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)
Memorize Your Lines
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know not to beg (that's a dirty word)
I know I shouldn't ask why (will you stay here?)
I wake up feeling dead (that's a dirty girl)
(Act two, scene four) Performance of your life
Performance of my life (line three, I want this room)
Performance of your life (just for me, just for me)
You said you'd never be mine
You swore it to me until the end of time
You said that love's never kind
I memorize these lines, practice them every night
We can talk it out (it will be soon now)
Tell each other lies (heard that before)
We can just pretend (you better polish your speech)
Today isn't goodbye (before you hit the floor)
(Act two, scene four) Performance of your life
Performance of my life (line three, I want this room)
Performance of your life (just for me, just for me)
You said you'd never be mine
You swore it to me until the end of time
You said that love's never kind
I memorize these lines, practice them every night
Won't you tell me what are we fighting for?
Do you want me here do you know for sure?
You know the coldest face is the worst to me
And I won't calm down till I get to you
Won't you tell me what are we fighting for?
(You said you'd never be mine)
Do you want me here, do you know for sure?
(You swore it to me until the end of time)
You know the coldest face is the worst to me
And I won't calm down till I get to you
You know that I wish I could undo this role
Let's go back to what, what we came here for
The song "Memorize Your Lines" by Sleater-Kinney is a reflection on the performance of life and the act of pretending to be something or someone we are not. Lead singer Corin Tucker opens with expressing her knowledge of waiting and not begging, perhaps referring to past relationships where she waited and begged for the love and respect she deserved. She wakes up feeling dead, signifying an emotional emptiness that she experiences, leading to the metaphorical performance of one's life. The performance takes on an act of desperation, as Tucker wants the person she is in a relationship with to perform for her as well. The need for a performance and the pretending displays the insecurity and lack of authenticity that the song presents throughout.
The second half of the song feels as though Tucker is addressing her lover directly, asking questions like "what are we fighting for?" and "do you want me here, do you know for sure?" Perhaps the performance she speaks of goes both ways in the relationship, leading to a lack of clarity and understanding in their emotions. The repetition of the lines "you said you'd never be mine" and "you swore it to me until the end of time" hints at the idea of rehearsed lines they have been repeating to each other, highlighting the lack of true feelings they have for each other.
Overall, the song showcases the idea of the performance of life, the act of pretending and putting on a show for others. The repetition of lines and metaphors used throughout the song display the idea of an arranged performance, emphasizing the emotional emptiness that comes with the performance.
Line by Line Meaning
I've learned how to wait
I have now mastered the art of waiting, even for eternity
I know not to beg
I am fully aware that begging is an unpleasant act
I know I shouldn't ask why
I understand that asking you to stay would be fruitless, and so I won't bother anymore
I wake up feeling dead
I feel like a lifeless creature every morning I wake up
Performance of your life
You're putting on a huge show for me
Performance of my life
I'm also putting on my version of a grand performance
You said you'd never be mine
You promised that you'll never belong to me
You swore it to me until the end of time
You guaranteed that it was an eternal promise
You said that love's never kind
You mentioned that love is always cruel
I memorize these lines, practice them every night
I commit these statements to memory, and they occupy my mind every night
We can talk it out
We can have a conversation about this and sort it out soon
Tell each other lies
We can be dishonest with each other if we so wish
We can just pretend
We can act like everything's fine, even though we both know it's not
Today isn't goodbye
We don't have to say our final farewells today
Won't you tell me what are we fighting for?
Can you please explain the basis of our argument?
Do you want me here do you know for sure?
Tell me- do you truly desire my presence here?
You know the coldest face is the worst to me
I find a neutral expression devoid of emotion very displeasing
And I won't calm down till I get to you
I'll remain agitated till I'm in your presence
You know that I wish I could undo this role
You're aware that I detest my current position in this situation
Let's go back to what, what we came here for
We should retrace our steps and get back to the original purpose of our relationship
Contributed by Mateo P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.