Frances Farmer
Patterson Hood Lyrics
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just a picture from a friend that I look at everyday
her head cocked over her shoulder
and eyes far away
I never knew Frances Farmer
I just knew she was an actress that never quite fit in
but I feel her lying next to me,
with translucent skin
I never knew Frances Farmer
but her lips could tell me secrets that the world will never know
A world she left so long ago
I never knew Frances Farmer
but I couldn't know her better if she was sitting here today
Shock treatments and lobotomies
for things you should not say
The lyrics to Patterson Hood's song Frances Farmer explore the life and legacy of the actress Frances Farmer. The opening lines of the song describe how the singer has never met Farmer but has a photograph of her that he looks at every day. The photo shows Farmer with her head cocked over her shoulder and a distant look in her eyes, suggesting a sense of detachment or disconnection from the world around her.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the fact that Farmer was an actress who never quite fit in. He imagines what it would be like to have known her personally, to have held her in his arms and heard the secrets that her lips could tell. But ultimately, he acknowledges that he can never truly know Farmer's story, which ended with shock treatments and lobotomies for things she should not have said.
The song's haunting melody and vivid lyrics capture the sense of mystery and tragedy that surround Farmer's life. It speaks to the way in which fame can be isolating and dehumanizing, while also highlighting the brutality of the mental health treatments that were used in the mid-twentieth century.
Line by Line Meaning
I never knew Frances Farmer
The singer never personally knew Frances Farmer, but is intrigued by her story and image.
just a picture from a friend that I look at everyday
The singer only has access to a photograph of Frances Farmer that he views frequently.
her head cocked over her shoulder
In the photograph, Frances Farmer is posing with her head turned, looking away from the camera.
and eyes far away
Her distant expression suggests she is lost in thought or emotion.
I just knew she was an actress that never quite fit in
The singer is aware that Frances Farmer struggled with mental illness and felt out of place in Hollywood.
but I feel her lying next to me,
breathing in my arms
with translucent skin
The singer imagines what it might be like to intimately know Frances Farmer, describing her as delicate and otherworldly.
but her lips could tell me secrets that the world will never know
The singer recognizes Frances Farmer's extraordinary experiences and imagines her having deep, hidden knowledge.
A world she left so long ago
Frances Farmer has passed away, leaving behind a world where she never quite fit in.
but I couldn't know her better if she was sitting here today
The singer feels that despite never having met her, he understands Frances Farmer more intimately than he ever could through current means.
Shock treatments and lobotomies
for things you should not say
Frances Farmer was subjected to brutal treatments for her mental illness and nonconformity, highlighting the oppressive societal norms of her time.
Contributed by Kaelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.