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.
Run Letter
Throwing Muses Lyrics
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Squeezing them out, and bend it
The way things work together
If I write this letter, you can bend it
Please, hope. Can I give hope
The sky won't fall just look.
If I write this letter,
If you can't dance If you can't live,
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Knocked me on the head
And sent me spinning.
It was a blast
I can't remember the last time.
Stand between two poles
And hold your arms up.
I'll kick me over your head
And stock down.
Carry him, carry him.
Carry him and pray.
If I mail this letter
You can send it back to me.
Just look, I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
It isn't fair
(No, it isn't fair)
Hope you can hold your head up.
I can pray if you meet my gaze.
I can laugh if you bring me home
And dry me off.
It isn't fair
(No, it isn't fair)
Hope you can hold your head up.
Count your cans
And hold them up
And count them all.
A piece of ground where I can lay my head.
Where I can lay a piece of my heart.
I don't remember, I don't remember,
If I saw God there or not.
Give me home, give me all,
Give me what I want
I want a place at the door.
I surrender, I surrender,
My place, my goods, my day.
The lyrics to Throwing Muses's song "Run Letter" seem to be a plea for hope and understanding. The singer is experiencing a great deal of emotional pain and is seeking comfort from someone else. The repetition of "I love you" throughout the song suggests a deep and meaningful connection between the two people. The lines "If you can't dance If you can't live" suggest that the singer's friend may be struggling with depression or some other mental health issue, and the singer is trying to provide support and encouragement.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the lines "If I write this letter, you can send it back to me" and "Just look, I love you," reinforces the idea of connection and communication between the two people. The act of writing a letter implies a level of thoughtfulness and intentionality that spoken words may not possess.
The final lines of the song - "Give me home, give me all, Give me what I want / I want a place at the door / I surrender, I surrender, My place, my goods, my day" - suggest a willingness to give up everything in order to have a sense of belonging and safety. The sense of desperation in these lines is palpable, and reinforces the idea that the singer is deeply struggling.
Line by Line Meaning
So many tears I'm shaking out.
I'm crying a lot.
Squeezing them out, and bend it
I'm trying to release my emotions and make them more manageable.
The way things work together
I'm marveling at the interconnectedness of the world.
If I write this letter, you can bend it
I can manipulate the message if I put it in writing.
Please, hope. Can I give hope
I'm looking for hope and wondering if I can give it to someone else.
The sky won't fall just look.
Don't be too worried, things will be okay.
If I write this letter, You can send it back to me.
I'm open to hearing what others have to say about my message.
If you can't dance If you can't live, I love you.
Even if you're struggling, I care about you.
I love you. I love you.
I care about you deeply.
Knocked me on the head And sent me spinning.
I'm feeling disoriented and overwhelmed.
It was a blast I can't remember the last time.
This situation was a lot of fun and exciting.
Stand between two poles And hold your arms up.
I'm giving you instructions for a physical activity.
I'll kick me over your head And stock down.
I'll try to do something dramatic.
Carry him, carry him. Carry him and pray.
Let's carry someone and pray for them.
If I mail this letter You can send it back to me.
I'm willing to receive feedback or criticism.
Just look, I love you.
My love for you is apparent.
It isn't fair (No, it isn't fair) Hope you can hold your head up.
Life isn't fair, but I hope you can still stay positive.
I can pray if you meet my gaze.
I'll pray for you if you make eye contact with me.
I can laugh if you bring me home And dry me off.
If you show me kindness, I'll happily respond with laughter.
Count your cans And hold them up And count them all.
Count what you have so you can appreciate it more.
A piece of ground where I can lay my head. Where I can lay a piece of my heart.
I'm looking for a place to call my own.
I don't remember, I don't remember, If I saw God there or not.
I'm unsure if I've had a spiritual experience or not.
Give me home, give me all, Give me what I want
I'm making a demand for what I desire.
I want a place at the door.
I want to be welcome and included.
I surrender, I surrender, My place, my goods, my day.
I'm willing to let go and give up control of my life.
Lyrics © HEYDAY MEDIA GROUP LLC
Written by: Kristin Hersh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind