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.
Waterfall
Torres Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They all conspire to set me free
I sip my tea and contemplate
All the possibilities
Oh, waterfall, do you ever think
Maybe it'll all be better in the morning?
From way up here, it looks so calm
"God, I never meant to jump at all."?
The water flings itself
From the devil edge so easily
It doesn't hesitate
Or wonder if it's doing the right thing
No world-class dancer could compete
My head conspires to set me free
Oh, waterfall, do you ever think
Maybe it'll all be better in the morning?
From way up here, it looks so calm
Do you ever make it halfway down and think
"God, I never meant to jump at all."?
Nowhere to go but down
Nothing to do but drown
Nowhere to go but down
Nothing to do but drown
Oh, waterfall, do you ever think
Maybe it'll all be better in the morning?
From way up here, it looks so calm
Do you ever make it halfway down and think
"God, I never meant to jump at all."?
In "Waterfall," Torres uses the imagery of a waterfall to explore the idea of being overwhelmed and feeling like there's no escape. The rocks at the bottom of the waterfall "bare their teeth," a menacing image that suggests danger and danger. However, instead of being frightened, Torres embraces this danger - she sips her tea and contemplates all the possibilities. This is indicative of the idea that sometimes we need to face our fears head-on and confront the things that make us feel trapped.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful as it presents the idea that sometimes we jump into a dangerous situation without even realizing it. The waterfall is a perfect metaphor for this as it's easy to see the beauty and calmness from afar but once you're in the midst of it, you realize just how powerful and deadly it can be. The line "Do you ever make it halfway down and think 'God, I never meant to jump at all'" captures this idea perfectly.
The bridge of the song adds a final layer to the metaphor. The water falling over the "devil edge" is so confident in what it's doing that it doesn't hesitate or second-guess its decision. Torres contrasts this with her own insecurity and mental struggles, implying that sometimes we need to be more certain in our own decisions and embrace the unknown.
Overall, "Waterfall" is a powerful exploration of emotions that are difficult to face. Torres uses the imagery of a waterfall to explore the idea of being trapped and feeling like there's nowhere to go but down. The lyrics are poignant and relatable, creating a song that's sure to touch anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed and powerless.
Line by Line Meaning
The rocks below, they bare their teeth
The rocks beneath the waterfall stand out and are fierce in their appearance.
They all conspire to set me free
The rocks seem to join together in a unified effort to release the singer.
I sip my tea and contemplate
The singer is calmly reflecting on the situation at hand over a cup of tea.
All the possibilities
The artist is considering all of the different ways the situation could play out.
Oh, waterfall, do you ever think
The artist addresses the waterfall directly, asking about its own thoughts and feelings.
Maybe it'll all be better in the morning?
The singer is hopeful that the problems will seem less daunting after a night's rest.
From way up here, it looks so calm
The singer is observing the waterfall from a distance and is struck by how serene it appears.
Do you ever make it halfway down and think
The artist wonders if the plunge down the waterfall causes second thoughts in those who attempt it.
"God, I never meant to jump at all."
The thought that someone might regret taking the leap down the waterfall crosses the artist's mind.
The water flings itself
The water seems to throw itself off the cliff with abandon.
From the devil edge so easily
The water is falling from a precarious and dangerous height without any apparent difficulty.
It doesn't hesitate
The water plunges rapidly and confidently without any hesitation or uncertainty.
Or wonder if it's doing the right thing
Unlike the singer, the water doesn't second-guess or doubt itself.
No world-class dancer could compete
The grace and beauty of the waterfall's descent is compared to that of a highly skilled dancer.
My head conspires to set me free
The singer's mind is actively working to convince them to break free from their fears and doubts.
Nowhere to go but down
The artist recognizes that there's really no other option than to take chances and face their problems head on.
Nothing to do but drown
The artist feels like they're in over their head with no clear way out.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MACKENZIE RUTH SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind