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.
Ginger
Speedy Ortiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just pick my teeth,
Gettin' in the shadows of the party lights
Order in the court of offers
Playing plebes just like a bad cop with a bribe
I wanna fold up
And fall inside
The interstitials
Wasted, wasted like you
Everybody's getting spewy
I'm messed up on moons, acting like a lunatic who needs a tide
Sinewed something awful
Told me, "You can't swim if you can't dive"
Oh, Ginger! Oh Gin
So should I grow up
and stem the tide?
I wanna cannonball and kill your time
Wasted, wasted, wasted like you
Wasted, wasted like you
The song "Ginger" by Speedy Ortiz is a reflective piece about being at a party where everyone is intoxicated and the feeling of being an outsider. The singer mentions how they're not interested in drinking and instead choose to pick their teeth. This action symbolizes a sense of boredom and disinterest in the party atmosphere. The "shadows of the party lights" add to the feeling of isolation and detachment from the festivities.
The court of offers mentioned in the lyrics can be interpreted as the social hierarchy within the party - those who are popular and in control. The singer feels like a "plebe" or someone who is inferior to the popular crowd. The bad cop with a bribe describes someone who is manipulating others for their own gain, which could be a reference to how the popular crowd gets what they want.
The chorus repeats the word "wasted" which can have various interpretations. It could refer to being drunk or wasted time. The singer feels wasted like the others at the party, but in a different way. They express a desire to fold up and fall inside the interstitials of killing time, which could symbolize a longing to escape the current moment.
Overall, "Ginger" is a contemplative and introspective song that explores themes of loneliness, disinterest, and social hierarchy.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's getting wasted
While everyone is getting drunk, I am just casually picking my teeth.
Gettin' in the shadows of the party lights
I am trying to stay in the shadows of the party lights where people won't notice me.
Order in the court of offers
People are offering drinks and party favors and everyone is trying to get some.
Playing plebes just like a bad cop with a bribe
People are being manipulated and played like pawns.
I wanna fold up and fall inside the interstitials of killing time
I want to disappear into the empty spaces of time and just be alone.
Everybody's getting spewy
Everyone is getting sick and throwing up from drinking too much.
I'm messed up on moons, acting like a lunatic who needs a tide
I am acting crazy and irrational, like someone who is affected by the lunar cycle.
Sinewed something awful, Told me, 'You can't swim if you can't dive'
I am struggling and feeling weak, and someone told me that I can't succeed if I don't take risks.
Oh, Ginger! Oh Gin
This line is either referencing a person or the drink gin, and the artist is addressing either of them.
So should I grow up and stem the tide?
The artist is questioning whether they should be more responsible and mature, and try to stop the excessive drinking and partying.
I wanna cannonball and kill your time
I want to make a big splash and disrupt the party, and waste everyone's time.
Wasted, wasted, wasted like you
The artist is repeating the phrase from the chorus, indicating that they are just as wasted as everyone else.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ed Madirov
This songs reminds me of PJ Harvey's first album. Great stuff!
Ed Madirov
@Jeri Martinez Yeah, definitely. As well as other songs from Rid of me
Jerissa Martinez
Are you thinking man sized, by pj harvey
Amine Rmiss
this is good wow i love the sound
M Caz
Reminds me of the early 2000s Incubus. Pretty damn good
OneSelfTemptation
love this
FRANK R
Sadie is a cutie!