Tattle Tale is the "riot grrl" duo of Jen Wood (indie artist and guest on T… Read Full Bio ↴Tattle Tale is the "riot grrl" duo of Jen Wood (indie artist and guest on The Postal Service's Give Up) and Madigan Shive (of Bonfire Madigan). Sew True (1995, St. Francis Records), their most popular album, is now out of print and can cost upwards of $150.

Their most popular song is probably "Glass Vase, Cello Case", which was the love theme for the indie romantic comedy But I'm A Cheerleader. (The soundtrack for this film was never pressed.)

Erica
Tattle Tale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Little girl keep your mouth shut so you don't make any noise
Keep your mouth shut so you don't make any noise

Smile pretty smile pretty smile
Even though you're in pain
Smile pretty smile pretty smile
Even though you're full of shame

I can see the fog is clearing
I can see their lies are breaking
I can see the smoke is rising
I can see the walls are falling

I pick up what's been left of you
I see all that's been done to you
Leftover photographs
Leftover missing laughs
Leftover time of mine
All alone in her life

Alone alone alone alone
Survive alive alive alive alive
Survive survive survive survive survive
Alone
Survive
Alive

Little girl this wold is full of crazies
Little girl this world is full of crazies (crazy)

I can see the fog is clearing
I can see the lies are breaking
I can see the smoke is rising
I can see the walls are falling
It's a clear ring in my ear (ear)
A clear scream in my ear (ear)
A clear cry in my ear

I'm laughing from fear (fear)

I'm laughing from fear (fear)
I'm laughing from fear

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tattle Tale's song Erica is a powerful message aimed at young girls to silence themselves, hide their pain and shame, and never reveal the truth to the world. The singer urges Erica, the name of the girl, to keep her mouth shut so that she doesn't make any noise. She teaches her to smile even when she is in pain and swimming in a sea of shame. The world is a crazy place, and the little girl is alone, surviving, and trying her best to stay alive.

The fog is clearing, and the singer can see through the fog of lies and deceit that surrounds Erica. She can see the walls tumbling down and the smoke rising from the ashes of the past. The singer picks up the pieces of the girl's shattered life and sees all that has been done to her. Erica is alone with her leftover photographs, missing laughs, and the time that has passed. The singer urges Erica to survive despite being alone and alive against all odds.

The song's message is inspiring and powerful, aimed at discouraging young girls from hiding their pain and shame and denying the truth. Young girls need to speak up, stand for themselves, and break the walls that society has erected around them. The song is a call to action for all young girls to rise, speak up, and stand for themselves in the face of any obstacle.

Line by Line Meaning

Little girl keep your mouth shut so you don't make any noise
The singer urges the girl to keep quiet and avoid making noise.

Smile pretty smile pretty smile Even though you're in pain Smile pretty smile pretty smile Even though you're full of shame
The singer asks the girl to smile even when she is in pain and shame to mask her emotions.

I can see the fog is clearing I can see their lies are breaking I can see the smoke is rising I can see the walls are falling
The singer can perceive the end of deception and the beginning of truth, as represented by the breaking down of walls and the rising of smoke.

I pick up what's been left of you I see all that's been done to you Leftover photographs Leftover missing laughs Leftover time of mine All alone in her life
The artist sees the aftermath of the girl's trauma and pain, including remnants of happier times and her loneliness.

Alone alone alone alone Survive alive alive alive alive Survive survive survive survive survive Alone Survive Alive
The repeated phrases emphasize the importance of survival and holding on to life despite feeling alone.

Little girl this world is full of crazies
The singer acknowledges the presence of many unstable and unpredictable people in the world, including those who may have hurt the girl.

It's a clear ring in my ear (ear) A clear scream in my ear (ear) A clear cry in my ear
The singer hears a resonating echo of the girl's pain and suffering, which is too clear to ignore.

I'm laughing from fear (fear) I'm laughing from fear (fear) I'm laughing from fear
The artist lets out a nervous laugh as a reaction to the intense emotions felt throughout the song.

Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS