The band originated in 2011 as Sadie Dupuis' solo project while she was teaching songwriting at a summer camp, recording her own material using her laptop.
"Resurrects the floppy-stringed guitar dissonance of old-school Boston bands like Kudgel and Swirlies, or Rob Crow from Pinback's predecessor Thingy, who forged similar anti-anthems out of the grimiest chords." - Boston Globe. TL;DR. DTF. 10" EP, 'Sports,' out on Exploding in Sound Records. 'Major Arcana' out on Carpark Records; 'Real Hair' EP followed in February 2014.
Dot X
Speedy Ortiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come clean your hands in the backseat before you're onto the next fiend
Don't ever touch my blade, you fool
You'll be cursed for a lifetime
Don't ever touch my blade, you fool
You'll be cursed for a lifetime
Don't ever touch my kid, you sick thing
Range utensil flaking in the wind
Wanna stand in place like a foil deer?
Isn't that the reason you came here?
Don't ever touch my ring, you fool
You'll be cursed for a lifetime
Don't ever touch my ring, you fool
You'll be cursed for a lifetime
Don't ever touch my kid, you sick thing
You know by now
With all these drops of blood it is love
Moonballing bureaucrats
With all this love, it is death
Get in the van and take my hand
We're onto the next life
Smothered and fond, not redolent
Scarred and it's timesome
Don't ever touch my kid
You fool, you fool
You fool, you fool
You'll be cursed
You'll be cursed
The lyrics to Speedy Ortiz's song Dot X are intense and cryptic, filled with imagery that leaves much of its meaning up to interpretation. The first stanza seems to suggest a sense of urgency as the singer urges someone to hurry up and finish whatever they're doing before moving on to their next pursuit, cautioning them to wash their hands or face the consequences. The mention of a blade and cursedness adds a sense of danger to the situation.
The second stanza may be a commentary on the desire to be still and hidden, like a deer in the woods. The singer warns against touching their ring, which could lead to consequences just like with the blade. The phrase "don't ever touch my kid, you sick thing" is repeated throughout the song, implying a fierce protectiveness or ownership over something that is precious to the singer.
The last stanza is perhaps the most puzzling as it includes fragmented images and emotions set against a backdrop of death and violence. The reference to blood and love being intertwined is interesting, as is the mention of "moonballing bureaucrats." The repetition of "you fool" and "you'll be cursed" adds to the ominous tone of the song, as if the mysterious narrator is warning someone against crossing them.
Overall, Speedy Ortiz's Dot X is a powerful and intriguing song that resists easy interpretation. It's full of dark imagery and emotions, leaving listeners to wonder about the identities of the singer and the person or thing they're trying to protect.
Line by Line Meaning
Caress cement 'til it's dry
Smooth out the concrete until it sets
Come clean your hands in the backseat before you're onto the next fiend
Make sure your hands are clean before moving on to the next immoral act
Don't ever touch my blade, you fool
Do not touch my weapon or suffer the consequences
Don't ever touch my kid, you sick thing
Do not harm my child, you disgusting individual
Range utensil flaking in the wind
Metal tool deteriorating in the elements
Wanna stand in place like a foil deer?
Do you want to freeze in fear like a decoy animal?
Isn't that the reason you came here?
Did you come here to be paralyzed with fear?
You know by now
With all these drops of blood it is love
Moonballing bureaucrats
You should realize that these bloody actions signify love, while politicians constantly shift blame
With all this love, it is death
The love expressed through violence leads to death
Get in the van and take my hand
We're onto the next life
Join me in the van, we are moving on to the next chapter of our lives
Smothered and fond, not redolent
Scarred and it's timesome
Affectionate but not fragrant, bearing the wounds of past experiences and taking a long time to heal
Don't ever touch my ring, you fool
You'll be cursed for a lifetime
Under no circumstances should you touch my ring, or it will result in a lifelong curse
Don't ever touch my kid
You fool, you fool
You fool, you fool
You'll be cursed
You'll be cursed
Refrain from harming my child, or suffer the consequences
Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.