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.
Sad But True
St. Vincent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm your life
I'm the one who takes you there
Hey (hey)
I'm your life
I'm the one who cares
They (they)
They betray
They (they)
They betray
I'm forever there
I'm your dream, make you real
I'm your eyes when you must steal
I'm your pain when you can't feel
Sad but true
I'm your dream, mind astray
I'm your eyes while you're away
I'm your pain while you repay
You know it's sad but true
You (you)
You're my mask
You're my cover, my shelter
You (you)
You're my mask
You're the one who's blamed
Do (do)
Do my work
Do my dirty work, scapegoat
Do (do)
Do my deeds
You're the one who's shamed
I'm your dream, make you real
I'm your eyes when you must steal
I'm your pain when you can't feel
Sad but true
I'm your dream, mind astray
I'm your eyes while you're away
I'm your pain while you repay
You know it's sad but true
I'm your dream
I'm your eyes
I'm your pain
I'm your dream
I'm your eyes
I'm your pain
Hate (hate)
I'm your hate
I'm your hate when you want love
Pay (pay)
Pay the price
Pay, for nothing's fair
Hey (hey)
I'm your life
I'm the one who took you there
Hey (hey)
I'm your life
But I no longer care
I'm your dream, make you real
I'm your eyes when you must steal
I'm your pain when you can't feel
Sad but true
I'm your truth, telling lies
I'm your reason, alibis
I'm inside, open your eyes
I'm you
It's sad but true
Sad but true
Sad but true
In "Sad But True" by St. Vincent, the lyrics depict a complex dynamic between two individuals, one being the singer and the other being the person they are addressing. The singer assumes the role of a manipulative and controlling figure, claiming to be the individual's life, the one who takes them to dark places and the only true friend they have. The repeated emphasis on betrayal suggests a sense of disillusionment and the realization that others cannot be trusted.
The singer's presence in the individual's life is multidimensional. They are described as being the individual's dream, both making them feel alive and causing their mind to wander astray. The singer assumes the role of their eyes when they engage in secretive or deceitful acts, as well as being the source of their pain when they become numb and unable to feel. This establishes a disturbing power dynamic where the individual is dependent on the singer for their sense of self and their experiences, even though it brings sadness and truth.
The second part of the song shifts the focus to the individual, who is described as being the singer's mask and their cover. They are blamed for the singer's actions and become the scapegoat for their dirty work. This further emphasizes the control and manipulation exerted by the singer.
In the end, the lyrics suggest a turning point. The singer's indifference is revealed, stating that they no longer care about being the individual's life. This realization signifies a potential breaking free from the toxic influence of the singer and a shift towards finding their own truth. The repeated line "Sad but true" encapsulates the conflicting emotions experienced, acknowledging the negative aspects of the relationship while still recognizing its significance.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey (hey)
I am the one who is present and attentive to your existence
I'm your life
I am the one who guides and shapes your existence
I'm the one who takes you there
I am the driving force behind your experiences and journeys
I'm the one who cares
I am the one who deeply empathizes and looks after you
They (they)
Other people in your life
They betray
They deceive and disappoint you
I'm your only true friend now
I am the sole companion you can trust and rely on
I'm forever there
I will always be present, never deserting you
I'm your dream, make you real
I am the catalyst that turns your aspirations into reality
I'm your eyes when you must steal
I am the one observing and guiding you in moments of wrongdoing
I'm your pain when you can't feel
I am the source of your suffering when you are numb to emotions
You know it's sad but true
You recognize that this reality, though disheartening, is unquestionably genuine
You're my mask
You serve as a disguise or front for me
You're my cover, my shelter
You provide protection and refuge for me
You're the one who's blamed
You are held accountable and responsible
Do my work
Execute tasks on my behalf
Do my dirty work, scapegoat
Perform unpleasant or unethical tasks, serving as a scapegoat
Do my deeds
Carry out actions or tasks in my stead
You're the one who's shamed
You bear the guilt and humiliation
I'm your hate
I am the embodiment of your intense dislike or animosity
I'm your hate when you want love
I become your focus of negative emotions when you desire love and affection
Pay the price
Suffer the consequences
Pay, for nothing's fair
Endure the burden of unfairness in life
But I no longer care
However, I have lost all interest and concern for you
I'm your truth, telling lies
I am the one distorting reality and presenting deceitful information
I'm your reason, alibis
I am the justification for your actions and excuses you provide
I'm inside, open your eyes
I reside within you, urging you to become aware of the truth
I'm you
I am an integral part of your identity
It's sad but true
Undeniably, it is a disheartening reality
Sad but true
Regrettably, it is the harsh truth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Alan Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ShaunTrack
Huge
@romualdo6808
Tremendo
@alejandrovaquera4663
Está buenísimo el cover, como el shaun🙃
@gustavoibarracarrizalez
Análisis de St. Vincent 🙌🏼
@leonardomumbach
que hace usted por aqui? ja Shaun para los amigos
@Jack_War
@@gustavoibarracarrizalez que analice esta canción y mencione las influencias que tiene de bowie y nin 😍. Si no mal recuerdo Shaun es fan de nin y el género industrial en general 👌.
@8sor
Man it's like Metallica meets Nine Inch Nails meets A FUCKING BADASS FEMALE SINGER
@eikuulusulle766
Singer? Do you mean St. Vincent aka Annie Clark aka the super multi instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, producer, lyricist, performer, engineer etc.?
@VirginieVMouth
I was like "damn this is so nin from the 90's"
@MetaITurtle
there's no way this isn't also inspired by NIN