They describe their heavily art-damaged and theatrical style as "Brechtian punk cabaret", a phrase invented by Palmer because she was "terrified" that the press would invent a name that "would involve the word 'gothic'," and are part of an underground dark cabaret movement that started gaining momentum in the early 1990s.
Palmer accompanies her confessional story-songs with a thunderous and shimmering piano style that rests on the shoulders of Jerry Lee Lewis and Nina Simone. Viglione's jazz and hardcore-influenced drumming and creative percussion are the perfect foil, providing in turns a delicate cradle of rhythm and a piercing bed of nails onto which Palmer lays her raw, tragicomic lyrics.
The release of their debut album The Dresden Dolls, produced by Martin Bisi (Swans, Sonic Youth), has won the band accolades from both mainstream and underground media, and it appears that the Dolls are poised to transcend cult status and smash all commonly held ideas about what a rock band is supposed to be. Their awe-striking live energy and singular look has earned them opening slots for Nine Inch Nails, Beck, the B-52s, Jane's Addiction, OK Go and Panic! At the Disco, a tour with the Legendary Pink Dots, and a victory in the 2003 WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble.
Their second album Yes, Virginia was released in 2006, eventually followed by a companion record No, Virginia in 2008, which features b-sides and out-takes from the "Yes, Virginia" sessions, as well as a smattering of new tracks.
At the end of summer 2008 they announced a hiatus. The band has made further announcements saying they will reunite when the time is right for both of them, and have stressed they have not broken up.
In September 2008, rumors began to circulate about the future of the whole band. Viglione confirmed that the band is currently on hiatus but emphasized that he and Palmer are on good terms and that they will get together again when it feels right for both of them. In late July and early August 2009, a rumor began to spread that the band was "reuniting for performances in 2010" but Palmer clarified in her blog on August 7: "There's been a ton of press lately re-printing an old quote from an old interview that's now blown up into a full-fledged press rumour that Brian and I have planned Dresden Dolls' shows for 2010. Not true. We aren't planning any shows. Sorry about that, blame the gossip whores."
In 2010, a reunion tour to selected venues in the United States occurred. It started on Halloween in New York City and ended in San Francisco on New Years Eve.
The Dresden Dolls played a show in Mexico City on 9 December 2011. They had a tour of New Zealand and Australia in early 2012, supported by The Jane Austen Argument and The Bedroom Philosopher.
Dear Jenny
The Dresden Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girls fill out prescriptions for the tricks that keep their hearts from growing
Specialists review the year in tears and call for drastic measures
Send them to resorts for boys and girl to get their shit together
Sad but true the facts of life are bound to get you down
So whats the use dear jenny anyway the world is pretty...
Andy gets a new tattoo each time he gets back bathroom privilege
Weary oh so drearily we wave our flags into the camera
Amber goes berserk completely she's been here since last December
Sad but true the truth can turn your smile to a frown
So whats the use dear jenny anyway the world is pretty
Upside-down...
The rates are better in the summer
Looks like dear jenny's doing better
Back at home the broadcast warning bounces off of an empty table
Jenny asks the astronauts to sleep with her behind the stable
Christmas hasn't been the same since dad put in the central heating
Checks you before bedtime with a battery to keep your new heart beating
And the world might turn a million times around before
They tell you jenny anyway the world is pretty world is pretty happy world is pretty happy
Sometimes they let strangers in and other times they check their records
When they check out in the morning dad puts out the lie detectors
Jenny prays to gods she've never heard of for a special warning
All the walls stay dead as Jenny's heart is
But shes still observing
Sad but true the high-gloss gloss paint wont tell you what to do
So whats the use dear jenny anyway
The world is happy
World is happy
World is happy without you
The rates are better in the summer
The rates are better in the summer
Looks like old jenny's doing better
The rates are better in the summer
In the song Dear Jenny by The Dresden Dolls, Amanda Palmer sings about the struggles of life and the lengths people go to cope with difficult situations. The first verse describes how people try to hide their vulnerabilities from the world by wearing overcoats in the heat and taking prescription drugs to numb their emotions. The specialists call for drastic measures and suggest resorts or other means for people to get their lives together. The chorus acknowledges the sad truth that life can get you down, but asks what's the use in dwelling on it since the world is pretty upside-down anyway.
