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.
Plough
Speedy Ortiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oil down that attractant
That's what you said once outside your cell
We used to go out,
Chant the names of power
Let's hit the plough now you're back around
No it isn't the first time you showed up
On the first of the month asking me for your cut
And some virgin parchment you brought me to read
Why'd you pick a virgin over me?
That's an adult situation
You threw at your childhood contemporary
I was never the witch that you made me to be
Still, you picked a virgin over me
Yeah, you picked a virgin over me
Yeah, you picked a virgin
The plough emptied out and that was enough
I slid towards the door but you started freaking the fuck out
Stop shaking; why you freaking the fuck out?
You better stop cause it's freaking me out
He wants to burn all my candles
But it isn't for love
He wants a burn on his fingers
But I'm not the one to give it
He wants sulfur and salt and my name on his arm
He wants a burn and it's freaking me out
He wants to burn all my candles
No, that isn't love
He wants a burn on his fingers
He thinks I'm the one to give it
He wants sulfur and salt and so he's holding me down
He wants a burn and it's freaking me out
The song Plough by Speedy Ortiz seems to be about a past relationship or friendship that has taken a turn for the worse. In the first verse, the lyrics "Don't let your lids black, oil down that attractant" could be interpreted as a warning to the singer's former friend or lover to not let their negative thoughts and emotions take over and push people away. The line "Let's hit the plough now you're back around, YHVH now you broke out" may refer to their past together and rekindling their bond, but also suggests that the other person has broken out or changed in a negative way. The repeated phrase "freaking me out" in the second verse indicates the singer's discomfort and unease with the other person's desires and actions, particularly their fascination with burning candles and wanting a "burn" or mark on their skin.
The last verse reinforces the idea that the other person is fixated on the singer and their supposed abilities to provide them with certain spiritual experiences. The imagery of sulfur and salt, as well as wanting the singer's name on their arm, give a sense of the other person's obsession with the singer. The repeated line "He wants a burn and it's freaking me out" conveys the singer's fear and discomfort with the intensity of the other person's desires and their lack of control over them.
Overall, the song Plough could be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and the importance of boundaries in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't let your lids black
Don't close your eyes in despair
Oil down that attractant
Get rid of your addictions
That's what you said once outside your cell
You spoke these words to me when you were in jail
We used to go out,
We were once together
Chant the names of power
Invoke the power of deities
Let's hit the plough now you're back around
Let's start working together again
YHVH now you broke out
You broke free from prison
No it isn't the first time you showed up
This has happened before
On the first of the month asking me for your cut
Asking for your share of the loot
And some virgin parchment you brought me to read
You brought me a new parchment to read
Why'd you pick a virgin over me?
Why did you use a new parchment instead of the old one?
That's an adult situation
That is a mature issue to deal with
You threw at your childhood contemporary
You are confronting your childhood friend about this
I was never the witch that you made me to be
I am not the evil person you thought I was
Still, you picked a virgin over me
You still used the new parchment instead of the old one
The plough emptied out and that was enough
We finished working and it was satisfactory
I slid towards the door but you started freaking the fuck out
I tried to leave, but you started panicking
Stop shaking; why you freaking the fuck out?
Calm down and tell me why you are panicking
He wants to burn all my candles
He wants to destroy everything that gives me comfort
But it isn't for love
It is not because he loves me
He wants a burn on his fingers
He desires to feel pain
But I'm not the one to give it
But I am not the one who will fulfill his desires
He wants sulfur and salt and my name on his arm
He wants to brand himself with my name and these elements
He wants a burn and it's freaking me out
His desires and intentions scare me
Contributed by Elliot N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.