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.
Come to Terms
Torres Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And out of focus
But if I can derive some happiness from this
Then I'll have made it out alive
'Cause people always change
But ain't always changing for the better
And just because the two of us
Don't mean we should grow old together
So I'll be sure to turn my back
On everything you said you'd do
I'm gonna come to terms
Before I have to
Been keeping all my time In my back pocket
Taking from it only what I need to be
Whoever I'm supposed to be
But when I look at you I get so lonely
I used to just adore you
But now you bore me
'Cause people always change
But ain't always changing for the better
And just because the two of us
Will both grow old in time
Don't mean we should grow old together
So I'll be sure to turn my back
On everything you said you'd do
I'm gonna come to terms
Before I have to
I'll never know If looking out the window
Is what brings me to my knees
Or if it's what's inside that's killing me
In Torres's song Come to Terms, the singer reflects on the complexity of relationships and the process of accepting their inevitable end. She begins by acknowledging the artificiality of modern life, which can often leave us feeling disconnected and out of focus. However, she finds solace in the possibility of finding happiness in fleeting moments. The chorus addresses the idea that people change, but not always for the better, and just because two people may grow old together doesn't mean they should. Ultimately, she decides to turn her back on the promises that were made, accepting that it's time to come to terms with the end of the relationship.
The second verse explores the theme of identity, as Torres sings about keeping her time in her back pocket and taking only what she needs to be who she's supposed to be. She then turns her attention to the person who's causing her loneliness and boredom. She acknowledges that people change, and in this case, they've grown apart. The repeated line "I'm gonna come to terms before I have to" highlights the importance of finding closure before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
These lives are so contrived
These existences are so artificial
And out of focus
And lacking clarity
But if I can derive some happiness from this
But if I can find some joy in this situation
Then I'll have made it out alive
Then I will have survived
'Cause people always change
Because human beings are always evolving
But ain't always changing for the better
But their changes are not always positive
And just because the two of us
And just because both of us
Will both grow old in time
Will age as time passes
Don't mean we should grow old together
Does not mean we should spend our lives together
So I'll be sure to turn my back
So I will make sure to leave behind
On everything you said you'd do
Everything you promised to do
I'm gonna come to terms
I am going to accept and deal with
Before I have to
Before it is too late
Been keeping all my time In my back pocket
I have been storing all my time away
Taking from it only what I need to be
Only using what I need to be who I am
Whoever I'm supposed to be
Whoever I am meant to become
But when I look at you I get so lonely
But when I see you, I feel very alone
I used to just adore you
I used to deeply love you
But now you bore me
But now I find you dull and uninteresting
I'll never know If looking out the window
I will never understand if staring out the window
Is what brings me to my knees
Is what makes me feel so powerless
Or if it's what's inside that's killing me
Or if it is internal factors causing my pain
Lyrics © Mute Song Limited
Written by: MACKENZIE RUTH SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lindsey Jordan
She's great! Pitchfork never fails to impress
Devours
One of 2013's best albums.
shocktoyrsystem
great performance. this album is incredible -- if you don't know it, i suggest you do.
Avalon
Wonderful!
Andypuzon
This is really cool I like the vibe
Deborah Coley
Beautiful.
Tyler Morgenstern
This chick is fucking awesome.
Dançarino Inefável
She is so... COOL!!!
kerry mcphearson
I've been waiting on a video on torres..Thanks PK
Infra Herald
pitchfork have torres play for you again