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)
Little Mouth
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Damn you
Smile pretty take take the money
You know me well oh don't you?
Smile pretty take take the money
You know how to sell?
I do.
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Did ya want me?
Damaged goods
Damaged goods
Damaged goods
Damaged goods
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Did ya want me?
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Did ya want me?
Damaged goods
Damaged goods
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
Oh you want to try her
Oh I think I want to
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Did ya want me?
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Did ya want me?
Damn you
The lyrics of Sleater-Kinney's "Little Mouth" are a powerful commentary on the objectification and exploitation of women in the music industry. The repeated phrase "smile pretty take take the money" implies that women are expected to be compliant and performative in order to earn success, while the reference to "damaged goods" suggests that women who don't conform to this expectation are deemed worthless and disposable. The repeated line "did ya want me?" could be seen as a challenge to this objectification, as if the singer is questioning whether they are truly valued for their talent and artistry or merely as a means to an end for the industry.
The lines "oh you want to try her, oh I think I want to" are particularly interesting, as they suggest a sense of competition and jealousy among women in the industry. The underlying implication is that there are limited opportunities for women, and they must fight against each other to achieve success. This further reinforces the idea that women are pitted against each other and judged solely on their appearance and ability to sell themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Damn you
Expressing anger or frustration towards someone
Damn you
Reiterating the feeling of anger or frustration towards someone
Smile pretty take take the money
Instructing someone to put on a fake smile and take the money, implying a lack of authenticity
You know me well oh don't you?
Sarcastically implying that the other person does not actually know the artist well
Smile pretty take take the money
Repeating the instruction to put on a fake smile and take the money, emphasizing the lack of authenticity
You know how to sell?
Asking if the other person knows how to be manipulative in order to make a sale
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Describing oneself as a tool for the other person's use, specifically for speaking and promoting their agenda
Did ya want me?
Asking the other person if they wanted the artist to be their mouthpiece
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Reiterating the idea of being a tool for the other person's use
Did ya want me?
Repeating the question of whether the other person wanted the artist to be their mouthpiece
Damaged goods
Describing oneself as damaged or flawed, potentially due to being used by the other person
Damaged goods
Reiterating the idea of being damaged or flawed
Damaged goods
Repeating the idea of being damaged or flawed
Damaged goods
Repeating the idea of being damaged or flawed
Oh you want to try her
Asking if the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Expressing interest in trying something new or different
Oh you want to try her
Repeating the question of whether the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Reiterating the idea of being interested in trying something new or different
Oh you want to try her
Repeating the question of whether the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Reiterating the idea of being interested in trying something new or different
Oh you want to try her
Repeating the question of whether the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Reiterating the idea of being interested in trying something new or different
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Repeating the idea of being a tool for the other person's use
Did ya want me?
Repeating the question of whether the other person wanted the artist to be their mouthpiece
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Repeating the idea of being a tool for the other person's use
Did ya want me?
Repeating the question of whether the other person wanted the singer to be their mouthpiece
Damaged goods
Repeating the idea of being damaged or flawed
Damaged goods
Repeating the idea of being damaged or flawed
Oh you want to try her
Repeating the question of whether the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Reiterating the idea of being interested in trying something new or different
Oh you want to try her
Repeating the question of whether the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Reiterating the idea of being interested in trying something new or different
Oh you want to try her
Repeating the question of whether the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Reiterating the idea of being interested in trying something new or different
Oh you want to try her
Repeating the question of whether the other person wants to try something new or different
Oh I think I want to
Reiterating the idea of being interested in trying something new or different
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Repeating the idea of being a tool for the other person's use
Did ya want me?
Repeating the question of whether the other person wanted the singer to be their mouthpiece
I'm your little I'm your little I'm your little mouth
Repeating the idea of being a tool for the other person's use
Did ya want me?
Repeating the question of whether the other person wanted the artist to be their mouthpiece
Damn you
Reiterating the feeling of anger or frustration towards someone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARRIE RACHEL BROWNSTEIN, CORIN LISA TUCKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind