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.
I Prefer Your Love
St. Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To Jesus
(Little baby on your knees
Cause the world has got you down)
Name tag to the sick at the side of them
Tight-walking the sidewalk in spite of them
As my head it moves from East to West
Forgive me of all these bad thoughts I'm
Blinded to the faces in the fog?
But all the good in me is because of you
(It's true!)
I, I prefer your love
To Jesus
I, I prefer your love
To Jesus
(Little baby on your knees
Cause the world has got you down)
King size country, where in the worries I
Endlessly, by the pylons
As a careless sun set it's on the West
Sure as mother licking a finger
Wipe the blush and the smudge from my cheek and
Wonder what will become of your little one
But all the good in me is because of you
It's true
I, I prefer your love
To Jesus
I, I prefer your love
To Jesus
Little baby on your knees
Cause the world has got you down
In "I Prefer Your Love," St. Vincent seems to be singing about a deep connection with someone she loves more than Jesus. She opens the song with the line "I, I prefer your love to Jesus," immediately following it with "little baby on your knees cause the world has got you down," which can suggest that the connection she feels with this person is spiritual and helps her cope with the struggles of the world. The second verse mentions "mother," and her desire for forgiveness and being blinded to the faces in the fog. This can imply that her relationship with the person she prefers over Jesus is one of maternal love, guidance, and acceptance. The lines "all the good in me is because of you" and "wonder what will become of your little one" further solidify this interpretation.
The next verse seems to take on a different perspective. The lines "king-size country" and "endlessly by the pylons" are metaphors for loneliness and isolation. St. Vincent may be feeling lost and disconnected from everything around her. The line "sure as mother licking a finger wipe the blush and the smudge from my cheek and" can be interpreted as her longing for the person she prefers over Jesus to comfort her and make her feel loved. The song ends with the repeated line "little baby on your knees cause the world has got you down," emphasizing the need for comfort in times of struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
I, I prefer your love
The singer values the love of a person over that of Jesus.
To Jesus
The singer is stating a preference for the love of a person over that of Jesus.
(Little baby on your knees
The singer is possibly encouraging someone facing hardship to pray or ask for divine guidance.
Cause the world has got you down)
The world has caused misery for the person being addressed, prompting the singer to sympathize with them and encourage them to pray for guidance.
Name tag to the sick at the side of them
The singer, probably in a medical context, labels or identifies sick people by their sides.
Tight-walking the sidewalk in spite of them
The sick are seen trying to walk on the sidewalk despite their illness.
As my head it moves from East to West
The singer appears to be exploring different perspectives or struggling with a decision.
Mother, won't you open your arms and
The singer seeks comfort and reassurance from their mother.
Forgive me of all these bad thoughts I'm
The singer asks for forgiveness for the negative thoughts they are experiencing.
Blinded to the faces in the fog?
The singer seems disoriented or unable to see things clearly in a metaphorical fog.
But all the good in me is because of you
The singer credits their mother with having a positive influence on them.
(It's true!)
The singer affirms the truth of the previous statement.
King size country, where in the worries I
The singer references a large, elevated space where they are experiencing worry or anxiety.
Endlessly, by the pylons
The singer seems to be trapped or stuck by large structures like pylons.
As a careless sun set it's on the West
The sun sets carelessly, as if it has no regard for the singer's worries or concerns.
Sure as mother licking a finger
The singer is referencing a mother's behavior to suggest a gesture of care and concern.
Wipe the blush and the smudge from my cheek and
The singer requests comfort and reassurance from their mother in the face of physical imperfections or self-consciousness.
Wonder what will become of your little one
The singer's mother is likely concerned about their wellbeing and future.
But all the good in me is because of you
The singer credits their mother with having a positive influence on them.
(It's true)
The singer affirms the truth of the previous statement.
I, I prefer your love
The singer emphasizes their preference for a person's love over that of Jesus again.
To Jesus
The singer restates their preference for a person's love over that of Jesus.
Little baby on your knees
The singer seems to be addressing someone in prayer again.
(Cause the world has got you down)
The singer notes that the world is making the person feel despair or misery.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: ANNE ERIN CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind