Over the life of the band, their music has taken influence from noise, modern classical, dance, post-punk, minimalism, Asian percussion music, and American folk music. Frequently noted as well are the films of Todd Solondz, Shohei Imamura, David Lynch, and Seijun Suzuki and the books of Elfriede Jelinek, V.S, Naipaul, Yukio Mishima, and Ingeborg Bachmann.
Over both song concepts or music videos, the art of Xiu Xiu is often memorable to a newcomer by its divisive response. The music of Xiu Xiu has been noted for the lead singer's bleakness either contrasting or complementing the chaotic instrumentation, lyrics commonly including references to depression, suicide, family issues, militarized violence, abuse, sexual disaffection, and body dysmorphia. The band's public image has taken a similar tone, including the insertion of a poster into an LP sleeve (for the album "Dear God, I Hate Myself") of photographs of band-related cuts, brands, and tattoos sent by listeners. They have been critically divisive.
To date, they have released well over 50 titles including albums, 7inches, books, film works and dance pieces. They have collaborated with a number of artistic and musical luminaries such as Carla Bozulich, Michael Gira, Merzbow, Dahn Vo, Monika Gryzmala, Grouper, Larsen, These Arches, Deerhoof, John Congleton, Dirty Beaches, Oxbow, and Shearwater.
The name Xiu Xiu is taken from the film "Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl." They currently release albums on Bella Union and Polyvinyl Records.
Bog People
Xiu Xiu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why not it goes with this night
So will it ever stop
Will it always be this hard
There will always be a jar of ash
There will always be an unfit mind
There will always be a lonely son
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Up up up up
There will always be a headless neck
There will always be happiness
There will always be a handless wrist to crush
There will always be a hopeful heart to disrespect
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Up up up up
The lyrics of Xiu Xiu's song Bog People have a gloomy and melancholic tone. The verses pose a series of rhetorical questions that express the sense of despair and resignation of the singer. The first lines, "Why ask, why not it goes with this night" suggest that the misery and sorrow of life are intertwined and cannot be separated. The following questions, "Will it ever stop? Will it always be this hard?" convey a feeling of hopelessness and the belief that things will not improve.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Why ask? Is there any reason?" as a way to express the futility of seeking answers to existential questions. The final lines "There will always be a headless neck, there will always be happiness, there will always be a handless wrist to crush, there will always be a hopeful heart to disrespect" are an acknowledgment of the inevitability of pain and suffering in life.
Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the absurd and cruel aspects of existence and the difficulty of finding meaning in a world that seems indifferent to human suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Why ask
What is the point of questioning
Why not it goes with this night
Why not just embrace the difficulties of the present moment
So will it ever stop
Will the struggles ever come to an end
Will it always be this hard
Are hardships an enduring aspect of life
There will always be a jar of ash
There will always be evidence of destruction or death
There will always be an unfit mind
There will always be mental disorder and unease
There will always be a lonely son
There will always be individuals who feel isolated and unconnected
There will always be a humiliated little girl
There will always be individuals who have been shamed or disrespected
Is there any reason
What rationale can be found
If it'll just let up
If the hardship will ever come to an end
There will always be a headless neck
There will always be violence or gruesome acts
There will always be happiness
There will always be moments of joy and contentment
There will always be a handless wrist to crush
There will always be individuals with authority that can inflict harm
There will always be a hopeful heart to disrespect
There will always be individuals whose optimism is disregarded
Up up up up
An exclamation, urging an upward direction
Is there any reason
What rationale can be found
If it'll just let up
If the hardship will ever come to an end
Why ask
What is the point of questioning
Is there any reason
What rationale can be found
If it'll just let up
If the hardship will ever come to an end
Up up up up
An exclamation, urging an upward direction
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
elephant bass communication
Why ask
Why not it goes with this night
So will it ever stop
Will it always be this hard
There will always be a jar of ash
There will always be an unfit mind
There will always be a lonely son
There will always be a humiliated little girl
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Up up up up
There will always be a headless neck
There will always be happiness
There will always be a handless wrist to crush
There will always be a hopeful heart to disrespect
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Why ask
Is there any reason
Why ask
If it'll just let up
Up up up up
Hyoscine
Oh god, I love this... Nothing clears my head like this song.
Bo Dylan
Returning to this album after so long, I forgot how it sounds, I was expecting worse because I didnt really like it back then. Right now it sounds completely new and great
chungkingxp 47
so good!!!!
Nyx
Autoharp is such a cool instrument!
Michael Thomas Taren
Something pure