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.
Fall Down
Throwing Muses Lyrics
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She dropped her stuff
And tripped on it, so I picked her up
I said, everybody falls down
Once you meet the man you want
You'll know 'cause you see red
Like making honey
'Til he stings you in the head
Kate collected postcards
When she felt too alone
In case no friends of hers
Could get her on the phone
Fall down fall down
Her husband was in line behind her
Not everybody falls down
You're so old, I said, what happened?
If you eat your lipstick
You consume here jealous rage
They get you in the mouth, those girls
Fall down fall down
Juan collected things in cans,
He felt he wasn't safe
See, his girlfriend took some
When she went away
Fall down fall down
Nothing ever happens here, I said,
I just wait.
I showed this guy my pictures
He said they didn't breathe
I said I painted them that way
Kind of hanging on his sleeve
Fall down fall down
I showed this girl my stitches
She said she had some too
She said she thinks she'll start
A rock band too
Fall down fall down
I hope you fall so fast and hard
That you get me
The lyrics to Throwing Muses' "Fall Down" seem to revolve around the idea of people experiencing emotional distress and personal struggles. The singer in the song meets various individuals who are dealing with difficult situations, and attempts to offer them some kind of comfort or insight. The opening lines describe the singer picking up a woman in a store who has stumbled and dropped her things, and telling her that "everybody falls down." The theme of falling down is repeated throughout the song, as the singer meets more people who are struggling with their own personal issues.
The second verse introduces Kate, who collects postcards when she feels lonely and disconnected from others. Her husband is with her but the singer suggests that not everyone falls down like Kate, implying that Kate's struggles are unique to her. The third verse tells the story of Juan, who hoards things in cans because he feels unsafe, stemming from his girlfriend taking things when she left him. The fourth verse is about showing a guy pictures, but he finds them unimpressive, and the singer defends them by saying they are painted that way. The fifth verse has the singer showing a girl her stitches, and the girl responds by saying she wants to start a rock band. The final line of the song, "I hope you fall so fast and hard that you get me," is a curious note that may imply that the singer herself is struggling emotionally and wants to connect with others who are also experiencing difficult times.
Overall, the song seems to capture a sense of loneliness, isolation, and the universal struggle of trying to understand and connect with others. The repeated refrain of "fall down" suggests that everyone experiences hardships and difficulties, and the singer's attempts to offer comfort and perspective may reflect her own search for meaning and understanding in a world that can often feel confusing and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
I picked up this lady in a store,
The singer met a woman in a store who dropped her belongings and fell, but he helped her up and offered some wisdom.
She dropped her stuff
The woman accidentally dropped her possessions and fell while the singer was nearby.
And tripped on it, so I picked her up
The woman tripped over her own belongings and the singer helped her up.
I said, everybody falls down
The artist reassured the woman that everyone makes mistakes and falls sometimes.
Once you meet the man you want
The woman will know when she's met the right man for her.
You'll know 'cause you see red
When she meets the right man, the woman will feel passion and intensity.
Like making honey
Her feelings will be sweet and rich like honey.
Til he stings you in the head
But eventually, the man may hurt her and cause her pain.
Fall down fall down
The chorus repeats the theme of falling or failing, suggesting that it's a natural part of life.
Kate collected postcards
Another character is introduced, a woman named Kate who collects postcards.
When she felt too alone
Kate collects postcards as a way to combat loneliness.
In case no friends of hers
She collects them so she can have something to do when she feels disconnected from her friends.
Could get her on the phone
Maybe her friends aren't available to talk on the phone, but she can still feel connected through her postcards.
Her husband was in line behind her
Kate is married and her husband is nearby in line.
Not everybody falls down
The singer reminds us again that not everyone fails or makes mistakes.
You're so old, I said, what happened?
The artist comments on someone's age and suggests that they may have gone through difficult or trying times to get where they are now.
If you eat your lipstick
The artist makes a strange analogy about eating lipstick, suggesting that it can represent consuming someone else's jealousy or anger.
You consume here jealous rage
If someone's jealous of you, they may try to bring you down or consume you in some way.
They get you in the mouth, those girls
These jealous people may attack you verbally by speaking against you.
Juan collected things in cans,
Another new character is introduced, a man named Juan who collects things in cans.
He felt he wasn't safe
Juan may collect things as a way of feeling secure or protected.
See, his girlfriend took some
Someone stole some of Juan's collected items, perhaps his girlfriend.
When she went away
His girlfriend left him and took some of his belongings with her.
Nothing ever happens here, I said,
The artist expresses boredom or restlessness with where they are.
I just wait.
But they also suggest that they're just waiting for something to happen.
I showed this guy my pictures
The singer shows someone their artwork or photos.
He said they didn't breathe
The person didn't seem to appreciate or understand the singer's work.
I said I painted them that way
The artist defends or explains their creative choices.
Kind of hanging on his sleeve
The artist seems to be trying to impress or attract this person with their art.
I showed this girl my stitches
The singer shows someone their physical wounds or scars.
She said she had some too
The person relates to the singer's pain or suffering.
She said she thinks she'll start
This person is inspired or motivated by the artist's story.
A rock band too
She wants to start her own creative endeavor, like a band.
I hope you fall so fast and hard
The song ends with a kind of wish or hope that someone else will fall, similar to the falling metaphor used throughout the song.
That you get me
It's unclear what this line means exactly, but it seems to suggest that there's some sort of connection to be made between the singer and the falling person.
Lyrics © HEYDAY MEDIA GROUP LLC
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