accessed by drrcjones and copied here on 27 March 2009 from
http://thetapeisnotsticky.com/2009/03/women/
Black Rice
Women Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
holding my head
everything tastes right
permanent daylight
neatly stained fences and gates
lions to tame
cut through the front yard
scenery of cutting though the smell of tropical
I sure knew it was you
black rice
???
???
??
I swear an ocean swallows me
but all I really want is just another girl
black rice
???
???
?? right from the start
and your plants become a chore
spots on your ??
lashes so vibrant
left on the table
with your charm tremble in ??
you look like a painting
out on the sidewalk
no one was watching
fighting up this flight of stairs
you're not a mess
?? ?? dazzling ??
black rice
falling
???
??
mix your ?? in ?? blue
you dread the sight of this place
its too dry its true
black rice
???
???
?? right from the start
The lyrics of "Black Rice" by Women's Song describe a woman's journey through life and her experiences. The opening stanza "on a bleak Monday morning holding my head everything tastes right permanent daylight" seems to suggest that the singer is going through a tough time, maybe feeling stuck in her mundane daily routine, but she has accepted it as permanent. The line "neatly stained fences and gates lions to tame cut through the front yard you were a stranger" is open to interpretation, but it could mean that the singer is in a new location or a new phase in life and is encountering something unfamiliar, maybe a new challenge.
The chorus "I swear an ocean swallows me but all I really want is just another girl black rice" is beautifully cryptic. The ocean could represent the feeling of being overwhelmed or lost, but the reference to "just another girl" could suggest the singer's desire for a comforting sense of familiarity amidst all the changes. The phrase "black rice" seems to have an important symbolic value in the song, but its meaning isn't clear. It could stand for something that is scarce or precious and giving the singer strength, or something that represents her culture.
The second half of the song continues the theme of change and the singer's journey through life. "And your plants become a chore spots on your lashes so vibrant left on the table with your charm tremble in you look like a painting out on the sidewalk no one was watching" could suggest that her passions or hobbies are being neglected as she navigates through her new environment. The final stanza "mix your ?? in ?? blue you dread the sight of this place its too dry its true black rice ??? ??? ??? right from the start" returns to the symbolism of "black rice" but remains a mystery.
Line by Line Meaning
on a bleak Monday morning
Starting off the week with a depressing, uneventful day
holding my head
Feeling overwhelmed and tired
everything tastes right
Finding comfort in simple pleasures
permanent daylight
Feeling stuck in the monotony of everyday life
neatly stained fences and gates
An image of a prim and proper, suburban neighborhood
lions to tame
Facing challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome
cut through the front yard
Venturing into new territory, possibly uninvited
you were a stranger
Encountering someone unfamiliar
scenery of cutting though the smell of tropical
Navigating through a foreign environment
I sure knew it was you
Recognizing the person despite the unfamiliar surroundings
black rice
A mysterious and unknown element that is intertwined with the story
I swear an ocean swallows me
Overwhelming feelings of anxiety and fear
but all I really want is just another girl
Longing for a comforting and familiar presence
right from the start
Since the beginning of the journey or experience
and your plants become a chore
Being weighed down by responsibilities and obligations
spots on your ??
Physical imperfections or blemishes
lashes so vibrant
Bright and lively features on the face
left on the table
Being forgotten or left behind
with your charm tremble in ??
Flustered reactions to someone's alluring presence
you look like a painting
Aesthetic admiration for someone's appearance
out on the sidewalk
In public view
no one was watching
Being able to let one's guard down without being observed
fighting up this flight of stairs
Going through a difficult or strenuous physical challenge
you're not a mess
Being composed and in control despite the struggle
?? ?? dazzling ??
Unclear interpretation but suggests something glorious or impressive
falling
Figuratively or literally losing balance or control
mix your ?? in ?? blue
Unclear interpretation but suggests a blending or contrasting of different elements
you dread the sight of this place
Feeling trapped or restricted in an unpleasant environment
its too dry its true
A criticism of the dull and uninteresting setting
?? right from the start
Unclear interpretation but reinforces a theme of beginnings and origins
Contributed by Adrian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dylanj5553
Such a special, perfect song and an even better band. One in a million. These songs painted my teenage/early 20's years and I always come back to them. Rest in love Chris ♥️
@zepkid5678
Every time I listen to this band, I think about how unfortunate it is that Chris Reimer passed away, and how fortunate we are that he was able to create what he did when he was alive.
@Lyn-wu1dp
awh man every damn time, it gets me
@martskione
I share the sentiment. RiP
@banixxjimenez3799
muy afortunados ,de echo. larga vida a CHRIS
@hecklerspray
The one band I really regret not seeing live when I had the chance to do so.
It's such beautiful music.
@adamnelson4859
Few songs are as perfect as this one.
@jbball647
Eyesore, locust valley
@tannerin
every time he does the black rice line in the chorus with the chimes in the background its pure euphoria
@bretta7057
I had a really surreal experience once while listening to this song. I was moving out of my old house, and left to go grab lunch. Out on the sidewalk was this cheesy painting of a Conquistador, sitting on top of a chair. When I came back, I saw it had been stolen "...look like a painting/out on the sidewalk/no one was watching"...