Clark joined Sufjan Stevens' touring band in 2006, bringing with her a tour EP entitled Paris Is Burning. It contains three tracks, including a cover version of Jackson Browne's These Days.
Clark released her début album, Marry Me, 10 July 2007 on Beggars Banquet Records. Named after a line from the cult-hit television show Arrested Development, the LP features appearances from drummer Brian Teasley (Man or Astro-man?, The Polyphonic Spree), Mike Garson (David Bowie's longtime pianist), and horn player Louis Schwadron (The Polyphonic Spree).
In 2008 Clark was nominated for three PLUG Independent Music Awards: New Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year, and on 6 March 2008, she won the Female Artist of the Year award.
Her second album for 4AD, entitled Actor, was released on 5 May 2009. It was written entirely by Clark and produced by Clark and John Congleton of The Paper Chase.
The Strange Mercy Songfacts reports that Clark wrote her third album in Seattle. She decamped to the Northwestern city to escape from the information overload she was experiencing at home and recorded Strange Mercy in a studio provided by Death Cab For Cutie drummer Jason McGerr. The album was released by 4AD on September 12, 2011 and peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200, making it her first Top 20 LP.
2) A pseudonym of singer-songwriter Vincent Bernardy, who has written and recorded music since 1980. see also St. Vincent Folk
3) A singer/songwriter from Victoria, Australia.
Bad Believer
St. Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do you know? What do you know?
From the nave and down into the altar
I left my momma sitting in the pew
Knelt before the trembling pastor
Fainted as he touched my trembling hand
What do you know? What do you know?
Show me your stones, I'm just a bad believer
What do you know? What do you know?
Momma held me up through the rapture
Dragged me through the eyes and the whispers
Lost the Spirit out the car window
Bad by righteous, righteous hands
What do you know? I'm just a bad believer
What do you know? What do you know?
Show me your stones, I'm just a bad believer
What do you know? What do you know?
But now I'm not afraid
I know that love is stranger
Held up and arriving in the light
No I'm not ashamed
There really is no danger
Give me life
Give me life
Give me life
What do you know? I'm just a bad believer
What do you know? What do you know?
Show me your stones, I'm just a bad believer
What do you know? What do you know?
What do you know? I'm just a bad believer
What do you know? What do you know?
Show me your stones, I'm just a bad believer
What do you know? What do you know?
In St. Vincent's song "Bad Believer," the lyrics speak to the conflicting experiences and emotions of individuals who have grown up in a religious environment but have lost faith or struggle with belief. The song begins by acknowledging the singer's status as a "bad believer," suggesting that they do not adhere to traditional religious ideologies. The lyrics then shift to a specific memory of the singer kneeling before a pastor, illustrating the internal struggle and uncertainty surrounding questions of faith. The line "Fainted as he touched my trembling hand" further emphasizes the emotional weight of the situation and the personal impact this experience has had on the singer.
The chorus of the song, "Show me your stones, I'm just a bad believer," highlights the theme of judgment and the singer's awareness of the scrutiny that comes with rejecting faith. It can also be interpreted as a challenge to those who may judge or ostracize those who do not conform to their religious beliefs. The following verses continue to explore the singer's upbringing and the difficulties they have faced when it comes to understanding and embracing a faith that they once knew intimately. The line "Momma held me up through the rapture" suggests that the singer's mother continues to cling to her beliefs despite the singer's rejection of them.
However, the song ends on a note of optimism, with the singer declaring that they are no longer afraid and that love is the most important thing. The line "No I'm not ashamed, there really is no danger" suggests a newfound freedom and acceptance, and the final plea for life is a powerful statement of hope and positivity. Overall, "Bad Believer" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of religious belief and the emotional toll it can take on those who grapple with it.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you know? I'm just a bad believer
Expressing doubts about her faith and acknowledging her imperfections
From the nave and down into the altar
Describing the physical location of where she was in the church
I left my momma sitting in the pew
Leaving her mother behind as she approached the altar
Knelt before the trembling pastor
Kneeling in front of the nervous pastor
Fainted as he touched my trembling hand
Having an intense emotional reaction to the pastor's touch
Show me your stones, I'm just a bad believer
Challenging others to judge her while acknowledging her own shortcomings
Momma held me up through the rapture
Her mother supporting her through a religious experience
Dragged me through the eyes and the whispers
Enduring scrutiny and gossip from others
Lost the Spirit out the car window
Feeling like she lost her connection to faith
Bad by righteous, righteous hands
Being judged and condemned by others who consider themselves morally superior
But now I'm not afraid
Feeling emboldened and fearless
I know that love is stranger
Believing that love can come from unexpected places
Held up and arriving in the light
Experiencing a spiritual awakening
No I'm not ashamed
No longer feeling guilty or embarrassed
There really is no danger
Feeling safe from harm
Give me life
Asking for spiritual fulfillment
Give me life
Reinforcing the desire for spiritual fulfillment
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@meghanmcclean5181
[Intro]
What do you know?
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
[Verse 1]
From the nave and down unto the altar
I left my momma sitting in the pew
Knelt before the trembling pastor
Fainted as he touched my trembling hand
[Chorus]
What do you know?
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
Show me your stones
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
[Verse 2]
Momma held me up through the rapture
Dragged me through the eyes and the whispers
Lost my spirit out the car window
Batted by righteous, righteous hands
[Chorus]
What do you know?
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
Show me your stones
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
[Bridge]
But now I'm not afraid
I know that love is stranger
Held up and writhing in the light
No, I'm not ashamed
There really is no danger
Give me life
Give me life
Give me life
[Chorus]
What do you know?
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
Show me your stones
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
What do you know?
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
Show me your stones
I'm just a bad believer
What do you know?
What do you know?
@eklxtreme
This is definitely the most radio-friendly song she's put out in recent years. It's still awesome!
@TheKevlar4
Odd cause the self titled is her least accessible album yet.
@TheKevlar4
How was this not on the album. It's amazing.
@soaribb32
TheKevlar4 it's on the deluxe version
@TheSimulacrumAudio
It was made specifically for the deluxe edition, it wasn't conceived til the album was out
@theneedledrop
Is this a S/T leftover? How many awesome songs didn't make it onto the LP?
@1080TJ
A bunch it seems. Have you heard Pieta and Sparrow?
@jamesnotjames
She's re-releasing the album with This song, Pieta/Sparrow (record store day releases), Del Rio (B side), and Digital Witness Darkside remix. She's also given a demo called "Teenage Talk" to be used for the show Girls.
@MrTeknikality
hopefully alot more awesome songs are on their way
@pablomuga2778
MrTeknikality