Donnelly released her first EP titled Thrush Metal in 2017 on the record label Healthy Tapes. In 2018, the EP was reissued in the United States by the American label Secretly Canadian. She released her debut album, Beware of the Dogs, on 8 March 2019 via Secretly Canadian. It received widespread acclaim from critics, including Robert Christgau, who praised it as a "musical encyclopedia of [male] assholes".
Before her solo projects were published, Donnelly was part of two bands called BOAT SHOW and BELL RAPIDS.
Face It
Stella Donnelly Lyrics
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But it will get easier
To leave and come back home
Act like I'd never gone
I don't think I will ever forget
But it will get easier
To watch you from a furthest city in the world
My eyes are painted on
If I put all the evidence and all the arguments aside
Leave the fear behind
I'll chase you through the calendar
I have questioned everything that I never would before
You crashed down all the walls and watched me scramble out of bed
My smile is pasted on
My smile is pasted on
I'm locked out of my body and all its usual common sense
I'll be here in the end
Playing with myself again
In Stella Donnelly's song "Face It," the lyrics delve into the complexities of leaving and returning home, the process of letting go, and the internal struggles that come with it. The repetitive lines "I don't think I will ever forget, but it will get easier" express the conflicting emotions of holding onto memories while also acknowledging that time will soften the pain. The idea of leaving and coming back home suggests a desire to escape and return to a place of comfort and familiarity, where one can act as if nothing has changed.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of distance and longing. The line "To watch you from a furthest city in the world, my eyes are painted on" speaks to the feeling of being physically far away but still emotionally connected. It conveys a sense of yearning and the ability to observe from a distance, yet feeling somewhat detached. The use of the phrase "my eyes are painted on" emphasizes the intensity of this longing and the inability to remove oneself from the situation.
The second verse introduces a shift in perspective, with the singer reflecting on questioning everything they never would have before. This suggests a transformation sparked by a significant event or a person who has had a profound impact on their life. The walls that once surrounded the singer have come crashing down, leaving them vulnerable yet determined to face the challenges ahead. The chorus line "my smile is pasted on" reveals the facade the singer puts on to conceal their emotions, possibly masking the pain with a forced smile.
The closing lines of the song evoke a sense of disconnection from one's own body and a feeling of isolation. Being locked out of their own body alludes to a loss of control or detachment from oneself, perhaps due to the internal struggle and turmoil caused by the experiences they've gone through. The final line of "playing with myself again" implies a cycle of self-reflection and self-exploration, indicating that the journey of finding oneself is ongoing.
Overall, "Face It" explores themes of distance, longing, transformation, and the internal battles one faces when navigating complex emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't think I will ever forget
I don't think I will ever be able to erase this from my memory
But it will get easier
But the pain will eventually lessen
To leave and come back home
To go away and return to where I belong
Act like I'd never gone
Pretend as if I was never gone in the first place
If I put all the evidence and all the arguments aside
If I disregard all the proof and disagreements
Leave the fear behind
Let go of the fear that holds me back
I'll chase you through the calendar
I'll pursue you relentlessly, no matter how long it takes
I have questioned everything that I never would before
I have doubted things that I never used to doubt
You crashed down all the walls and watched me scramble out of bed
You demolished my defenses and observed me struggle to get out of bed
My smile is pasted on
I'm forcing myself to appear happy, despite how I truly feel
I'm locked out of my body and all its usual common sense
I'm disconnected from myself and my usual rationality
I'll be here in the end
I'll still be here when everything is said and done
Playing with myself again
Engaging in self-destruction once more
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Stella Rachel Donnelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind