days where everything seems lifeless and hopeless.
Dirty sheets I drift through the harbour
I am lost, surrounded by filth, and searching for a way out of a dark place.
Watching spotlights trying to lose myself
I am looking for a way out of the darkness, and hoping to find a brighter path.
Oh but I can't come down, I see you aint like murder on the shore choking
I am unable to escape the darkness, and it feels like I am struggling to breathe while drowning in the violence around me.
With no help
Despite my struggles, I am receiving no help or support from those around me.
I was trying to get the message to you
I have been trying to communicate to those around me that I need help and support.
Yes I was trying to get the message through
Despite my best efforts, it seems like my message is not being heard or understood.
Ooohh
Vocalization expressing strong emotions of pain or discomfort.
I'm your charity case
I am someone in need of charity or assistance.
Noo noo
Vocalization expressing a sense of sadness or sorrow.
Contributed by Elena W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
oscarmanutdfan2
This band explodes my brain.