Nguyen released her second album, We Brave Bee Stings and All, on Jan. 29, 2008. It is credited to "Thao With The Get Down Stay Down on the spine of the release and marketed as just Thao on the jewel case security label and sticker on front of the release and all material from KRS records."
After picking up her guitar at the age of 12, Thao Nguyen began performing and recording as a pop-country duo with a high school friend. Raised in Falls Church, Virginia with her single mother, she often practiced her songs while working at her mother's laundromat. She often cites Lilith Fair as an inspiration for her desire to become a singer/songwriter. After recording an EP that differed from her initial style, she began performing as a soloist with her acoustic guitar. In 2005 she recorded Like The Linen, her first full-length album.
Nguyen initially toured as a duo with drummer Willis Thompson, but expanded her act to a band of four durng the Kill Rock Stars "Sound The Hare Heard" tour. The band now consists of Nguyen, Willis Thompson, Adam Thompson, and Frank Stewart. The band was named The Get Down Stay Down by a former bassist.
Thao Nguyen continues to perform as a soloist on occasion, including a European tour with Laura Veirs and the Tortured Souls in August 2006.
website; www.thaomusic.com
Big Kid Table
Thao Nguyen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stronger than me
With a heart much more
Much more lovely
And I reach high
As high as I was able
Such a small kid
And you follow me
Into the forest
Positioned and ready
Ready for a kiss
But I never gave you nothing
Not even to hope
Or wear around your neck
Or rest against your collarbone
But I got reasons
I have been excused
I want to reconvene
I want to tell the truth
That you are strong, strong, strong,
Stronger than me
With a heart much more
Much more lovely
You are strong, strong, strong,
Stronger than me
With a heart much more
Love, lovely
And it is not as though
I do not know it's hurts me
It's just I drink only
That which makes me thirsty
We are at the
Can I recall, reclaim
Pretend we did not do it
I got reasons
I have been excused
I want to reconvene
I want to tell the truth
Well you are strong, strong, strong,
Stronger than me
With a heart much more
Much more lovely
You are strong, strong, strong,
Stronger than me
You are strong, strong, strong,
You are strong, strong, strong,
You are strong
These lyrics are about a person who is aware of their own weaknesses and limitations while observing someone else who seems stronger and more capable. The singer admits that the other person has a heart that is more lovely than their own, and they are constantly reaching for something higher but feel like a small child at the adult table. The second verse alludes to a romantic relationship where the other person is ready for a kiss, but the singer cannot bring themselves to give anything in return. They acknowledge that they have been excused for their lack of giving, but they want to tell the truth and reconnect. The chorus repeats that the other person is stronger and has a more beautiful heart, and the singer recognizes that it hurts them to see it.
Line by Line Meaning
You are strong, strong, strong,
The person being addressed is described as incredibly strong
Stronger than me
The person being addressed is stronger than the singer
With a heart much more
The person being addressed is also kindhearted and lovely
Much more lovely
The person being addressed is incredibly lovely
And I reach high
The artist is constantly striving for greatness
As high as I was able
They are doing their best to succeed
Such a small kid
Despite their efforts, they feel inadequate
At the big kid table
They feel like they don't quite belong in the same league as the others
And you follow me
The person being addressed is constantly by their side, supportive and devoted
Into the forest
They venture out bravely into the unknown
Positioned and ready
They are always prepared for any challenge
Ready for a kiss
They long for intimacy and affection
But I never gave you nothing
The singer didn't give the other person anything, not even hope
Not even to hope
The singer didn't offer anything optimistic to the other person
Or wear around your neck
They didn't even give the other person a keepsake
Or rest against your collarbone
The artist didn't offer any sort of physical comfort to the other person
But I got reasons
The artist justifies their actions
I have been excused
They have made excuses for why they haven't given the other person anything
I want to reconvene
The singer wants to reconnect with the other person
I want to tell the truth
The artist wants to be honest about their feelings
And it is not as though
The artist admits knowledge of how their actions have hurt the other person
I do not know it's hurts me
The artist acknowledges the pain they've caused themselves
It's just I drink only
The singer explains away their behavior
That which makes me thirsty
They only pursue what actively meets their needs
Can I recall, reclaim
The singer wonders if they can turn back time and make things right
Pretend we did not do it
The singer wishes they could erase their mistakes
Well you are strong, strong, strong,
The singer once again emphasizes how strong the other person is
You are strong, strong, strong,
This line is repeated again to emphasize the other person's strength
You are strong, strong, strong,
And again, the artist emphasizes the other person's strength
Stronger than me
The other person is once again established as being stronger than the singer
You are strong, strong, strong,
This line is repeated one more time to really drive home the point of the other person's strength
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Primpéran
Sweet sweet sweet
rice bunny
agreed