Torres is the stage name of Mackenzie Scott (born January 23, 1991), an ind… Read Full Bio ↴Torres is the stage name of Mackenzie Scott (born January 23, 1991), an independent American singer, songwriter, musician and artist.

The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter waits until anything—an idea, an emotion, a memory—gnaws at her, tearing at her fingers and throat until she releases it in song. Scott escaped the confines of her churning mind in order to find herself by recording Sprinter in the market town of Bridport in Dorset, England; and then at the Bristol studio of Portishead's Adrian Utley. With his guitar riffs and synthesizers lingering in the background like a lowland mist and PJ Harvey's Robert Ellis and Ian Olliver on rhythm—the two fortuitously reuniting 23 years after the release of Dry, and in Scott's 23rd year of living—she crafted a "space cowboy" record. "That's as simply as I can say it," says Scott, who cites inspirations as diverse as Funkadelic and Nirvana, Ray Bradbury and Joan Didion.

"I wanted something that very clearly stemmed from my Southern conservative roots but that sounded futuristic and space-y at the same time." It seems like an odd thing to look for in the picturesque seaside green, rolling hills in the south of England, but Scott had never been there before, and as a stranger in a strange land she found what she was looking for: a lost childhood. Sprinter was recorded in a room that had formerly been used as a children's nursery, which combined with the alien landscape fuels the self-searching that roils TORRES' music.

Following her self-titled debut in 2013, TORRES pushes herself to even noisier extremes on Sprinter, a punishing self-examination of epic spiritual and musical proportions.

Chains
Torres Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This was more than I had bargained for
They stuck gold and beelined for the door
Now I'll make me up from head to floor
If I don't find me soon, I won't be searching any more
'Cause I am starving for the truth
So feed me something real while I've got youth left in my veins
I believe I knew it all along
But you're the only one who didn't try to tell me I was wrong

So soon, so soon, so soon, I will run
Until then I'll sit and let you saw, saw away
'Til my chains are gone

Fool me once and I won't make a sound
Fool me twice, there's shame to go around
But I fooled myself for my whole life
Let me be the first to say, these feet never left the ground
And now I'm starving for the truth
So feed me something real while I've got youth left in my veins
I believe I knew it all along
But you're the only one who didn't try to tell me I was wrong

So soon, so soon, so soon, I will run
Until then I'll sit and let you saw, saw away
'Til my chains are gone
'Til my chains are gone
Gone
'Til my chains are gone

Don't give up on me just yet
Don't give up on me just yet
Don't give up on me just yet
Don't give up on me just yet

I am starving for the truth
So feed me something real while I've got youth left in my veins
I believe I knew it all along
But you're the only one who didn't try to tell me I was wrong

So soon, so soon, so soon, I will run
Until then I'll sit and let you saw, saw away
'Til my chains are gone
'Til my chains are gone
'Til my chains are gone
'Til my chains are gone
'Til my chains are gone
'Til my chains are gone
Gone
Gone
Gone
Gone
Gone

Gone
Gone

Overall Meaning

The song "Chains" by Torres is about trying to break free from the constraints of the past and searching for the truth. In the first verse, the singer talks about how she feels betrayed by someone who struck gold and left, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her life. She acknowledges the need to change and reinvent herself from "head to floor," but wonders if it's worth it if she cannot find "something real" that resonates with her. She admits that she's been fooled before, but it's time to break free from the chains that are holding her back.

In the chorus, the singer talks about how she's hungry for the truth and needs something real to believe in. She reveals that she has always known deep down what she needs to do, but it's only when someone doesn't try to convince her that she's wrong that she can see it for herself. The repetition of the phrase "so soon, so soon, so soon, I will run" indicates that she's ready to leave her past behind and move on to something better. However, for the time being, she's willing to sit and let others help her break free from her chains.

Overall, the lyrics of "Chains" are about self-discovery and breaking free from the chains that are holding us back. It's about embracing the truth even when it's hard, and trusting our own instincts to guide us in the right direction.

Line by Line Meaning

This was more than I had bargained for
The situation turned out to be more challenging or complex than I anticipated.

They stuck gold and beelined for the door
Those involved in the situation gained success or profit and quickly abandoned it.

Now I'll make me up from head to floor
I will transform myself entirely in order to move forward from this situation.

If I don't find me soon, I won't be searching any more
If I am unable to rediscover my sense of identity or purpose, I will give up trying.

'Cause I am starving for the truth
I am deeply craving understanding, honesty, and authenticity.

So feed me something real while I've got youth left in my veins
While I am still young and energetic, I want to experience things that are genuine and meaningful.

I believe I knew it all along
I had a sense of understanding about the situation from the beginning.

But you're the only one who didn't try to tell me I was wrong
Out of everyone involved, you were the only one who didn't try to convince me that my understanding was flawed.

So soon, so soon, so soon, I will run
I will soon leave this situation behind and move on.

Until then I'll sit and let you saw, saw away
While I wait for my opportunity to leave, I will let those involved continue to work on the situation.

'Til my chains are gone
Until I am free from the burdens and limitations that have been holding me back.

Fool me once and I won't make a sound
If someone takes advantage of me or deceives me once, I won't react outwardly or make it known.

Fool me twice, there's shame to go around
If someone takes advantage of me or deceives me again, both parties are at fault.

But I fooled myself for my whole life
I was the one who was deceiving myself and limiting my own potential for my entire life.

Let me be the first to say, these feet never left the ground
I never allowed myself to truly soar or achieve greatness, despite the potential being there.