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.
GREEN
Throwing Muses Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then there were candles
And a phoenix burned my bed
These are subwords
These are air
There's one boy
In one house
At all times
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?Â
I shouldn't be smoking
This last cigarette
I feel sickÂ
Now there are words in my headÂ
You took my house
Burned it inside out
Kneel in my ashes
Kneading themÂ
There's one boy
In one house
In one place
At all times
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?
And now you're leaving again, no
Temper and tempestÂ
To knock at the moon
And the stars come out at night
What's that beyond the floor?
You were left screaming
My hands are in your hair
You're on the deep with the stars(?)
You built a city in my headÂ
Where are your candles?
(...can see my...)
And a phoenix that was you in my bed
These are subwords
These are airÂ
(Turning my body around)
There's one boyÂ
In one house
In one place
At all times
(There's one boy)
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?Â
Smoke falls to the ceiling
It begins
There's a man dancing at me
He's making circles
So I will tell you now
(I wear your clothes)Â
I wear your clothes like armour
(I love your face)Â
I love your face like God
So you're in love and I'm indebted always
Green eyes
And now you're leaving again
No
The song "Green" by Throwing Muses tells the story of a tumultuous relationship that has left the singer confused and unsure of herself. The lyrics begin with the image of a city that her lover has built in her head, which is then destroyed by a phoenix burning her bed. This destruction is described as "subwords," or ideas that exist only in the mind and cannot be articulated in language. The singer is left with nothing but the memory of green eyes belonging to a boy who lives in one house, in one place, at all times.
Throughout the song, the singer is grappling with the aftermath of the relationship, trying to figure out what it meant and who she is without it. She is smoking a last cigarette, feeling sick, and realizing that there are words in her head that she cannot express. She describes her house being burned from the inside out, and kneels in the ashes, trying to make sense of what has happened to her.
The song ends with the singer addressing someone directly, possibly the person who caused her so much confusion and pain. She talks about wearing someone's clothes like armor and loving their face like God, but also feeling indebted to them because of this love. The final line echoes the refrain, with the singer acknowledging that the person is leaving again, and that the green-eyed boy will always be in one house, in one place, at all times.
Overall, "Green" is a complex and introspective song that delves into the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship. By exploring the destruction of the city in her head and the confusion that remains, the singer is able to come to a sense of closure, even if it is an uneasy one.
Line by Line Meaning
You built a city in my head
You created a world inside my mind
Then there were candles
There was romance and passion
And a phoenix burned my bed
We were consumed by love and passion
These are subwords
These are fleeting words
These are air
These are just empty feelings
There's one boy
You're the one I love
In one house
You have a place in my heart
In one place
You're always on my mind
At all times
My love for you is constant
And green eyes
Your eyes are the color of life and growth
I got no more
I am empty without you
Who are you for?
Who do you belong to?
What is this?
What is happening to us?
I shouldn't be smoking
I know I'm destroying myself
This last cigarette
This is my last indulgence before saying goodbye
I feel sick
I am physically and emotionally unwell
Now there are words in my head
Now I am overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings
You took my house
You took everything from me
Burned it inside out
Destroyed my world completely
Kneel in my ashes
Suffer with me
Kneading them
Trying to shape them back into something meaningful
Temper and tempest
Passion and anger
To knock at the moon
To try and reach the unattainable
And the stars come out at night
Even in darkness, there is beauty
What's that beyond the floor?
What is beyond the limits we set for ourselves?
You were left screaming
You were in pain
My hands are in your hair
I am holding you close
You're on the deep with the stars(?)
You are experiencing an intense emotional connection
Where are your candles?
Where is the passion that once existed?
(...can see my...)
I am vulnerable and exposed
And a phoenix that was you in my bed
Our passion burned brightly before fading away
Turning my body around
Trying to find a new perspective
Smoke falls to the ceiling
The destruction of our relationship is lingering
It begins
A new chapter is starting
There's a man dancing at me
A new love interest appears
He's making circles
Showing interest but not committing
So I will tell you now
I need to be honest with you
(I wear your clothes)
I feel close to you even when you're gone
I love your face like God
I worship and adore you
So you're in love and I'm indebted always
You're moving on and I can't let go
No
The cycle repeats, and we're separated once again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TANYA DONELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucia
You built a city in my head
Then there were candles
And a phoenix burned my bed
These are subwords
These are air
There's one boy
In one house
In one place
At all times
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?Â
I shouldn't be smoking
This last cigarette
I feel sickÂ
Now there are words in my headÂ
You took my house
Burned it inside out
Kneel in my ashes
Kneading themÂ
There's one boy
In one house
In one place
At all times
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?
And now you're leaving again, no
Temper and tempestÂ
To knock at the moon
And the stars come out at night
What's that beyond the floor?
You were left screaming
My hands are in your hair
You're on the deep with the stars(?)
You built a city in my headÂ
Where are your candles?
(...can see my...)
And a phoenix that was you in my bed
These are subwords
These are airÂ
(Turning my body around)
There's one boyÂ
In one house
In one place
At all times
(There's one boy)
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?Â
Smoke falls to the ceiling
It begins
There's a man dancing at me
He's making circles
So I will tell you now
(I wear your clothes)Â
I wear your clothes like armour
(I love your face)Â
I love your face like God
So you're in love and I'm indebted always
Green eyes
And now you're leaving again
No
Mark Brazaitis
My all-time favorite song. I was at Harvard when the Throwing Muses debuted this album. There was an outdoor concert somewhere in Boston - and Throwing Muses was on the bill. After they performed, I met all four members of the band, including Tanya Donelly, who wrote and sings this incomparable song. I still think, "You wrote this when you were 19 years old? How in the world?" Incredible.
feelah2
@hannemankingtube ??? Meeting The Muses is the takeaway! 🙂 I remember being in college (also Boston area, very definitely NOT Harvard) and loving this song.
hannemankingtube
Humblebrag :-) ("I was at Harvard")
Lord Sonarcotik
Mark Brazaitis thanks for this testimony mate!
Timurlane100
I had almost forgotten how much I love this band. And even now, 30+ years on, they sound cooler and edgier than most anything out today. (Let's be honest: what's out today is lame AF).
Timurlane100
@Sean Kelley - Oh, I'm sure there are a handful, but nothing like it was back then.
Sean Kelley
You’re not listening to the right music then, there is tons of good music out today!
Lucia
You built a city in my head
Then there were candles
And a phoenix burned my bed
These are subwords
These are air
There's one boy
In one house
In one place
At all times
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?Â
I shouldn't be smoking
This last cigarette
I feel sickÂ
Now there are words in my headÂ
You took my house
Burned it inside out
Kneel in my ashes
Kneading themÂ
There's one boy
In one house
In one place
At all times
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?
And now you're leaving again, no
Temper and tempestÂ
To knock at the moon
And the stars come out at night
What's that beyond the floor?
You were left screaming
My hands are in your hair
You're on the deep with the stars(?)
You built a city in my headÂ
Where are your candles?
(...can see my...)
And a phoenix that was you in my bed
These are subwords
These are airÂ
(Turning my body around)
There's one boyÂ
In one house
In one place
At all times
(There's one boy)
And green eyesÂ
I got no more
Who are you for?
I got no more
What is this?Â
Smoke falls to the ceiling
It begins
There's a man dancing at me
He's making circles
So I will tell you now
(I wear your clothes)Â
I wear your clothes like armour
(I love your face)Â
I love your face like God
So you're in love and I'm indebted always
Green eyes
And now you're leaving again
No
Ed Nguyen
Kristen and Tanya are arguably the greatest sister act in rock. And I say that as a Heart fan!
Dunder Hill
I immediately fell in love with the Throwing Muses after seeing Counting Backwards on MTV back in 91. I bought a copy of the Real Romana at my first opportunity. I was disappointed that the ban seemed to break up shortly after the tour. I bought Hunkpapa towards the end of 91 and still wanted more…I went to Record and Tape Traders in Towson Maryland to search for any thing Muses…..I was so happy to see Belly form and become a successful band, I saw them three times during the summer of 93………..I have the Hot Hands Tribute……..I Geeked Out during the Ricksty Minuets episode of Rick and Morty. as it closed to the song of Seal My Fate