Throwing Muses is known for performing music with shifting tempos, creative chord progressions, unorthodox song structures, and surreal lyrics. The group was set apart from other contemporary acts by Hersh's stark, candid writing style; Donelly's pop stylings and vocal harmonies; and David Narcizo's unusual drumming techniques eschewing use of cymbals. Hallucinatory, febrile songs by Hersh occasionally touched on the subject of mental illness, more often drawing portraits of characters from daily life or addressing relationships.
Donelly left the band in 1991 and was a member of The Breeders and Belly, before starting to perform solo. She also contributed vocals to the Throwing Muses self-titled album in 2003. Hersh has also worked solo, and fronts the power trio 50 Foot Wave (which also includes Muses bassist Bernard Georges). Narcizo works in graphic design and has a musical project Lakuna.
In March 2003, Throwing Muses came back with their eighth album, Throwing Muses, which also saw the return of Tanya Donelly who provided backing vocals on the album. A greatest hits compilation titled Anthology was released in 2011. The band's ninth album, Purgatory / Paradise was released on October 29, 2013 in the UK and November 11 in the US. In early 2014, the band toured a few U.S. cities, with Donelly opening for the East Coast dates.
Dirty Water
Throwing Muses Lyrics
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I'm the lady who turns out the light
Hey, you
Look at the dirty water
Look at him
Look at the dirty water
And swim
I'm not looking for anything
I'm not digging for anything
But this hole
Hey, you
Look at the dirty water
Look at him
Look at the dirty water
And swim
Sit at your hole
You can't afford to go
Catch what you can
You can't afford to know
This man
Hey, you
Aren't you the lady?
Some man
You look fine
Don't touch me
There's history on your hands
Hey, you
Aren't I the lady?
The lyrics to Throwing Muses's "Dirty Water" explores themes of control, power play, and societal norms regarding gender roles. The singer, who identifies as a "lady," takes charge of locking the door and turning out the light, which suggests a desire for privacy and control. She then shifts her focus to the "dirty water," which can be seen as a metaphor for societal inequalities and oppression. The repetition of "look at him" and "swim," may suggest a desire for others, particularly men, to acknowledge the problems in society and take action to address them.
The lyrics continue with the singer stating that she is not "looking for anything" and is not "digging for anything," indicating that she does not wish to conform to societal expectations of needing or seeking validation and power. The line "catch what you can, you can't afford to know this man" suggests that knowledge about the singer, her life experiences, and struggles may come at a cost, further highlighting the power dynamics at play.
The theme of power play and gender roles continues as a man enters the scene. He refers to the singer as "the lady" and comments on her appearance, which she deftly rebuffs with the line "don't touch me, there's history on your hands." This could be seen as a feminist statement, indicating that men often hold power over women and that contact could symbolically 'taint' her. The lyrics then end with the singer directly questioning the man, asking "aren't I the lady?" perhaps indicating a desire to not conform to societal norms and expectations of gender roles.
Overall, the lyrics to Throwing Muses's "Dirty Water" point towards societal inequalities and power dynamics, particularly regarding gender roles. The repeated imagery of dirty water and swimming suggest a need to address these problems and take action to create a more equitable society.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the lady who locks the door
I am the one who secures everything and keeps it safe.
I'm the lady who turns out the light
I am the one who brings the day to an end and puts away everything.
Hey, you
Addressing someone for attention.
Look at the dirty water
Observe how the impure things are affecting the surroundings.
Look at him
Take a look at him and acknowledge his dirty actions and nature.
And swim
Dive into it and face the reality of the dirty situation.
I'm not looking for anything
I am not searching for anything in particular.
And you don't know
You have no idea of what I am thinking.
I'm not digging for anything
I am not trying to discover anything significant.
But this hole
But I am in this place.
Sit at your hole
Stay at the place where you are currently in.
You can't afford to go
You are unable to leave and explore other places.
Catch what you can
Just grab whatever you can get.
You can't afford to know
You do not have the means to understand what is happening.
This man
Referring to someone with impure behaviors/actions.
Hey, you
Addressing someone for attention.
Aren't you the lady?
Aren't you the one who said something earlier?
Some man
Someone with an unknown identity.
You look fine
You appear to be doing well, in spite of the situation.
Don't touch me
Do not try to come close and interact with me.
There's history on your hands
You are tainted by some dirty past or action.
Hey, you
Addressing someone for attention.
Aren't I the lady?
Aren't I the person you were addressing earlier?
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KRISTIN HERSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind