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.
Homonovus
Speedy Ortiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your ability to clear with your bare eyes
Hiders who seek
Magic abounding in housemaking fantasies
Ability's what makes the beast
An animal you claim for your own cage
They hide and we seek
X2
Honestly, you're bad at it, I like you anyway
Rolling with pulled punches and tepid identities
Excuse me, Miss Lady
Won't you excuse me this morphism?
And I'll be better than I was alone
And you'll be better than you were alone
Isn't it a charmed life
Grinning under harsh light?
Excuse me, Miss Lady
Won't you excuse me this morphism?
Hide and we seek
Magic abounding thus letting them stand on our feet
Letting them stand on our feet
Letting them stand
The lyrics of "Homonovus" by Speedy Ortiz present a series of concepts and ideas that are interconnected, yet difficult to fully grasp. The lines "Underwire undermines/Your ability to clear with your bare eyes" suggest that something is hindering the singer's vision, and the following lines "Hiders who seek/Magic abounding in housemaking fantasies" may indicate that the cause of this is a desire to escape or find refuge in idealized domestic scenarios. The phrase "Magic abounding" could represent a longing for something intangible, while "housemaking fantasies" may suggest a desire for stability, comfort, and control.
The second verse delves deeper into the theme of control and power dynamics, with the lines "Ability's what makes the beast/An animal you claim for your own cage." Here, the idea of having power over something is presented as a double-edged sword, one that may provide temporary satisfaction but ultimately leads to self-imposed confinement. The chorus repeats the phrase "Hide and we seek/Magic abounding thus letting them stand on our feet," which could be interpreted as a call to action, urging the listener to confront their fears and desires in order to gain a sense of agency and stability.
The final lines of the song, "Isn't it a charmed life/Grinning under harsh light?" suggest that despite the difficulties and challenges faced by the singer, there is still a sense of optimism and happiness to be found. The repeated refrain "Excuse me, Miss Lady/Won't you excuse me this morphism?" provides a sense of vulnerability and asks for permission to be oneself in a world that may not always accept or understand it.
Line by Line Meaning
Underwire undermines
The presence of underwire in clothes takes away from their ability to be seen and appreciated by others
Your ability to clear with your bare eyes
Your ability to see the world as it is and not as it's been made to appear by societal norms is being hindered
Hiders who seek
People who hide their true selves are actually searching for acceptance and belonging
Magic abounding in housemaking fantasies
In the dream of creating a perfect home lies the magic of belonging and family
Ability's what makes the beast
It's not enough to simply be alive - one must be able to thrive
An animal you claim for your own cage
Sometimes we try to take control of our lives but end up limiting ourselves
They hide and we seek
People who hide are looking for something and it's up to us to find out what it is
Magic abounding, thus letting them stand on our feet
The magic in others' dreams can empower us and allow us to be more ourselves
Honestly, you're bad at it, I like you anyway
Even if you're not great at living up to societal standards and norms, I'll still accept and love you for who you are
Rolling with pulled punches and tepid identities
We often go along with the expectations of others and suppress our true identities
Excuse me, Miss Lady
A plea to be recognized and accepted as a woman
Won't you excuse me this morphism?
Please excuse me for wanting to change and transform myself
And I'll be better than I was alone
We can grow and improve with others by our side
And you'll be better than you were alone
Other people can help us become our best selves
Isn't it a charmed life
Living authentically and being surrounded by supportive people is a blessing
Grinning under harsh light?
Being true to oneself in difficult situations
Hide and we seek
We search for the hidden parts of ourselves in others
Magic abounding thus letting them stand on our feet
The unique qualities of others can help us be more confident in ourselves
Letting them stand on our feet
Empowering others can also empower ourselves
Writer(s): Daniel Wagner Ferm, Davin Garrett Mcknight, Sarah E. Dupius Kornreich, Michael Robert Falcone
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.