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)
Don't Talk Like
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're thirty-five if you're a day
Don't act like, like you're nineteen
Everyone is waiting
Haven't I done enough today
Haven't I done enough this time
Haven't I done enough today
"Don't stop here," she said, "Don't say that."
A part of me is dead
Numb just like a fallen limb
Like what you left behind
Haven't I done enough today
Haven't I done enough this time
Haven't I done enough today
Haven't I done enough
There's a part of me that works just like a child
There's a part of me that works just like a child
There's a part of me that works just like a child
There's a part of me that's you
The lyrics of Sleater-Kinney's song "Don't Talk Like" address the issue of ageism and the societal expectations that come with it, specifically focusing on the pressures that women face as they get older. The first verse urges someone not to act younger than they are, reminding them that they are a mature adult of "thirty-five if you're a day." The second verse seems to be a call to other women, asking them not to judge her for her age or to try to compete with her. The lines "Haven't I done enough today/Haven't I done enough this time" suggest that the singer is tired of having to constantly prove herself in a world that values youth over experience.
The chorus is a plea for recognition and validation. Even though the singer has accomplished a lot in her life, she still feels like she's not doing enough. The repetition of "Haven't I done enough today/Haven't I done enough this time" emphasizes the feelings of exhaustion and frustration.
The third verse is more introspective, exploring the different parts of the singer's personality. She acknowledges that there's a part of her that's still childlike, but also recognizes that there's a part of her that's been shaped by her experiences, including the people she's loved and lost. The final line, "There's a part of me that's you," suggests that the song may be addressed to a specific person (perhaps a friend or a partner) who embodies some of these conflicting qualities.
Overall, "Don't Talk Like" is a poignant and relatable exploration of the pressures that women face as they age and how that impacts their sense of self-worth.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't talk like, like you're nineteen
Don't speak with youthful naivety and inexperience
You're thirty-five if you're a day
You're much older and should have more wisdom
Don't act like, like you're nineteen
Don't behave in a way that suggests you're still very young
Everyone is waiting
People are expecting maturity and responsibility from you
Haven't I done enough today
I feel overwhelmed and exhausted from the things I've done
Haven't I done enough this time
I've already put in a lot of effort and don't have much energy left
Don't stop here," she said, "Don't say that."
Don't give up or say negative things that will discourage others
A part of me is dead
I feel emotionally numb and disconnected
Numb just like a fallen limb
This numbness is like a dead or useless part of my body
Like what you left behind
This feeling is caused by something that I lost or that was taken from me
There's a part of me that works just like a child
There's a part of me that is still innocent and curious
There's a part of me that's you
That innocent part of me is something I see in you
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.