While still in high school, he recorded his first solo effort, Mythologies, released on the Carpe Diem label, and produced by future 97 Murry Hammond. Miller and Hammond then formed the group Sleepy Heroes, a power-pop trio that released one CD - Under A Radio Sun - and promptly disbanded.
In the early 1990s, Miller started performing country songs acoustically with Hammond with the moniker Ranchero Brothers - a duo that performs occasionally to this day.
Miller's second solo album The Instigator was released in 2002. In 2006, he released The Believer. Recently he released the self-titled Rhett Miller in 2009.
For photographs and additional information visit Rhett Miller's official website www.RhettMiller.com, or the official website of the Old 97's www.Old97s.com.
My Valentine
Rhett Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stars from your head hit the floor
Shock therapy loses it's sting, baby you want more
Sex in war time is sweeter than peace
Yeah, it's the one sweet thing about war
Wanting you is one of the million of these
Baby, get out on the dance floor
Get out on the dance floor
[Chorus]
Make up your mind, mind my valentine
You say you love me yet you treat me unkindly
Got to make up your mind, mind my valentine
Give me a signal, baby, show me a sign
Life during wartime is a beautiful song
Where does that highway lead
You will be glad, someday, you brought me along, babe
You will have a need
You will have a need
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
Operation overload without a doubt
My, my valentine would you please step out
We gotta smoke some grass, we gotta shake our asses
Right this instant, oh oh
Time passes
You got to live against it
Time passes
You got to live against it
[Chorus]
Give me a signal baby, show me a sign
Don't keep it secret baby, I'll show you mine
In the song "My Valentine," Rhett Miller expresses the beauty and sadness of loving someone. The line "loving you, sadly, is a beautiful thing" suggests that even though the relationship may cause pain, it is still worth the experience. The next line, "stars from your head hit the floor," further emphasizes the complexity of the relationship, possibly referencing the moments of frustration or anger that occur. The line "sex in war time is sweeter than peace" is a contradictory statement, as war is usually associated with chaos and destruction, but Miller uses it as a metaphor for the intense passion and desire that can arise during difficult times.
The chorus, "make up your mind, mind my valentine, you say you love me yet you treat me unkindly," reflects the doubts and insecurities that come with an uncertain relationship. Miller asks for a signal or a sign to show that the love is real and ultimately worth pursuing. The lines "operation overload without a doubt, my, my valentine would you please step out" suggest that the singer is feeling overwhelmed and needs clarity from the other person.
The song's repeated references to time passing suggest a fear of missed opportunities or regret. Ultimately, Miller leaves it up to the listener to decide whether the relationship is worth fighting for, with the final line "give me a signal baby, show me a sign, don't keep it secret baby, I'll show you mine."
Line by Line Meaning
Loving you, sadly, is a beautiful thing
Despite the sadness that comes with loving you, it's still a beautiful feeling
Stars from your head hit the floor
You're so mesmerizing that stars seem to be falling from your head
Shock therapy loses its sting, baby you want more
Even though the pain of our relationship is like shock therapy, you want more of it
Sex in war time is sweeter than peace
The only sweet thing about war is that sex during it is more intense
Wanting you is one of the million of these
Wanting you is just one of the many things I feel for you
Baby, get out on the dance floor
Let's forget our problems and dance together
Make up your mind, mind my valentine
Please make a decision about our relationship, my love
You say you love me yet you treat me unkindly
You claim to love me, but your actions show otherwise
Got to make up your mind, mind my valentine
You need to decide what you want from this relationship, my love
Give me a signal, baby, show me a sign
Please let me know how you feel about us, my love
Life during wartime is a beautiful song
Even in the midst of chaos, there can be beauty
Where does that highway lead
We don't know where we're going in this relationship
You will be glad, someday, you brought me along, babe
You'll eventually realize that having me in your life was a good thing
You will have a need
You'll realize that you need me
Operation overload without a doubt
We're reaching our limit in this relationship
My, my valentine would you please step out
My love, can we take a step back and assess our relationship?
We gotta smoke some grass, we gotta shake our asses
Let's relax and have some fun together
Right this instant, oh oh
Let's do it now, without delay
Time passes
Time moves on, whether we're ready or not
You got to live against it
We need to make the most of our time and live our lives fully
Don't keep it secret baby, I'll show you mine
Don't hide your feelings from me, I'll be open with you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEWART RANSOM MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind