If there is one thing that Sarah Jaffe will never have to contend with it is the idea that she is a female singer for females. There once was a time that being a female singer meant you would undoubtedly be put into an all too snug box. Is she an angry singer? An activist singer? A singer for the victimor the singer your mom bonds with you over? To be honest, when Sarah’s new CD Suburban Nature was released on May 18th she inserted herself into and destroyed all those boxes simultaneously, because Sarah is a truth singer...and no matter who or what we are we all need and want our singers to be truth singers. Jaffe’s words and voice seem like they are speaking to you, only to you, yet they contain a universal appeal evidenced by the fact that she has recently toured with Midlake and Norah Jones -- two completely different audiences who Jaffe, equally endearing and confident, easily won over.
Growing up in Red Oak, Texas, might not be ideal circumstances for breeding the kind of talent that is encompassed in Sarah’s songs, but it does beg the question of nature verses nurture. What we have in us before we are even us, and what we interpret because of life circumstances. Writing since her early teens, many of the songs featured on Suburban Nature were written long before she could even enter the clubs where they are now performed.
Interestingly enough the first single “Vulnerable,” was written when Sarah was only 17, long before even the material on her first EP, the acclaimed Even Born Again, was produced. Even so, it comprises everything that matters about her voice. If there is one thread that flows through all of Sarah’s work, it is grappling with the self-serving cycles that are in all of us, and the aftermath that those needs deal out. “I’m a fan of life’s wicked ironies. These things that reveal the truth from an aerial view nowhere near your perspective of the situation, and through these realizations you find redemption.” And so it is with Suburban Nature.
From opening track “Before You Go,” everything sounds as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon, the sonic spread covering every degree of the mix. It’s thick enough to feel when you breathe, but spatial enough to allow for the one thing that truly matters with singer/songwriters: their voice. When talking to the album's producer and engineer John Congleton (St Vincent, Polyphonic Spree, Explosions in the Sky, Clinic) about the spacious feel of the album, he had this to say on the matter: “I think it was intentional. Both Sarah’s and my feelings on this was that the vocal should be the focal point have as much space as possible, while the music provided an emotional backdrop.”
Skilled players such as Kris Youmans - cello (Bill Callahan, The Paper Chase, Micah P Hinson) Becki Howard – violin (The Crash That Took Me) Jeff Ryan – percussion (The Baptist Generals, St Vincent, Pleasant Grove) and Robert Gomez - guitar (as himself) provide this essential emotional backdrop. Just take a listen to “Pretender” for an example of the power and talent contained in this group of players. Layers of moveable music float in, out, under and over lines such as “So here we stand, like flowers in the cold, wilt and wither/Here's your chance/Tell me what you want/I'm a forgiver.” In other situations the group provide the perfect backbeat so Sarah is free to spin yarn that might not always be fact, but like we said, is certainly truth.
On “Clementine,” she sings, “We were young, we were young, we were young, we didn't care.” Although only 24 you actually believe her. You believe her because you believe that no matter what her actual age, she lived through the war of a relationship or fifty that aged her to her core, and now her soul speaks to yours in the places where you have aged, and set down roots that flow as grid in a suburb becoming part of your nature. This is why we need singers like Sarah Jaffe and albums like Suburban Nature: We need a truth singer to be a soothsayer, and help heal us in the broken places of our time.
Since the release of Suburban Nature, Sarah has toured constantly, hitting both Europe and the US with Midlake, as well as supporting such varied artists as Norah Jones, Lou Barlow, Centro-matic and Old 97s. “Clementine” Sarah’s debut single reached the #1 spot at various radio stations including Austin’s influential KGSR and Sirus’ Spectrum. Sarah and Suburban Nature landed in many 2010 “Best of Lists” including: Paste Magazine’s 10 Best New Solo Artists, 50 Best Albums, and 50 Best Songs; Amazon.com’s Best Albums and Song’s; USA Today’s Pop Candy 100 People of 2010.
Sarah released The Way Sound Leaves a Room, a CD/DVD combo in Fall 2011. In early 2012, Sarah released the follow up to Suburban Nature, The Body Wins.
Mannequin Woman
Sarah Jaffe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fall in the frontline, and back to Middle earth
Mannequin woman, can't set myself in motion
Feel the blood pumping but cannot find a pulse
Oh I just don't, just don't know, know, know
(Repeat)
My friends were my counselors, and they told me what to do
There's always a point, a point of no return
Always something to give up
Always something to learn
Send my brain in circles, she'd my bitter skin
Still a mannequin woman
Can't set myself in motion
Oh I just don't, just don't know, know, know
(Repeat)
Just don't know (repeat)
The song "Mannequin Woman" by Sarah Jaffe is a haunting and introspective meditation on feeling stuck and unable to move forward in life. The lyrics suggest a sense of alienation from oneself and one's emotions, represented by the metaphor of a mannequin. The singer describes the feeling of being "life like a b-side," as if they are on the periphery of their own existence, detached from their own vitality.
