Segall began his recording career as a part-time musician in various underground bands in Orange County and the San Francisco Bay Area, before beginning a solo career in 2008. Segall's first solo release was the cassette Horn The Unicorn released on the Wizard Mountain label (later re-released by HBSP-2X on vinyl record). Around the same time, Wizard Mountain also released a split cassette featuring Segall and the band Superstitions entitled Halfnonagon.
In 2012, Segall released three LPs: His solo album, Twins; a collaboration with White Fence titled Hair and Slaughterhouse, an album with the Ty Segall Band.
Elemental Child
Ty Segall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her kiss is a whip of the moon
Dawn′s damsels are dancing
To the hum of her sunny young tune.
Gems hemmed in the heart's head
The shield of the rivers is hers
She one told me to think white
And the night disappeared like a bird.
Love the glove of Truth.
The lyrics to Ty Segall's "Elemental Child" may at first seem confusing and abstract, but upon closer inspection, it is possible to discern a deeper meaning. The song appears to be about a powerful, mystical woman who embodies the elements and possesses great strength and beauty. The first line describes her as a "torch girl" of the marshes, suggesting that she is a beacon of light in darkness and chaos. Her "kiss," or perhaps her energy or power, is "a whip of the moon," indicating that she is connected to the celestial world and possesses force and control.
The second and third lines suggest that her power and energy bring about a sense of heightened emotion and activity, as "Dawn's damsels" are seen dancing to her "sunny young tune." The fourth line speaks of "gems hemmed in the heart's head," perhaps alluding to the idea that her power resides within the hearts and minds of those who encounter her. The fifth and sixth lines suggest that she has control over the natural world, with "the shield of the rivers" belonging to her.
The final two lines of the song are perhaps the most intriguing, as they encourage the listener to "Hold the glove of gold behind you / Love the glove of Truth." These lines suggest that, to access the power and energy of this elemental child, one must be willing to let go of material possessions and focus on the truth or essence of existence. Overall, "Elemental Child" seems to be a song about the power of nature and the beauty and strength inherent in the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Torch girl of the marshes
She is a fiery, illuminating figure who lives near the wetlands.
Her kiss is a whip of the moon
Her embrace is intense and can be both painful and intoxicating, like the bright light of the moon.
Dawn's damsels are dancing
The women of the morning are joyously swaying to the beat of her inspiring, upbeat melody.
To the hum of her sunny young tune.
The sound of her joyful, youthful rhythm fills the air and adds to the cheerfulness of the dancing maidens.
Gems hemmed in the heart's head
Her mind is full of valuable and insightful thoughts that she guards closely.
The shield of the rivers is hers
She has a powerful protective force over the flowing water course.
She one told me to think white
She once advised me to contemplate clarity and purity in my thoughts and actions.
And the night disappeared like a bird.
As a result of her guidance, the darkness of the night vanished quickly and seamlessly.
Hold the glove of gold behind you
Keep the lure of false material rewards out of your sight and prioritize other, more meaningful things in your life.
Love the glove of Truth.
Embrace honesty and transparency as guiding principles in your life and relationships.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.