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.
Dilettante
St. Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't make me wait
Nobody's winning
The sharks are swimming in the red
Oh, Elijah
Don't make me wait
While you are sleeping
Slow down
Dilettante
So I can limp beside you
I'm following your houndstooth
Hang on
Street savant
My bank in my back pocket
How far you think it'd take us?
You're like a party I heard through a wall
I'm, I'm always watching you through a keyhole
But let's not forget
Let's not forget
Let's not forget
Why we crawled here
Oh, Elijah
Don't make me wait
I got no patience
For an estrangement anyway
Wake up
Avenue C
Your hometown is still sleeping
You're like a party I heard through a wall
Invite me
But I'm always watching you through a keyhole
But let's not forget
Let's not forget
Let's not forget
Where we crawled from
Oh, Elijah
Don't make me wait
What is so pressing
That you can't undress me, anyway?
The song "Dilettante" by St. Vincent seems to be about a person named Elijah, who the singer is seemingly infatuated with. The repeated pleas of "Oh, Elijah, don't make me wait" suggests an urgent desire to be with this person who is seemingly preoccupied with something else. The lyrics "nobody's winning, the sharks are swimming in the red" could be a reference to a financial situation gone wrong or a cautionary message about the consequences of living recklessly. The line "while you are sleeping, my mind goes creaking down the wall" gives the impression that the singer is unable to stop thinking about Elijah even when he is not present.
The chorus "slow down dilettante, so I can limp beside you, I'm following your houndstooth" is intriguing, as the word 'dilettante' is not commonly used in lyrics. A dilettante is a person who takes up an activity or interest in a superficial or amateur way. It might suggest that the singer is not entirely invested in their relationship with Elijah or the things they do together. The houndstooth pattern is likely a metaphor that suggests the singer is trying to keep up with Elijah's fast-paced life, but they are falling behind. The line "my bank in my back pocket, how far you think it'd take us?" could be interpreted as the singer being willing to follow Elijah to new heights, but it comes across as somewhat naive.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Elijah
Addressing a person named Elijah in the song
Don't make me wait
Requesting Elijah to not keep the singer waiting
Nobody's winning
Implying that nobody is succeeding or benefiting
The sharks are swimming in the red
Metaphorically stating that danger or risk is present
While you are sleeping
Pointing out that Elijah is sleeping and not paying attention
My mind goes creaking down the wall
Describing the singer's restless thoughts and worries in Elijah's absence
Slow down
Requesting Elijah to slow down and not leave the singer behind
Dilettante
Calling Elijah a dabbler, someone who lacks commitment or expertise
So I can limp beside you
Willingness to follow Elijah, despite feeling inadequate or weak
I'm following your houndstooth
Referring to Elijah's fashion style as a way of showing admiration or attraction
Hang on
Urging Elijah to wait or not leave yet
Street savant
Acknowledging Elijah's knowledge and expertise in navigating urban areas
My bank in my back pocket
Having money readily available to spend
How far you think it'd take us?
Asking Elijah how far they can go with the money they have
You're like a party I heard through a wall
Comparing Elijah to a distant, enticing event that the singer wants to be a part of
I'm, I'm always watching you through a keyhole
Admitting to secretly observing Elijah's actions and movements
Let's not forget
Implying the importance of remembering something
Why we crawled here
Remembering the struggle and effort it took to reach a certain point in life
Avenue C
Referring to a street name, possibly a location that holds significance to the singer and Elijah
Your hometown is still sleeping
Noticing the quietness and inactivity of Elijah's hometown
Invite me
Asking Elijah to invite the singer to be a part of his life
What is so pressing
Questioning the urgency or importance of Elijah's current situation
That you can't undress me anyway?
Expressing willingness to be vulnerable and intimate with Elijah
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Anne Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind