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)
Lora's Song
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
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More or less
Who can tell?
And I lay my hand on the back of your face
Make a wish
Iron cage
Oh, you, you must be real
Oh, you, you're too surreal
Switching through the place you find
Still, still, perfect and round
Wear, tear,
Half a cloud won't you be late?
Wait, lost in your bed
Make a wish, rip into shreds
Oh, you, you must be real
Or happen to a long time
Oh, you, you're too surreal
Switching through the place you find
In Sleater-Kinney's song "Lora's Song," the lyrics seem to narrate a dream-like state of consciousness where the singer is lying still and may even be half-asleep or fully dreaming. The lines "And the more I lie perfectly still, / More or less / Who can tell?" create an atmosphere of ambiguity and uncertainty, suggesting that the singer may not even know if they are fully awake or asleep. The line "Iron cage" may symbolize a feeling of constriction or being trapped within their mental state.
As the song progresses, we see the singer's focus shift to another person. The line "And I lay my hand on the back of your face / Make a wish" suggests an intimacy with someone they care about. However, the line "Oh, you, you're too surreal / Switching through the place you find" suggests that this other person may also exist within a dream-like state, making them difficult to fully understand.
Throughout the song, the language creates a sense of fluidity between the real and the surreal, the conscious and the subconscious, leaving a lot of room for interpretation and personal connections.
Line by Line Meaning
And the more I lie perfectly still
Despite my attempts to remain motionless, my thoughts and emotions continue to stir within me.
More or less
It's hard to say exactly what I'm feeling, or to what extent.
Who can tell?
It's unclear whether anyone else can perceive the turmoil that's going on inside me.
And I lay my hand on the back of your face
I yearn for a connection with someone else, and seek it out by touching their face.
Make a wish
I hope that my desire for comfort and affection will be fulfilled.
Iron cage
The circumstances of my life and the limitations I face feel inescapable, like being trapped in a prison.
Oh, you, you must be real
When I connect with someone else, it feels like a validation of my existence, and confirms that I'm not alone.
Or happen to a long time
Perhaps this connection has been a long time coming, or feels like it will last a lifetime.
Oh, you, you're too surreal
At times it's hard to believe that the connection is real, and it almost seems too good to be true.
Switching through the place you find
I'm searching for a place where I feel like I belong, and where my connection with others is authentic.
Still, still, perfect and round
Despite my anxieties and doubts, I try to remain calm and steady, like a perfect circle.
Wear, tear
Time has a way of wearing down even the most resilient of us, and I can feel myself becoming more vulnerable.
Half a cloud won't you be late?
I'm hopeful that even though things seem uncertain, the other person will show up and provide the comfort I seek.
Wait, lost in your bed
As I wait for the other person to arrive, I feel lost and lonely in my own bed.
Make a wish, rip into shreds
I hold onto the hope that the other person will provide solace, but I also worry that my heart will be torn apart if the connection falls apart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARRIE RACHEL BROWNSTEIN, CORIN LISA TUCKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind