A pseudonym of Annie Clark (b. 28 Sept 1982), a USA multi-instrumentalist s… Read Full Bio ↴A pseudonym of Annie Clark (b. 28 Sept 1982), a USA multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter. She was a member of The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens' touring band. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and as a teenager worked as the tour manager for her uncle's band Tuck & Patti. She grew up in Dallas and attended Lake Highlands High School, graduating in 2001. Following this, she went on to attend Berklee College of Music, dropping out 3 years later. Soon after this, she joined The Polyphonic Spree. In 2003, during her time at Berklee, she released an EP with fellow students, entitled Ratsliveonnoevilstar.

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.

Chloe in the Afternoon
St. Vincent Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're all legs
I'm all nerves
Black, black pearl
Horse-hair whip
My own heels
Heal my hurt
Grease the wheel
Feel your floor

Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon

No kisses, no real need
No kisses, no real needs

Who here
Hear your word
Ring, ring phone
Send you home
Find my heels
Heal my hurt
White, white shirt
Back to work

Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon

Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon

Chloe in the afternoon
Chloe in the afternoon

Overall Meaning

In "Chloe in the Afternoon," St. Vincent presents a vivid tableau of a BDSM relationship that takes place between two consenting adults, one of whom is named Chloe. The singer in the song is likely the dominant partner, who addresses Chloe using lines that evoke power play and control. The references to legs, horse-hair whips, and black pearls suggest the use of kinky accouterments, while the repeated refrain of "Chloe in the afternoon" connotes a ritualized appointment between the two partners. Interestingly, the lyrics also suggest that the singer and Chloe have a strictly professional relationship, as the song seems to describe a midday rendezvous during a workday. However, despite the transactional nature of their relationship, the song nonetheless exudes an erotic charge, with the verse "Heal my hurt / Grease the wheel / Feel your floor" conveying a sense of pleasure as well as pain.

Line by Line Meaning

You're all legs
You possess an alluring physique.

I'm all nerves
I am anxious and highly-strung.

Black, black pearl
Your allure is that you are beautiful and mysterious.

Horse-hair whip
You have a wild and kinky side to your character.

My own heels
I am confident in myself.

Heal my hurt
You can provide comfort and solace to me.

Grease the wheel
You can help to make things happen.

Feel your floor
I am eager to engage with your energy and personality.

Chloe in the afternoon
You evoke strong emotions and desires within me when I think of you.

No kisses, no real need
Our interactions are driven by a physical attraction rather than emotional intimacy.

Who here
Who else is engaging with you?