The daughter of guitarist, Billy Swan, sultry-pop chanteuse Sierra Swan grew up with music in her soul. After her first major label (MCA Records) alternative rock duo Dollshead broke up in 1999, she spent her time creating new material for a solo record and signing with Atlantic Records. During that time she also collaborated with Chad Hugo of the Neptunes and also recorded some vocal tracks for the rock band Cold. She did complete her debut "Queen Of The Valley" (titled "Queen of the Valley Girls" at the time), but after being dropped by the label, it would was not find release until 2008.
After she met singer-songwriter Linda Perry she began to blossom. The two wrote and recorded Swan's official debut solo album, Ladyland, released on Interscope Records in 2006. "Her voice will take you on an emotional journey," said Perry. "Beautiful, erotic, mesmerizing, captivating and suspenseful is everything that comes to mind when listening to Sierra Swan." For Swan, music was a way to cope with the hardships in her life, especially after her mother passed away. Performing her honest and personal music became the ultimate form of therapy. "I realized that performing is like a little high, and I guess you could say it's the healthiest drug I've ever done," confesses Swan.
Queen Of The Valley was released in 2008 on Sierra's own label, Swan World Records. The album featured collaborations with Chad Hugo, Scooter Ward, Linda Perry, Anne Preven and Scott Cutler from Ednaswap.
In 2009 she released her third album, Girl Who Cried Wolf on Swan World Records. Carina Round is featured on two tracks, and subsequently Sierra is also featured on a track for Carina Round's album Tigermending.
Her latest EP "The Sun Sessions"was recorded in 2011 at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis. This EP was produced by Sierra Swan and her father, Billy Swan, and was recorded in just 2 days. This is also the first project Sierra has done with her father.
Sierra is currently working towards a fourth album.
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Don't Say
Sierra Swan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And why do I feel like I've paid all my dues?
I've never tried heroin, I've never done time
So why do I feel like I've committed the crimes?
And he got me drunk
And laid me down
He treated me like a servant
And now I'm scared straight
Can't a procreate
I just can say I never
Should have shaved
Hey, don't say "Everything's fine"
When your life is like a clear blue glass of water
Hey, don't say that everyone's kind
When you say you love her and then you're a goner
So now I'm fine
Thank God, for your time
I can lay in my bed
And waste a different part of my mind
I made a promise
I looked up to the sky
And repeated positivity's
To all mankind
So now I'm straight
I can procreate
But I just can't say
I never got laid
Hey, don't say "Everything's fine"
When your life is like a clear blue glass of water
Hey, don't say that everyone's kind
When you say you love her and then you're a goner
Hey, don't say "Everything's fine"
When your life is like a clear blue glass of water
Hey, don't say that everyone's kind
When you say you love her and then you're a goner
And these are the days I'd like to forget
I go out every night and regret
Everything and everyone I've done
Hey, don't say "Everything's fine"
When your life is like a clear blue glass of water
Hey, don't say that everyone's kind
When you say you love her and then you're a goner
Hey, don't say "Everything's fine"
When your life is like a clear blue glass of water
Hey, don't say that everyone's kind
When you say you love her and then you're a goner
Hey, don't say "Everything's fine"
When your life is like a clear blue glass of water
Hey, don't say that everyone's kind
When you say you love her and then you're a goner
And then you were gone
Sierra Swan's song "Don't Say" is a jarring and painful reflection on a past relationship that left her feeling used and abused. The opening lines reveal her sense of weariness and exhaustion, as she questions why she feels like she's already paid all her dues at such a young age. The lyrics also suggest that there's something inside her that makes her feel guilty or ashamed, even though she hasn't done anything particularly wrong: she's never tried heroin or done time, yet she feels like she's committed a crime. These lines set the tone for the rest of the song, which is filled with similar contradictions and ambiguities.
The second verse reveals more about the specific relationship that has left her feeling so hurt and disillusioned. She sings of a man who got her drunk and treated her like a servant, laying her down and grinding her into the ground. The experience has left her shaken and scared, unable even to procreate. This sense of trauma and fear continues in the chorus, where she warns listeners not to pretend that everything is fine, or that people are kind, when they're really living in a world that's often cruel and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm twenty-one, barely twenty-two
I'm young and inexperienced
And why do I feel like I've paid all my dues?
But I feel like I've experienced enough hardship for a lifetime
I've never tried heroin, I've never done time
I haven't done anything particularly dangerous or reckless
So why do I feel like I've committed the crimes?
But I feel weighed down by guilt and shame
And he got me drunk
And he took advantage of my intoxication
And laid me down
And he had sex with me
He treated me like a servant
He treated me with disrespect and disregard
Me into the ground
Until I felt like nothing
And now I'm scared straight
Now I'm afraid of the consequences of my actions
Can't a procreate
I don't feel ready to have kids
I just can say I never
I can only say that I regret
Should have shaved
I made a mistake
Hey, don't say "Everything's fine"
Don't pretend like everything is okay
When your life is like a clear blue glass of water
When your life is transparent and troubled
Hey, don't say that everyone's kind
Don't assume that everyone is a good person
When you say you love her and then you're a goner
When you say you love someone but then hurt them
So now I'm fine
I'm doing better now
Thank God, for your time
I'm grateful for the help I received
I can lay in my bed
I can relax and rest
And waste a different part of my mind
But my thoughts still plague me
I made a promise
I vowed to change my ways
I looked up to the sky
I sought guidance and inspiration
And repeated positivity's
I focused on positive thoughts
To all mankind
For the benefit of all people
I can procreate
I feel ready to have kids
But I just can't say
But I still regret my past actions
I never got laid
I wish I hadn't been used for sex
And these are the days I'd like to forget
These are painful memories I wish to erase
I go out every night and regret
I engage in self-destructive behavior and feel remorseful
And everything and everyone I've done
I regret all of my past actions and relationships
And then you were gone
And then you left me
Contributed by Camilla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
irishguy200007
She needs to get this as the sound track for a film or something.She is more talented than most and needs to get more promotion.
Friedemann Findeisen
love it. just ordered the album.
Charles Henry
WOW! Sierra takes you into her world...and you just love it!
Steve W
Just learned about this lady recently,still exploring her music and some of her songs are still in that 'growing on me' stage..but I give her props,she has an awesome voice..in my opinion,..just sayin
Asa Trenchard
Love her so much
TheOccasionalMartyr
I agree with everyone about Sierra being way better than just about any female out there, i actually tried to help promote her, but last time i spoke to her she was just getting ready to have her baby.. She is without a doubt my favorite female singer out there, and i hope i can work it out to have her come on tour with Janky Records artists next year..
Nepid
@Skybaby79 that is true but she does have some really good songs on her own, if you havent listened to Ladder, Sex is Keeping us Together, or Copper Red i highly recommend those and if you still think you liked her more in Cold then thats ok because she is still an amazing singer
TheOccasionalMartyr
I agree with everyone about Sierra being way better than just about any female out there, i actually tried to help promote her, but last time i spoke to her she was just getting ready to have her baby.. She is without a doubt my favorite female singer out there, and i hope i can work it out to have her come on tour with Janky Records artists next year.. Benisdown, you can come out of the closet now..
Dahmeahnay
I never knew she sang! She is my friends sister.
Sky79
I think I liked her more with Cold, songs of pain and life suit her well