The second verse introduces some characters who are also dealing with their own problems. Ashley talks to astronauts via fax, Andy gets new tattoos every time he earns bathroom privileges, and Amber has gone berserk since last December. They all wave flags into the camera while feeling weary and dreary. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the fact that life can turn your smile to a frown, but ultimately the world keeps spinning and remains pretty upside-down.
The final verse brings things full circle as it talks about Jenny and the ways her family copes with life. The broadcast warning is ignored and Jenny asks the astronauts to sleep with her. Christmas is not the same since they installed central heating and dad checks her heart with a battery before bed. The chorus repeats one last time, with the added line that the world is happy without Jenny.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the struggles and oddities of life, and the ways people try to cope and find happiness amidst the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys wear overcoats in heat like this to keep themselves from showing
Boys wear thick clothes in hot weather to hide their true selves and emotions
Girls fill out prescriptions for the tricks that keep their hearts from growing
Girls take drugs or other methods to avoid developing genuine relationships and emotions
Specialists review the year in tears and call for drastic measures
Experts look back on the year with sadness and demand significant actions to address problems
Send them to resorts for boys and girl to get their shit together
Experts suggest sending troubled individuals to special facilities to fix their problems
Sad but true the facts of life are bound to get you down
The reality of life can bring you down, as disappointing as it may be
So whats the use dear jenny anyway the world is pretty...
Jenny begins to question the point of it all, despite the beauty of the world
Ashley talks to astronauts back home by way of fax transmission
Ashley communicates with space explorers via fax machine from home
Andy gets a new tattoo each time he gets back bathroom privilege
Andy gets a tattoo every time he gets back the ability to use the bathroom
Weary oh so drearily we wave our flags into the camera
Exhausted and bored, they wave flags in front of the camera for a seemingly pointless task
Amber goes berserk completely she's been here since last December
Amber has been here since the previous December and has lost her mind
Sad but true the truth can turn your smile to a frown
The truth can be disheartening and cause one's emotions to shift from happy to sad
The rates are better in the summer
The rates for something are cheaper or better in the summertime
Looks like dear jenny's doing better
It appears that Jenny is doing well or improving
Back at home the broadcast warning bounces off of an empty table
At home, a warning message cannot reach anyone because no one is there
Jenny asks the astronauts to sleep with her behind the stable
Jenny asks the space explorers to have a sexual encounter with her in a secret location
Christmas hasn't been the same since dad put in the central heating
Christmas has changed since the father installed the central heating system
Checks you before bedtime with a battery to keep your new heart beating
Before going to bed, someone checks a person's artificial heart with a battery to ensure it keeps functioning
And the world might turn a million times around before
The world can go through countless cycles before
They tell you jenny anyway the world is pretty world is pretty happy world is pretty happy
Despite it all, Jenny is reminded that the world is still beautiful and happy
Sometimes they let strangers in and other times they check their records
Occasionally, they allow strangers to enter, while other times they check records to verify a person's identity
When they check out in the morning dad puts out the lie detectors
In the morning, the father installs lie detectors to detect deceit
Jenny prays to gods she've never heard of for a special warning
Jenny prays to unknown gods for a specific warning or message
All the walls stay dead as Jenny's heart is
The walls remain still and lifeless as Jenny's heart is
But shes still observing
Despite it all, Jenny is still watching and observing her surroundings
Sad but true the high-gloss gloss paint wont tell you what to do
Glossy paint cannot give you guidance or direction in life, despite being shiny and attractive
So whats the use dear jenny anyway
Jenny questions what the point or use of it all is
The world is happy
Despite hardships, the world can still be a happy place
World is happy
The world can be a happy place
World is happy without you
The world can be happy even without Jenny
The rates are better in the summer
The prices or rates for something are lower or better in the summertime
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amanda Palmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
VAMP
on My Alcoholic Friends
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