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)
Fade
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the spotlight starts to fade
If there's no tomorrow
You better live
All of the roles that we played
Hit your mark, push the walls, stretch the stage
Oh, what a price that we paid
Unbelievable masquerade
Never revealing your truth
Deeper inside that mask you made
Losing the face of you
Tell me what do you see in the last script
Yeah it's a trip, what's it all for?
If we are truly dancing our swan song, darling
Shake it like never before
All of the roles that we played
Hit your mark, push the walls, stretch the stage
Oh, what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
Oh what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
The lyrics of Sleater-Kinney's song 'Fade' contain a deep message about the value of life and living in the moment. The song describes a scenario where the light is fading and the spotlight is gradually losing its glow, symbolizing the end of life. In such a situation, the lyrics urge the listener to live and make the most of the time they have left.
The song also talks about the different roles that people play in their lives, from performing on stage to merely existing in society. The lyrics suggest that people often pay a high price to fulfill these roles and that there may be a deeper truth behind the masks that we put on. The lines "Never revealing your truth, Deeper inside that mask you made, Losing the face of you" indicate that sometimes we are not true to ourselves as we play these roles and that our true selves may be lost in the process.
The song concludes with a plea to enjoy the moment while it lasts. The lyrics encourage the listener to dance their 'swan song' with vigor and energy, shaking it like never before. In the end, the song highlights the importance of living life to the fullest and being true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
When the last strip of light is dimming
As the final burst of light dissipates
When the spotlight starts to fade
As the star's wattage dwindles
If there's no tomorrow
In the absence of a future
You better live
Make the most of the present
All of the roles that we played
Every part we enacted
Hit your mark, push the walls, stretch the stage
Nail the performance, break down boundaries, expand the platform
Oh, what a price that we paid
The cost we incurred
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
My closest fear, my moral compass, the finale
Unbelievable masquerade
Incredible charade
Never revealing your truth
Not divulging your reality
Deeper inside that mask you made
Further beneath the façade you constructed
Losing the face of you
Erasing your identity
Tell me what do you see in the last script
Enlighten me, what is your perception of the final scene
Yeah it's a trip, what's it all for?
It's a journey, what's the purpose of it all?
If we are truly dancing our swan song, darling
If this is our ultimate performance, my love
Shake it like never before
Give it your all like never before
Oh what a price that we paid
The cost we incurred
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
My closest fear, my moral compass, the finale
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARRIE RACHEL BROWNSTEIN, CORIN LISA TUCKER, JANET LEE WEISS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Grace Hopper
lyrics:
When the last strip of light is dimming
When the spotlight starts to fade
If there's no tomorrow
You better live
All of the roles that we played
Hit your mark, push the walls, stretch the stage
Oh, what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
Unbelievable masquerade
Never revealing your truth
Deeper inside that mask you made
Losing the face of you
Tell me what do you see in the last script
Yeah it's a trip, what's it all for?
If we are truly dancing our swan song, darling
Shake it like never before
All of the roles that we played
Hit your mark, push the walls, stretch the stage
Oh, what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
Oh what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
you're welcome.
E.D. McMillan
The double tracking and effects on Corin's voice sound so fucking cool.
Grace Hopper
lyrics:
When the last strip of light is dimming
When the spotlight starts to fade
If there's no tomorrow
You better live
All of the roles that we played
Hit your mark, push the walls, stretch the stage
Oh, what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
Unbelievable masquerade
Never revealing your truth
Deeper inside that mask you made
Losing the face of you
Tell me what do you see in the last script
Yeah it's a trip, what's it all for?
If we are truly dancing our swan song, darling
Shake it like never before
All of the roles that we played
Hit your mark, push the walls, stretch the stage
Oh, what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
Oh what a price that we paid
My dearest nightmare, my conscience, the end
you're welcome.
assmane999
Truly fabulous album. I always listen through without skipping
VioletFlameMusic
I love Sleater Kinney, and... I love this amazing song!!
Rui Carvalho
LIKE
MUITO BOM O ALBUM UM DOS MELHORES DE 2015
FooBarr1
This gem is for those who have the CD since AFAIK they haven't performed it live.
Quan Cave Video
Solid album! Made me wanna travel to cali and buy sunglasses! Great job, ladies!
Big, (and new), Fan!
Rory Davis
Perfect close to a perfect album. Does anyone else hear similarities to 'Sweet Child of Mine' in those opening notes?
hoehammock
+Rory Davis yeah carrie definitely channeled slash a bit there
Seth Wegener
Personally I get more of a Mars Volta/ At the Drive-In flavor with how it works in conjunction with the other instrumentation but I hear what you're picking up on, the jump up in octave that starts both arpeggios.