Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
Buy Her Candy
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
run and call her name
if i buy her candy
will she know who i am
she's famous
she's the best
cannot lay
she is selfish
she is kind
no one can say
she is mine
like water like spring
fickle fancy fickle girl
come down from the sky
when i need you the most
In Sleater-Kinney's song "Buy Her Candy," the lyrics speak about the longing for recognition and acceptance from someone who is seemingly unattainable - a famous and beloved figure. The opening lines of the first verse express a desire to be noticed by this person, and the idea of buying them candy as a gesture of affection serves as a metaphor for the singer's attempts to win them over. However, there is an underlying sense of doubt present in the lyrics - the question of whether or not this person will even know who the singer is, or if their efforts will ultimately be in vain.
The second verse highlights the conflicting emotions that exist in the singer's relationship with this person. Their feelings towards them are both positive and negative - admiring their talent and success while also resenting their selfishness. The line "no one can say she is mine" speaks to the idea that the singer's desire for this person may never be fulfilled, that they will always exist in their own separate sphere of influence.
The final lines of the song give a sense of resignation, expressing the idea that the object of the singer's affection is as elusive and unpredictable as the natural elements. The line "come down from the sky when I need you the most" suggests that this person is something akin to an angel or divine figure, impossible to predict or control.
Line by Line Meaning
hey don't you wanna
A plea to act upon desire.
run and call her name
To go after what one desires.
if i buy her candy
Using material possessions to impress someone.
will she know who i am
Doubting one's significance and impact.
she's famous
Referring to someone who is well-known and celebrated.
she's the best
Acknowledging someone's remarkable talents and abilities.
cannot lay
Unable to find peace or comfort.
my heart to rest
The distress that comes with longing or yearning for something or someone.
she is selfish
Admitting to someone's flaws or shortcomings.
she is kind
Balancing out someone's negative traits by highlighting a good one.
no one can say
Acknowledgement of ambiguity or uncertainty.
she is mine
Desire to have exclusive ownership or control over someone or something.
like water like spring
Describing the fickleness of someone's nature.
fickle fancy fickle girl
Labeling a person's behavior as constantly changing and indecisive.
come down from the sky
Expecting something or someone to be there at a moment's notice.
when i need you the most
Admitting vulnerability and a reliance on external factors or people.
Contributed by Isabella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.