Saint Etienne is an indie dance/indie pop trio which formed in Croydon, Eng… Read Full Bio ↴Saint Etienne is an indie dance/indie pop trio which formed in Croydon, England in 1990. The band was founded by journalist Bob Stanley (born December 25, 1964) and Pete Wiggs (born May 15, 1966) in Croydon, UK, January 1990. After recording 2 singles with guest singers, Sarah Cracknell (born April 12, 1967, Chelmsford, Essex) joined as a full member. The band is named after a French football team.

Saint Etienne are one of the bands who defined the early 90s indie dance genre, fusing the production values of the dance-pop that emerged in the wake of the Second Summer of Love with the clever lyrics and self-aware production of indie music.

Heather
Saint Etienne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Heather was a girl who could open her eyes
Heather was a girl who just woke up one night
Heather was a girl who once questioned her life
She comes and she goes like the warmth in the daylight

Oh, just what I wanted
Pictures of Heather, her hair down
Whispers when

So, this house is haunted
I feel my own subconscious drown
Happens so

Heather to the left and to the right
Having such fun though I'm bruised black and blue tonight
Heather on the left and on the right
Heather set a firework setting the sky alight

Heather was a girl who could open her eyes
Heather was a girl who just woke up one night
Heather was a girl who once questioned her life
She comes and she goes like the warmth in the daylight

Oh, still taking chances
Curious girl sat on her throne
Sleep alone
For her victim pictures
They can take over all my heart
Tonight

Heather to the left and to the right
Having such fun though I'm bruised black and blue tonight
Heather on the left and on the right
Heather set a firework setting the sky alight

Heather was a girl who could open her eyes
Heather was a girl who just woke up one night
Heather was a girl who once questioned her life
She comes and she goes like the warmth in the daylight

This house is haunted
This house is haunted

This house is haunted
This house is haunted

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Saint Etienne's song "Heather" tell the story of a girl named Heather who has an unpredictable, dreamlike quality to her presence. Heather is described as someone who can "open her eyes" and just "wake up one night," suggesting that she is spontaneous and unpredictable. She is also a girl who questions her life and seems to come and go like the warmth of daylight. The lyrics imply that Heather is both fascinating and elusive, and they describe her in a way that suggests she possesses a powerful aura.

The chorus of the song repeats the name "Heather" while describing her on the left and right, suggesting that she is everywhere at once. The lyrics also describe the singer's experiences of being with Heather, which involve having fun but also getting bruised black and blue. The second verse introduces more mysterious and eerie elements to the story, with mention of a haunted house and Heather sitting on her throne. The lyrics suggest that Heather takes risks and has a dark, hypnotic quality to her that makes her hard to resist.

Overall, the lyrics of "Heather" paint a vivid picture of a girl who is both captivating and unpredictable. She seems to have a powerful effect on those around her, drawing them in with her aura but also leaving them confused and sometimes hurt.

Line by Line Meaning

Heather was a girl who could open her eyes
Heather was a girl who had self-awareness and could see things clearly

Heather was a girl who just woke up one night
Heather had an awakening moment where she realized the truth about herself and her life

Heather was a girl who once questioned her life
Heather had doubts about the direction of her life

She comes and she goes like the warmth in the daylight
Heather's presence in someone's life is fleeting and unpredictable

Oh, just what I wanted
The artist is happy with what they have received

Pictures of Heather, her hair down
The singer is looking at pictures of Heather with her hair let down

Whispers when
The singer hears whispers at some point in time

So, this house is haunted
The artist believes that the house they are in is haunted

I feel my own subconscious drown
The artist is overwhelmed by their own thoughts and emotions

Happens so
Something unexpected or surprising occurred

Heather to the left and to the right
Heather is present on both sides

Having such fun though I'm bruised black and blue tonight
The artist is having a good time, despite being physically hurt

Heather set a firework setting the sky alight
Heather did something exciting and memorable

Curious girl sat on her throne
Heather is a curious person who holds a position of authority or power

Sleep alone
The singer is going to sleep by themselves

For her victim pictures
The artist is looking at pictures of what Heather has done or has had done to her

They can take over all my heart
The artist is fully invested in and affected by the pictures they are looking at

This house is haunted
The singer reiterates their belief that the house is haunted

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sarah Jane Cracknell, Peter Wiggs, Bob Stanley, Nick Moon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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