Thao Nguyen is a folk singer-songwriter out of Virginia. She's signed to K… Read Full Bio ↴Thao Nguyen is a folk singer-songwriter out of Virginia. She's signed to Kill Rock Stars and is touring in winter/spring 2008.

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

Feet Asleep
Thao Nguyen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Toss up
So you'll fall asleep
Cooked you dinner
But you would not eat
Your sharp mouth forgets when you swore
God damn, you wouldn't do it again
But I
Bend back

With an eye
For love
And I take it on the chin
And then I patch you up

But all these years, my feet asleep
Move them around
That they might breathe
And oh, so little time
I have gone old
This shock
This shock and awe

Come back to see me
I know they have a rainy season
Come back to see me
I know they have a rainy season

You
You are mine
So I never would mind

I work my arms so hard
Just to give you an airplane ride

Overall Meaning

In "Feet Asleep", Thao Nguyen sings about love and sacrifice. She starts by describing how she tries to take care of her partner, but they don't appreciate her efforts. Despite their abusive behavior, she keeps bending over backward for them out of love. Thao uses the metaphor of having "feet asleep" to describe how she has been sacrificing herself for her partner for so long that she has become numb to her own needs and desires. She urges herself to move her feet around and give them some life, so she can awaken and live for herself. The line "This shock and awe" suggests that this realization is shocking to her, but it also has its own beauty and awakens her to a new reality.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Come back to see me / I know they have a rainy season." Here, Thao is calling out for her partner to return, but acknowledging that there will be challenges and struggles ahead. Rainy seasons are known for being difficult and unpredictable, but they are also necessary for growth and renewal. In a way, Thao is saying that she is ready for the challenges that come with loving someone who is difficult to love.

The song is full of emotional depth and vulnerability, and it showcases Thao Nguyen's songwriting skills and unique voice. The melody combines folk, rock, and pop influences, and Thao's voice soars over the intricate guitar lines. The song has been praised for its relatable lyrics and catchy hooks, and it has become a fan favorite.

Line by Line Meaning

Toss up
Uncertainty dominates

So you'll fall asleep
Creating a comfortable environment for someone else

Cooked you dinner
Made an effort to show love

But you would not eat
Not reciprocating the love shown

Your sharp mouth forgets when you swore
Making promises and forgetting them

God damn, you wouldn't do it again
Refusing to take any responsibility

But I
Despite everything

Bend back
Putting in extra effort

With an eye
Being vigilant

For love
For the sake of love

And I take it on the chin
Accepting the pain and hardships