shortstraw play music. music that sounds like puppies being born. music tha… Read Full Bio ↴shortstraw play music. music that sounds like puppies being born. music that sounds like protestors outside an abortion clinic. music that sounds like church bells ringing on a crisp sunday morning. music that sounds like angels playing scrabble. music that sounds like a married couple fighting through the thin wall of your apartment. now doesn't that sound nice?

shortstraw started out in 2007 as a two-piece thrash folk band consisting of the enigma that is oliver nathan and what most would call 'sarcastic', alastair thomas. they played a few shows in and around melville, joburg before bringing in the guitar and keyboard skills of jay hartford and the basswork of the esteemed and handsome phil brierley. now a four-piece, slightly less folky outfit, shortstraw aim to hit the gigging circuit with guns blazing, so look out for a show near you... fuck that's boring. apologies. frankie says go fuck yourself.

Waterworks
Shortstraw Lyrics

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Turn on the waterworks
The fire just won't die
Born with her mothers eyes
And her father's sense of time

Searching to find a word
A better word for new
A call to be a man

A better man than you

Turn on the waterworks
The fire still won't die
Pretending to be a man
A better man than me

Calling a medical
Emergency, I tried
Turn on the waterworks
The fire still won't die

Cataract slowly blind your eyesight
Stuck around for something on the inside
Cataract slowly blind your eyesight (Turn on the waterworks)
Stuck around for something on the inside (Turn on the waterworks)

(Turn on the waterworks)
(Turn on the waterworks)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Shortstraw's "Waterworks" offer listeners insight into the internal struggles of the songwriter. The repeated phrase "turn on the waterworks" suggests a plea for emotional release and a call for tears, as the fire within won't die. The lyric "born with her mother's eyes" and "father's sense of time" suggests the songwriter's heritage and perhaps the internal conflict of living up to their expectations.

The lyrics also explore the songwriter's desire to find a better word for "new" and a call to be a better man than those before them. The repeated phrase "pretending to be a man, a better man than me" suggests a struggle with masculinity and the internal pressure to be better than those who came before. The call to "turn on the waterworks" may also suggest the songwriter's belief that tears and emotions are essential to growth and true masculinity.

Overall, "Waterworks" offers a deep exploration of internal conflict, heritage, and the pressure to conform to society's expectations of masculinity.

Line by Line Meaning

Turn on the waterworks
Start crying to show emotion

The fire just won't die
The passion or anger is still present

Born with her mothers eyes
Inheriting traits from family members

And her father's sense of time
Inheriting traits from family members

Searching to find a word
Trying to express oneself more clearly

A better word for new
Looking for a more powerful way to communicate

A call to be a man
An aspiration to be more mature or responsible

A better man than you
An aspiration to be better than someone else

Pretending to be a man
Faking maturity or responsibility

A better man than me
The artist compares themselves to someone else