In the second verse, the singer suggests that they have attempted to cope with this sense of stagnation by seeking guidance from others, but ultimately feel as though they are on a never-ending cycle of trying to change themselves without success. The repetition of the line "just don't know" emphasizes a feeling of helplessness and uncertainty, as though the singer is lost in their own internal struggle.
The song's haunting melody and sparse instrumentation add to the sense of longing and melancholy that pervades the lyrics. Overall, "Mannequin Woman" is a powerful and evocative exploration of the human condition and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often feels too overwhelming to navigate alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Life like a b-side, a medicated verse
Life is like the lesser known side of a vinyl record, with a numbed and hollow existence.
Fall in the frontline, and back to Middle earth
Experience the harshness of reality, then retreat back into a mundane routine.
Mannequin woman, can't set myself in motion
Feeling frozen and unable to take action, like a lifeless mannequin.
Feel the blood pumping but cannot find a pulse
Being alive physically, but struggling to find meaning or purpose in life.
Spent a month to be quiet, a few days to be cool
Tried to find inner peace and calmness, but only achieved it for a short while.
My friends were my counselors, and they told me what to do
Relied on friends for guidance and advice during difficult times.
There's always a point, a point of no return
There comes a moment when one must accept the consequences of their actions, unable to go back.
Always something to give up
In life, there is always something that must be sacrificed or abandoned.
Always something to learn
Life is full of lessons and opportunities for growth and personal development.
Send my brain in circles, she'd my bitter skin
Being stuck in a constant cycle of negative thoughts and feelings.
Still a mannequin woman
Even after attempting to change, still feeling mentally and emotionally frozen and stuck.
Oh I just don't, just don't know, know, know
Expressing confusion and uncertainty about life and its meaning.
Just don't know (repeat)
Continuing to struggle with understanding one's life and purpose.
Contributed by Jayce A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RUSTY NEEDLES
Life like a b-side, a medicated verse
Fall in the frontline, and back to middle earth
Mannequin woman, can't set myself in motion
Feel the blood pumping but cannot find a pulse
Oh I just don't, just don't know, know, know
(repeat)
Spent a month to be quiet, a few days to be cool
My friends were my counselors, and they told me what to do
There's always a point, a point of no return
Always something to give up
Always something to learn
Send my brain in circles, shed my bitter skin
Still a mannequin woman
Can't set myself in motion
Oh I just don't, just don't know, know, know
(repeat)
Just don't know (repeat)
sacrenoirmusic
What an amazing voice, track and beautiful video.
mermaidhawk
this song just captivated me the music, beat ,her voice ....it is perfect!!!
kurtsaunt
Love her voice and style! ♥
RUSTY NEEDLES
Life like a b-side, a medicated verse
Fall in the frontline, and back to middle earth
Mannequin woman, can't set myself in motion
Feel the blood pumping but cannot find a pulse
Oh I just don't, just don't know, know, know
(repeat)
Spent a month to be quiet, a few days to be cool
My friends were my counselors, and they told me what to do
There's always a point, a point of no return
Always something to give up
Always something to learn
Send my brain in circles, shed my bitter skin
Still a mannequin woman
Can't set myself in motion
Oh I just don't, just don't know, know, know
(repeat)
Just don't know (repeat)
albertog555
Being from Dallas, I can attest to Sarah J being one of many relatively new artists from this area who, to many, are producing outstanding contemporary popular music. Others to check out from the Dallas/Ft Worth/Denton area would be (alphabetically): Air Review, The Orbans, The Os, Luke Wade. And others I've not mentioned but are certainly worth researching/discovering. This area is a treasure trove of talent, and has been for some time. In many of the arts, both large and small.
John Breedlove
thanks KXT Dallas public radio for this one today. I was hooked instantly. Like old Poe style, but she has her own thing going.
Игорь Дарчич
Brilliant! Love it!
Long Live Rock'n'Roll!
You awesome Sarah! We love you!
Tom Person
Love it
Heather McAlister
So good. BTW Concert at the Granada in Dallas yesterday (1/25/2014) WAS AMAZING. Awesome job Sarah. :* LOVE YA.
mirroredhour
AMAZING song! And the video is wonderfully done! And I have brown eyes, but I wished I had hazel eyes, so at least they could look green sometimes.