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)
Jenny
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When she's gone
Sometimes so bright
Your heart just stops
Did she answer you
Your other half?
You know they say
I am the girl
I am th ghost
I am the wife
I am the one
Do you wanna forget
Live in the dark
Was she just too close
To everything
I am the girl
I am the ghost
I am the wife
Oh, Oh I am the...
Didn't we almost have it almost have it almost have it almost
Didn't we almost have it almost have it almost have it almost....
Didn't you want it? (x6)
Do you see her face
When she's gone?
The lyrics to Sleater-Kinney's song "Jenny" are somewhat ambiguous, but they describe the singer's feelings about a woman named Jenny. The opening lines ask if the listener can still remember Jenny's face. She is someone who could be incredibly bright and captivating, but she has now left. The second verse poses questions about whether Jenny answered when the singer reached out to her. This could be interpreted as a reference to a failed relationship or an unrequited love. The repeated line "you know they say she comes just once" could suggest that the singer missed their chance with Jenny.
Then we hear the chorus, which repeats the phrase "I am the girl, I am the ghost, I am the wife" three times. This could be meant to suggest that the singer is haunted by her own identity as a woman. Are they struggling with societal expectations, relationships, or simply the pressure of being in the public eye as a female musician? The final lines seem to indicate that the singer is questioning whether it might be easier to simply forget Jenny and move on, but they are left wondering if she was ever truly too close to everything.
Overall, "Jenny" by Sleater-Kinney is a thought-provoking and somewhat melancholy song that explores themes of loss, missed opportunities, and the complexity of identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you see her face
Do you still remember what she looks like?
When she's gone
When she's not around anymore
Sometimes so bright
Sometimes she was so full of life and energy
Your heart just stops
It felt like time stopped when you were with her
Did she answer you
Did she respond to your love?
Your other half?
The person who completes you
You know they say
People say
She comes just once
This special person only comes into your life once
I am the girl
I am that girl
I am the ghost
I am the memory of that girl
I am the wife
I am the one who could have been your wife
I am the one
I am the one you almost had
Do you wanna forget
Do you want to erase the memory of her?
Live in the dark
Stay in ignorance
Was she just too close
Did she know you too well?
To everything
To your deep, dark secrets
Oh, Oh I am the...
The one you can never forget
Didn't we almost have it almost have it almost have it almost
We were so close to having it all
Didn't you want it? (x6)
But did you really want it?
Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.