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.
Stand Up
Throwing Muses Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Frightening dark and
It was light
A big tree branches and
I was dancing
I'm straining
My broken neck and
Walking fast
Look at her shoesÂ
Break your arm, it ain't no face
Wear shoes, jealous, fuck you, stand up
I wish you
Were a house to me
Frightening light so
Keep it dark
Keep your lights low so
I can't see inside
She runs
To the big people
But listen to me
I knowÂ
Break your arm, it ain't no face
Wear shoes, jealous, fuck you, stand up
(I don't know)
I love
What does she put on now?
Every day
Do you love her more than me?
All night longÂ
Break your arm, it ain't no face
Wear shoes, jealous, fuck you, stand up
(A scream)
The lyrics to Throwing Muses' song "Stand Up" are a series of disjointed images and phrases that seem to be told through the perspective of an unreliable narrator. The song starts with a description of a night that is both frighteningly dark and yet somehow light. The imagery of a big tree with branches and the singer dancing create a sense of disorientation and confusion. The line "I'm straining my broken neck" suggests physical pain and an inability to move freely. As the singer walks fast, they notice the glasses of another person and then look at their shoes. The sudden shift from personal pain to an external observation of someone else suggests a dissociation from reality or a lack of focus.
The chorus of the song breaks through the disjointed images to present a clear message. "Break your arm, it ain't no face/Wear shoes, jealous, fuck you, stand up." The first line seems to suggest that physical pain is inconsequential or even desirable compared to emotional pain, as long as it doesn't affect your appearance. The second line speaks to a feeling of jealousy towards someone else's shoes, which may represent something they possess that the singer wants. The final line is a directive to stand up, which could be interpreted as a call to action or a challenge to the listener.
The second verse of the song continues the sense of disorientation and discomfort, with the singer wishing that someone was something else entirely so that they wouldn't have to face the reality of their situation. The line "She runs to the big people, but listen to me, I know" suggests that the singer feels isolated and unheard, while also claiming some kind of privileged knowledge or insight. The chorus repeats again, ending with a scream that suggests deep emotional pain.
Overall, "Stand Up" presents a fragmented and uneasy view of the world, with a narrator who seems to be struggling with pain, jealousy, and a lack of connection to others. The chorus is the most interesting part of the song, as it presents a clear message that contrasts sharply with the rest of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
And a night
The singer is describing a dark and frightening night.
Frightening dark and
The darkness of the night was particularly scary.
It was light
The night ended and daylight arrived.
A big tree branches and
There was a large tree nearby with large branches.
I was dancing
The artist was moving rhythmically to music or in a lively manner.
I'm straining
The singer is putting in a lot of effort, possibly to keep dancing.
My broken neck and
The singer has an injury to their neck, which they are feeling.
Walking fast
The artist is moving quickly on foot.
Look at my glasses then
The artist wants someone to pay attention to their glasses.
Look at her shoes
The artist is drawing attention to someone else's footwear.
Break your arm, it ain't no face
The singer is suggesting that physical harm to someone (like breaking an arm) should not be taken to heart so much.
Wear shoes, jealous, fuck you, stand up
The artist is saying to put on shoes, disregard feelings of jealousy, and stand up for oneself.
I wish you
The singer is expressing a desire for something from someone else.
Were a house to me
The singer is imagining what it would be like if the person was a comforting presence or place like a home.
Frightening light so
The singer is describing how even daylight can be frightening if it is too bright.
Keep it dark
The artist is asking for darkness instead of bright light.
Keep your lights low so
The artist is asking the other person to keep their lights low in order to avoid the frightening light from earlier.
I can't see inside
The singer does not want to look inside, possibly because they are scared of what they might find.
She runs
Someone, possibly the female subject of the song, is running.
To the big people
The person is running to someone with more power or authority.
But listen to me
Despite the other person running off, the artist wants someone to listen to them.
I know
The artist is confident that what they are saying is correct or true.
I love
The singer has strong feelings of love.
What does she put on now?
The artist is wondering what the other person is wearing now.
Every day
The question is whether this happens on a regular basis.
Do you love her more than me?
The singer is questioning whether the other person loves someone else more than they love the singer.
All night long
Something has been happening all night, possibly related to the previous line.
(A scream)
The song ends with a scream, possibly indicating fear or anger.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mamapetillo8675
4AD
I had this album
I played it incessantly.
And I miss it.
And the Fat Skier.
I saw them at a Berkeley Square.
Twice.
Loved them.
Mr. Huberty
Had a gun in his head
How do they kill children?
Delicate cutters hit me particularly hard
@uhhhhhhh927
0:00 Call Me
3:58 Green
7:02 Hate My Way
11:08 Vicky’s Box
16:17 Rabbits Dying
20:06 America (She Can’t Say No)
22:53 Fear
25:37 Stand Up
28:33 Soul Soldier
33:43 Delicate Cutters
@mamapetillo8675
Hate My Way
Good gravy.
Still hits hard
@TheWoodguard
it's a shame this album is not on Spotify. Thanks for sharing this!
@dougpini101
That’s exactly why I came here to find it…
@Samuraix47
I hope they can put it on their bandcamp.
@katemccoll5308
I actually asked Kristin about it and she says she has no idea who owns the rights to this album now 😢
@valmarsiglia
Hands-down one of the best albums of the 80s.
@fredx689
All time
@gidgetmaurer123
One of the best debut albums ever. So young and brilliant. I lived in Boston when this came out, and everyone was a fan.
@teardropsouffle
Masterpiece. Thank you