Malkmus knew fellow Pavement songwriter Scott Kannberg (aka Spiral Stairs), of the Preston School of Industry, since childhood in Stockton, California. Malkmus attended the University of Virginia, where his father is also an alumnus. While at UVA, he also met Bob Nastanovich, another member of Pavement.
Malkmus currently resides in Portland, Oregon with his partner, artist Jessica Jackson Hutchins. In 2005, Hutchins gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Lottie.
In 2008 Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks released the album, Real Emotional Trash — the group’s first album with new drummer Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney. In 2020, Stephen released Traditional Techniques. Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the album as "an amiably trippy and decisively mellow psych-folk adventure."
Craw Song
Stephen Malkmus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jackie wants William
but William wants Leroy
but Leroy is straight
He couldn't commit to the mental jujitsu
of switchin' his hittin'
from ladies to men
Check it out, I rub so well
the narrows draw you out
I kiss and tell and make life hell
you know what it's about, here.
So something near
William was shattered
not that it mattered
message to Jackie
I'll see 'ya at 8
He cooked her a dinner
and boy it's a winner
it's better than chocolate
and pink champagne
They want
to stay
confined within the fortress of this day
stick that it your craw
Check me out I love so well
The narrow draws you out
you kiss and tell and make life hell
you what it's about
the memory's fine
a heart is like wine
a lover that is so sublime
memory's fine
a heart is like red wine
a lover that is so sublime, here.
The chills won't shake on the fine
Everybody, every-oh!
The lyrics of Stephen Malkmus's song Craw Song depict a complex love triangle involving Martha, Jackie, William, and Leroy. Martha has feelings for Jackie, who in turn is interested in William. However, William is attracted to Leroy, who happens to be straight and unable to reciprocate William's feelings. The song describes William's struggle to come to terms with his sexual orientation and reconcile his attraction towards men with societal norms and expectations.
The lyrics also touch on themes of jealousy and heartbreak as William realizes that Jackie is not interested in him and instead chooses to spend time with Martha. The chorus, “Check me out, I love so well / The narrows draw you out / You kiss and tell and make life hell / You know what it's about,” suggests a sense of frustration and helplessness in navigating the complexities of love and desire.
Overall, the song captures the intricacies of human relationships and highlights the challenges that individuals face in expressing and pursuing their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Martha wants Jackie
Martha is attracted to Jackie
Jackie wants William
Jackie is attracted to William
but William wants Leroy
William is attracted to Leroy
but Leroy is straight
But Leroy only likes women, not men.
He couldn't commit to the mental jujitsu
Switching from women to men was too complicated for him
of switchin' his hittin'
Switching from hitting on women to hitting on men
from ladies to men
from being attracted to women to being attracted to men
Check it out, I rub so well
I'm irresistible
the narrows draw you out
My charm overcomes your hesitation
I kiss and tell and make life hell
I gossip about my romantic escapades and cause trouble
you know what it's about, here
You understand the game we're playing
William was shattered
William was devastated
not that it mattered
Even though it didn't make a difference
message to Jackie
A message for Jackie
I'll see 'ya at 8
Let's meet at 8 pm
He cooked her a dinner
He prepared a meal for her
and boy it's a winner
And it turned out delicious
it's better than chocolate
It's even better than chocolate
and pink champagne
And a fancy drink
They want
They both desire
to stay
To remain
confined within the fortress of this day
To enjoy the moment without thinking about tomorrow
stick that in your craw
Just deal with it
The chills won't shake on the fine
Everything is going smoothly
Everybody, every-oh!
Everyone can relate
the memory's fine
This memory is a good one
a heart is like red wine
Love gets better with time
a lover that is so sublime
Having a perfect lover is amazing
Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.