Their third album, Mirror Mirror, was released on Domino on June 13th via a short trailer directed by long time collaborator Blair Young. Mirror Mirror was produced by JD Twitch of Optimo and mixed by Gareth Jones.
Sons and Daughters announced their split via Facebook on November 2nd, 2012.
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Axed Actor
Sons and Daughters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down, out and unwed
He took her to his cabin
And fed you up on absence
Little Black Dahlia
Little Black Dahlia
The last of a picture show
Cut into pieces
Switched that smile across your face
Little Black Dahlia
Little Black Dahlia
Oh, oh, hey, hey, goodbye
Oh, oh, hey, hey, goodbye
So you never made the stage
You're still famous in this age
You shine from newspaper page
Last encore from the grave
Little Black Dahlia
Little Black Dahlia
Cut
Cut
Cut
…
The lyrics to Sons and Daughters' song "Axed Actor" tell the story of an out-of-work actress who is struggling to make ends meet. The song is written in a melancholic tone, with the lyrics painting a picture of her desperation and sense of hopelessness. The singer is referred to as the "Little Black Dahlia," a reference to the real-life unsolved murder of actress Elizabeth Short in 1947, who was nicknamed the "Black Dahlia" by the media.
The lyrics suggest that the actress was taken to a cabin by someone who fed her up on absence, which could be interpreted as them neglecting her or manipulating her in some way. The line "cut into pieces, switched that smile across your face" implies that she was used and then discarded. The chorus repeats the phrase "Little Black Dahlia," suggesting that her story is significant and tragic, but has been forgotten over time.
The song is a haunting tribute to the lives of actresses who were exploited and discarded in Hollywood's golden age. It is a reminder of the darker side of the entertainment industry and the toll it takes on those who are used and discarded.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of work actress
A female actor who is currently unemployed
Down, out and unwed
Feeling depressed, hopeless and unmarried
He took her to his cabin
An unknown man took her to his cabin
And fed you up on absence
He made her feel comfortable with the absence of work
Little Black Dahlia
Referring to the actress as a Black Dahlia, a reference to the Elizabeth Short murder case where she was nicknamed Black Dahlia
So for your last role
For the final acting opportunity of her career
The last of a picture show
Her last role was in a movie that is now finished
Cut into pieces
Her character was killed off in the film
Switched that smile across your face
Her character was forced to smile even though she was dying
Oh, oh, hey, hey, goodbye
Farewell to the actress's career
So you never made the stage
The actress never made it to the theater stage
You're still famous in this age
Even now, the actress is remembered for her work
You shine from newspaper page
Her fame is sustained through news articles and media
Last encore from the grave
Her final act is seen as a last performance, even after she's dead
Cut
The sound of a movie editor's razor blade cutting actual celluloid film
Cut
Cutting short the actress's career
Cut
Implies 'The End'
Contributed by Reagan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.