Their initial meetings were as casual as any, both playing in bands while attending USC. They became friends and continued to play in the same scene. A few years later and they would both be off on their own paths away from school. A mutual friend suggested that Sean go see Lucky’s first film, May at its premiere, and Sean found himself impressed by his former schoolmate. As friends often do, they drifted apart but were brought back together a few years back by the charms of Facebook. Some time later Lucky contacted him specifically to see if he was still making music. Spillane had been making music on and off since leaving USC, most notably with a band called Arlo (SubPop), but was in a period of stepping back from music after having some brushes with major labels. He had some songs that had been sitting around that he thought were worthy of a listen so he sent them along and Lucky was blown away by what he heard. The songs titled “Distracted,” “JHP,” and “Patient Satellite” would go on to be the musical foundation that The Woman was built on. While Lucky was writing the shooting script of The Woman he found himself listening to those three songs on repeat, finding a way to mold key scenes around them. A couple of months later he asked Spillane if he would be interested in scoring the film, “’Not a horror score‘McKee said, ‘Just songs.’”
Soon enough Sean Spillane found himself driving cross country with his gear, ready to walk onto set and get down to work on creating the score for The Woman. Typical creative worries about whether or not he would succumb to writers block or whether Lucky would even like what he wrote quickly faded away. “Being on set, seeing the crew, being around all of them and absorbing the atmosphere of the town, it just made me write like crazy and gave me so much inspiration.” The first song he wrote while on set was “Time To Die” and it received an immediate resounding, “Yes! Keep going!” from Lucky. At the end of shooting each day Spillane would deliver what he had been working on and continued to get positive reinforcement from Lucky, a smooth and seamless collaboration to craft the sound of The Woman.
The score of the film melds effortlessly with the film itself. They’re complimentary to one another in such full effect that they are one in the same. You can’t imagine the film without that specific music and it’s hard to not think of the film when you hear the music even out of context. While the argument could be made that this is the very essence of film scores, there’s something quite striking about this one. Could it be the decision to have the music being created while in the presence of the film? There wasn’t some composer sitting at his piano trying to find inspiration, he was there taking in the vibe of the film, not just reading a description in a script. For me personally, the soundtrack to The Woman was absolutely my favorite album of 2011. I-Tunes tells me I have listened to “Distracted” and “Patient Satellite” well over 100 times…each. I may be slightly biased about my love for the film The Woman being a huge nerd for the films of Lucky McKee. But to be fair, it’s a fine and brutal film, and even if I had never heard of Lucky McKee before I saw it I would love it the same. As for the soundtrack so expertly created by Sean Spillane while it could be a standalone album part of its beauty is in its singularity with the film itself.
What Really Hurts
Sean Spillane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you end up feeling lonely.
Then you wanted to be loved
But you end up feeling cold.
And that's what really hurts.
In the middle of the road.
Don't know which way to go.
Yeah that's what really hurts...
Once, you wanted to belong.
But you grew so cold to all the people
who wanted something from you.
Took without asking always needing more, more, more.
You found it such a bore...
And that's what really hurts...
In the middle of the road...
Don't know which way to go...
Just wanted to be happy...
Yeah that's what really hurts...
That's what really hurts...
And that's what really hurts...
And you end up being lonely...
And you end up being cold...
That's what really hurt's...
Yeah that's what really hurt's...
The lyrics of Sean Spillane's song "What Really Hurts" discuss a common theme of modern society, i.e., the struggle to find happiness in the midst of loneliness and misunderstanding. The song delves into the complexities of human relationships and how we often fall prey to seeking love and acceptance but end up feeling cold and alone despite our efforts. The repeated phrase "That's what really hurts" highlights the pain and anguish of feeling stuck in the middle of the road, unable to find a clear path forward.
The first verse of the song deals with the familiar struggle of wanting to be left alone but ending up feeling lonely. This is a common experience for many people who seek solitude, only to realize that they crave companionship and understanding. The second verse delves into the desire to belong and be loved, but the frustration of dealing with people who only take and never give. Spillane's use of repetition and melancholic melody creates an emotional resonance that captures the listener's attention and conveys the message of pain and isolation.
In conclusion, "What Really Hurts" is a poignant reflection on the human condition, exploring themes of loneliness, misunderstanding, and seeking happiness. It captures the emotional complexity of modern relationships and the challenges we face when seeking fulfillment in a world devoid of empathy and understanding. The powerful lyrics and melody of this song make it a moving and relatable piece of music that speaks to the heart of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
First, you wanted to be left alone
At first, you desired solitude and distance from others
But you end up feeling lonely.
This then led to feelings of isolation and emptiness
Then you wanted to be loved
Later on, you craved affection and companionship
But you end up feeling cold.
But instead, you felt distant and uninvolved
And that's what really hurts.
These conflicting emotions are the source of true pain
In the middle of the road.
Feeling stuck and indecisive
Don't know which way to go.
Unsure of which path or direction to take
There always misuderstanding.
Communication breakdowns and confusion with others
Yeah that's what really hurts...
All of these struggles are truly painful
Once, you wanted to belong.
At a previous time, you yearned for acceptance and inclusion
But you grew so cold to all the people who wanted something from you.
However, you became aloof and distant towards those who sought your attention
Took without asking always needing more, more, more.
These people would constantly take from you without consent or gratitude
You found it such a bore...
You became disinterested and tired of these unfulfilling relationships
Just wanted to be happy...
Ultimately, all you desired was to experience joy and contentment
That's what really hurts...
The unfulfilled and complicated pursuit of happiness is truly painful
And you end up being lonely...
Despite the desire for solitude, loneliness is still deeply felt
And you end up being cold...
And the pursuit of acceptance and warmth often leads to emotional distance
That's what really hurt's...
All of these struggles and disappointments are truly painful
Yeah that's what really hurt's...
The pain of these emotional conflicts is undeniable
Contributed by William S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.