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.
Down and Out Downtown
St. Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the morning train
It's a long way back downtown
Ten missed calls
They don't know where you are
It's a long way back downtown
Over the Empire State
When you kissed me
And I crashed again
When did it start?
This feeling so overt
When you're down and out downtown
(Ooh)
Bowery John
(Ooh)
Forgotten but not gone
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Praying at St. Ann's
Bodega roses in my hands
Down and out downtown
And the joker with that funny laugh
Is digging through the basement of my past
It's a long way back down
Down and out downtown
Hey, I was flying
Over the Empire State
When you kissed me
And I crashed again
Ooh
In "Down and Out Downtown" by St. Vincent, the lyrics capture a sense of dislocation and longing for connection in a bustling urban environment. The opening lines, "Last night's heels, on the morning train, it's a long way back downtown," suggest a feeling of displacement and weariness, as if the singer is trying to find her way back to a familiar place but is physically and emotionally distant.
The mention of "ten missed calls" indicates a disconnection from others, with the lines "They don't know where you are, it's a long way back downtown" emphasizing the singer's sense of isolation and the struggle to reconnect with those who are searching for her. The lyrics go on to describe a moment of vulnerability and passion, as the singer recalls a memory of being kissed and feeling a rush of emotions that causes her to "crash again." This crash could be interpreted as a metaphorical descent from the heights of euphoria, bringing her back to reality and highlighting the challenges of navigating relationships and emotions in a busy urban environment.
The chorus of the song, "When did it start? This feeling so overt when you're down and out downtown," further emphasizes the disorientation and emotional turbulence experienced by the singer. The lines suggest that these feelings of being lost and overwhelmed are particularly prominent when one is in a state of vulnerability or when facing challenges in a city environment.
Overall, the lyrics of "Down and Out Downtown" reflect the universal experience of feeling disconnected and lost in a bustling cityscape, while also acknowledging the moments of intensity and connection that can temporarily lift one's spirits. St. Vincent captures this emotional journey through the vivid imagery and introspective lyrics, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences of navigating urban life.
Line by Line Meaning
Last nights heels
The remnants of a wild night out, symbolizing the temporary escape from reality.
On the morning train
Embarking on the journey back to the harsh reality of daily life.
It's a long way back downtown
The struggle of returning to the bustling city, facing challenges and responsibilities.
Ten missed calls
Numerous attempts from concerned individuals trying to locate and reach out to the person.
They don't know where you are
Nobody is aware of the person's current whereabouts or state of mind.
It's a long way back downtown
The emotional and physical distance between the person and the city, highlighting the difficulty of reconnecting and finding solace.
Hey, I was flying
Experiencing a sense of freedom and joy.
Over the Empire State
Metaphorically soaring above the city, feeling invincible and powerful.
When you kissed me
A blissful moment shared with another person, bringing about an intense emotional response.
And I crashed again
Returning to reality after the euphoria, reminded of the struggles and challenges that exist.
When did it start?
Questioning the beginning of a feeling or situation, seeking understanding and clarity.
This feeling so overt
The overwhelming and all-encompassing nature of the emotion being experienced.
When you're down and out downtown
When feeling emotionally drained and defeated in the busy, unforgiving environment of the city.
Bowery John
A reference to a specific individual, possibly someone familiar or significant in the singer's life.
Forgotten but not gone
Despite being overlooked or neglected, the person still has a lingering presence and impact.
Praying at St. Ann's
Seeking solace and guidance at a place of worship, hoping for relief and guidance.
Bodega roses in my hands
Symbolic representation of finding beauty and hope in mundane and unexpected places.
Down and out downtown
Feeling defeated, exhausted, and overwhelmed in the heart of the city.
And the joker with that funny laugh
Referring to someone with a carefree or mocking demeanor, adding to the singer's sense of unease or discomfort.
Is digging through the basement of my past
Someone prying into the artist's personal history, unearthing buried memories and secrets.
It's a long way back down
The arduous journey of descending from a place of vulnerability and uncertainty.
Down and out downtown
Continuing to feel defeated and lost in the midst of the bustling city.
Hey, I was flying
Again experiencing a temporary state of liberation and freedom.
Over the Empire State
Once more, metaphorically transcending the constraints of everyday life and soaring above it all.
When you kissed me
Recalling the intoxicating and uplifting effect of being close to someone.
And I crashed again
Returning to reality, feeling the weight and impact of the harsh truths and challenges that lie ahead.
Ooh
A vocal expression of emotion, emphasizing a particular phrase or idea.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Annie Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
juju 32
I love this album so much! Listening to it with the lights off and headphones, just noticing all of the different sounds in the instrumentation, also being blown away by Annie's lyrics and her vocal versility.
It was like a modern Dark Side of the Moon experience for me, it put me in another world. It was like 70s New York being relocated on the moon in 2021.
TD
DARKSIDE OF THE MOON, SMH. blasphemy.
T. Lorek Blakesley
@Literati Crux zlzz
Literati Crux
It's a treat. My sacrosanct space for listening to music is the gym. I can really hear music with my blood pumping and this album is truly a gift for the ears. I've seen her a few times live and I hope to see her touring this album... You know, since I'm fully vaxxed and wanting to see live music again.
Nathan Wolfe
I can see that. Oh damn. This is good.
IJLSK
This song is a whole world. Holy crap. This is my go-to escape for the foreseeable future.
Karl Hudson
If youâve ever walked the streets of NYC or LA, or any major US city, mildly hungover from the night before, marvelling at the skyline and the streets as you go, close your eyes, picture it and listen to this.......Annie knows the buttons to press thatâs for sure đ pure talent in building a soundscape đ
Karl Hudson
@Alefe Bahls dunno, never been, but maybe some day đ€
Alefe Bahls
it feels like sĂŁo paulo (brasil)
Rafael Bautista
The guitar solo literally deleted all my problems đđ