Waxahatchee, named after Waxahatchee Creek in Alabama where Crutchfield grew up, began in 2010 during the breakup of P.S. Eliot. Crutchfield released her first music as Waxahatchee as a split cassette with Chris Clavin on Plan-It-X Records. Her bedroom-recorded debut album, American Weekend, was released on Don Giovanni Records in 2012.
On June 11, 2012 "Be Good" was the song of the day on NPR as well as one of the best 50 songs of 2012. Her debut album, "American Weekend," was named a top album of 2012 by Dusted magazine.
Subsequent albums include Cerulean Salt (2013), Ivy Tripp (2015), Out in the Storm (2017), Saint Cloud (2020), and the upcoming Tigers Blood (out March 22, 2024)
Stale By Noon
Waxahatchee Lyrics
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Torturing the afternoon
Simple things will light me up
I can imitate some kind of love
Or I could see it for what it is and stop kidding myself
We are not that alike
I can be a ray of light
But you are always in my head
I could stop praying for everybody, I'm just wasting my time
I'll read your philosophy and get a new lease on life
I get lost looking up
I get lost looking up
The lyrics to Waxahatchee's Stale By Noon explores the complexity of human relationship and one's inner turmoil as they struggle to connect with another person, while also trying to stay true to their own identity. The opening lines "Ethereal, I'm in bloom, torturing the afternoon" sets the scene as the singer is in a state of emotional vulnerability and he is struggling with his thoughts. He finds joy in the small things that can light him up; however, he also realizes that he can be self-deceptive and creates a façade of love. He is aware that the person he is trying to connect with is not like him and it is taking a toll on him.
The chorus "I get lost looking up" emphasizes how the singer is lost in his own world of thoughts and emotions. He feels isolated from the world around him, and the person that he loves is always on his mind. He is struggling between his own desires while trying to think about what's best for the other person. He realizes that he has been praying for everybody without any actual result, ending up wasting his time. He is looking for a new perspective to approach his problems and to find new meaning to life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ethereal, I'm in bloom
I feel light and airy, like a flower blooming in the sun
Torturing the afternoon
I'm struggling through the boredom and slog of the day
Simple things will light me up
Small pleasures and joys can make me feel happy
I can imitate some kind of love
I can pretend to offer love, but it's not genuine
Or I could see it for what it is and stop kidding myself
I could face the truth and stop pretending everything is okay
We are not that alike
We aren't as similar as I once thought
I can be a ray of light
I can bring positivity and brightness to others
But you are always in my head
You consume my thoughts constantly
Down on Earth, rest in bed
I feel grounded and at peace when I'm lying down in bed
I could stop praying for everybody, I'm just wasting my time
I'm considering giving up trying to help others because I feel it's pointless
I'll read your philosophy and get a new lease on life
I hope reading your philosophy will inspire me and give me a new perspective on life
I get lost looking up
I lose myself staring at the sky, lost in thought
I get lost looking up
I lose myself staring at the sky, lost in thought
Writer(s): Katie Crutchfield
Contributed by Benjamin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.