Slean recorded her first EP Universe (1997) at the age of nineteen. Since then she has completed a series of albums including: Blue Parade (1998), Night Bugs (2002), and Day One (2004), The Baroness (2008) and the double album Land & Sea (2011).
Night Bugs was her first major label album, co-produced by Slean and Hawksley Workman, and released by WEA in Canada and Atlantic Records in the United States. It was heavily inspired by cabaret music.
In September 2004, Slean released her fourth album, Day One. Here Slean's piano takes a less important spot for the first time in her career. The focus is more on beats, rhythms and guitar, which shines through in the album's first single "Lucky Me". The up-tempo title track "Day One", and "Mary", a song about Slean's grandmother, were released as the second and third singles.
In October 2006, Slean released a mostly-live album, Orphan Music, which consists of songs recorded live at Toronto's Harbourfront Theatre and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Other new tracks featuring Slean and the piano were recorded at DNA Recording Facility in Toronto and Kensaltown Studios in the UK.
Also in 2006, she contributed two tracks ("Us and Them" and "Comfortably Numb") to Pink Floyd Redux, a modern 12-track tribute to Pink Floyd.
Her sixth album The Baroness was released March 2008. An EP with outtakes from the album, entitled The Baroness Redecorates, was released in December of the same year.
Another set of B-sides was released in December 2010. For Beauty Lives, fans could vote for their favourite previously unrecorded track. The ten top songs were recorded especially for the collection.
Slean released the double album Land & Sea in September 2011. It is a concept album, where the songs on Land represent grounded topics and are generally more poppy, while the songs on Sea are more ethereal in subject matter and feature classical arrangements.
Slean released Metaphysics in 2017.
For photos and additional information check out Sarah Slean's official website, www.SarahSlean.com.
Parasol
Sarah Slean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lies in her mind left a burner on
We crowd into the grand salon
We're watching the mansion burn
And I'm not quite down with the way they roll
They throw knives from their eyes at my parasol
And I'm only human after all
Oh it's not like a country lane
A day on the beach in Spain
I'm courting a madness
I cannot explain
Oh Virginia
We didn't know you had it in ya
Oh Sweet Virginia
And I coughed this up in a sooty perfume
Out of my mouth like a feather plume
And now here's one more crazy tune
Adversity rings my bell
And the wound came loose with a terrrible stench
The pain left a stain on my piano bench
And I chased it with a monkey wrench
Cursing in my broken french
It's not like a country lane
A day on the beach in Spain
I'm courting a madness
I cannot explain
Oh Virginia
We didn't know you had it in ya
Oh Sweet Virginia
And no you can't play that in this serious hall
Only apes wearing capes get the curtain call
Your invitation to the ball
Must be lost in the mail
And I don't quite feel like working this crowd
The rest has requested that I dumb it down
They'll run your circus right out of town
If you won't abide, but it's suicide
Not like a country lane
A day on the beach in Spain
I'm courting a madness
I cannot explain
Oh Virginia
We didn't know you had it in ya
Oh Sweet Virginia
We didn't know you had it in ya
Oh Sweet Virginia
"Parasol" by Sarah Slean is a complex song that can be interpreted in various ways, providing us with a glimpse into the songwriter's thoughts and emotions. The song discusses the challenges of surviving in a world full of judgement and criticism. The opening lines display a sense of fear, comparing an individual to a long-necked, shipwrecked swan who has left their burner on, showing us that something terrible could happen at any time. The fear of judgment is then amplified in the following verse, where Slean shares the struggle, the singer faces as she faces the expectations of society. The chorus, "I cannot explain", reinforces this feeling of helplessness in the face of a challenging situation, bringing out the emotions of confusion, anger, and despair.
Throughout the song, the reference to Virginia and the madness the singer is courting is present, leaving the listener to infer whether it is referring to the state or the person. One can also interpret the song as a critique on the entertainment industry, songwriting or even politics. Through the lyrics, we see references to a circus and a monkey wrench, among others, that can be correlated with the industry's cutthroat competition. In this context, the singer refuses to abide by the oppressive nature of the industry or cynical voices that demand she "dumbs it down." The title "Parasol" could also be seen as a symbol for protection, like that of an umbrella, where the singer is seeking refuge from harsh criticism and judgments.
Line by Line Meaning
Long neck, shipwrecked terrified swan
Sarah Slean feels like a swan in distress, with a long neck that's so fragile it will break under the slightest pressure. She's scared and alone, like a shipwrecked swan in the middle of the sea, with no one to help her or keep her safe.
Lies in her mind left a burner on
Sarah Slean's mind is like a stove, with a burner that's always on. She worries about everything and can't seem to stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong.
We crowd into the grand salon
The people around Sarah Slean are like a crowd of onlookers, watching her every move from the grand salon. They're all judging her, hoping to see her fail and fall apart.
We're watching the mansion burn
Despite their efforts to appear civilized and elegant, the people watching Sarah Slean are secretly enjoying the spectacle of her downfall. They're like a group of voyeurs, watching a mansion burn to the ground.
And I'm not quite down with the way they roll
Sarah Slean is uncomfortable with the way the people around her behave. They're cruel and judgmental, and she doesn't want to be a part of their games.
They throw knives from their eyes at my parasol
The people around Sarah Slean are constantly attacking her with their words and their looks. They're like a group of skilled acrobats, throwing knives at her parasol and trying to bring her down.
And I'm only human after all
Despite her best intentions, Sarah Slean is only human. She has her limits and vulnerabilities, and she can only take so much before she breaks.
Go easy on me
Sarah Slean is asking the people around her to be gentle and kind. She's struggling to keep it together, and she needs their support and compassion.
Oh it's not like a country lane
Sarah Slean's life is not like a peaceful country lane. There's no easy path for her to follow, and she's constantly on edge, waiting for the next disaster to strike.
A day on the beach in Spain
Sarah Slean can't escape her troubles by taking a trip to a sunny beach in Spain. Her problems are internal, and she's trapped inside her own mind.
I'm courting a madness
Sarah Slean feels like she's flirting with insanity. She's on the brink of losing control, and she's not sure how much longer she can hold on.
I cannot explain
Despite her best efforts, Sarah Slean can't articulate the depths of her madness. It's a feeling, a sensation that she can't quite put into words.
Oh Virginia
Sarah Slean is addressing Virginia, perhaps as a metaphor for her own inner demon. She's trying to reconcile with this part of herself and make peace with what she's feeling.
We didn't know you had it in ya
Sarah Slean is surprised by the strength of this inner demon, represented by Virginia. She didn't know she had it in her to face this madness head on.
And I coughed this up in a sooty perfume
Sarah Slean is expressing her innermost thoughts and feelings, even if they're ugly or difficult to articulate. She's like a chimney, coughing up soot and ashes that are beautiful in their own way.
Out of my mouth like a feather plume
Sarah Slean's words and music are like feathers, light and airy, but with a deeper and darker meaning lurking beneath the surface.
And now here's one more crazy tune
Sarah Slean is presenting another song, another piece of herself, even though it's difficult and might not be well-received by others.
Adversity rings my bell
Sarah Slean is constantly facing adversity, represented by a bell that's always ringing in her ears. She can't escape it or ignore it, even if she tries.
And the wound came loose with a terrible stench
Sarah Slean is still carrying wounds and scars from her past, and they're starting to fester and smell. She needs to confront these issues and heal from them, but it won't be easy.
The pain left a stain on my piano bench
Sarah Slean's pain is like a stain on her piano bench, a constant reminder of the struggles she's faced and the difficulties she's had to overcome.
And I chased it with a monkey wrench
Sarah Slean is trying to fix her problems, but it's like trying to repair a broken machine with a monkey wrench. She's not sure what she's doing, but she's doing her best.
Cursing in my broken French
Sarah Slean is frustrated and angry, and she's cursing in a foreign language. She's trying to express her emotions, but she's not quite sure how to put it into words.
And no you can't play that in this serious hall
The people around Sarah Slean are trying to censor her music and her message. They don't want her to be too honest or too raw, and they're trying to control what she says and does.
Only apes wearing capes get the curtain call
The people around Sarah Slean are more interested in spectacle than substance. They only appreciate what's flashy and showy, and they don't care about the real humanity behind the performance.
Your invitation to the ball
Sarah Slean is trying to be a part of this world, to fit in and be accepted, but she's not sure how to do it. She's like a child waiting for an invitation to the ball, hoping that someone will notice her and take her under their wing.
Must be lost in the mail
Despite her best efforts, Sarah Slean's invitation to the ball is lost in the mail. She's left standing on the sidelines, watching others dance and have fun without her.
And I don't quite feel like working this crowd
Sarah Slean is tired and weary of trying to please the people around her. She's done with trying to work this crowd and win their approval.
The rest has requested that I dumb it down
The people around Sarah Slean want her to be simpler and more straightforward. They don't like it when she's too complex or difficult to understand.
They'll run your circus right out of town
The people around Sarah Slean are like a mob, and they're ready to run her out of town if she doesn't conform to their standards. They don't appreciate the uniqueness of her message or the beauty of her music.
If you won't abide, but it's suicide
Sarah Slean is faced with a difficult choice. She can either conform to the expectations of those around her, or she can stay true to herself and risk alienating others. Either way, it feels like a form of suicide.
Contributed by Lauren S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.