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.
Hi
Xiu Xiu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you are alone tonite say hi
If you wish he should die say hi
Hi, hi
If you have a hole in head say hi
If you have a stitch in your wrist say hi
If when you look at the sky it is black and shredded
A shard of bone sticking out of your arm, well blood is beautiful
Ch
If your curtain is closed and you are still standing be-ind it
If there is a rag in your mouth
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
If your body is quit and you forgo residing in it
Rat's feces lay your tongue
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
If you have eaten it all say hi
If your bra is on fire say hi
If your bed is a living hell say
Hi, hi
If you don't know what to say say hi
If you have poked out your eyes say hi
If when you open your arms Ferdinand gores you in the chest
Have you seen your face as of late, the hippopotamus is beloved
Half a crocodile hanging out of its mouth, with the village rejoicing
Ch
If your curtain has closed and you are still standing behind it
If there is a bomb in your mouth
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
If your body is wrong and you regret residing in it
Jack razor blade at your throat
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
The lyrics of Xiu Xiu's song Hi are unapologetically raw and intense. The repeating phrase of "say hi" gives the impression of an invitation, but the dark and twisted imagery that follows implies that the singer is addressing those who are suffering in ways that society doesn't want to acknowledge. The first verse starts with an ask for those who feel like they are wasting their life, those who are alone, and those who wish someone else harm to say hi. These are thoughts that many people may experience at some point, but they are not often spoken aloud. The second verse speaks directly to physical pain - having a hole in the head, a stitch in the wrist, and the sky being black and shredded. There is a clear contrast between the violence of these images and the beauty that is found in silence and blood. The chorus becomes even more unhinged, inviting those who are experiencing extreme isolation, pain, and regret to say hi. The incorporation of scenes of violence and mutilation serves to highlight how real and intense these feelings can be and encourage listeners to think deeply about mental health and the pain that is often hidden beneath the surface.
Overall, Xiu Xiu's Hi is a powerful and challenging song. The lyrics are disturbing, but they speak to emotions and experiences that are often ignored, encouraging listeners to confront these difficult feelings head-on. The use of graphic, violent imagery shows how hard it can be to put these emotions into words, but also suggests that there can be a strange beauty in even the most painful experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
If you are wasting your life say hi
If you feel like you're not doing much with your life, say hi.
If you are alone tonite say hi
If you're lonely tonight, say hi.
If you wish he should die say hi
If you have that kind of negative thought, say hi.
Hi, hi
A simple greeting.
If you have a hole in head say hi
If you've got a hole in your head, say hi.
If you have a stitch in your wrist say hi
If you've hurt your wrist and need a stitch, say hi.
If when you look at the sky it is black and shredded
If the sky looks dark and torn up when you look at it, say hi.
A sliver of bone could get caught in your throat, well silence is golden
A bone sliver could choke you, so it's better to be silent.
A shard of bone sticking out of your arm, well blood is beautiful
If you have a bone sticking out, it looks gruesome but blood can be fascinating.
If your curtain is closed and you are still standing be-ind it
If you're hiding behind a closed curtain, but still standing, say hi.
If there is a rag in your mouth
If you have a rag in your mouth,
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
the broken glass will glimmer with the moonlight.
If your body is quiet and you forgo residing in it
If you're feeling disconnected from your body, say hi.
Rat's feces lay your tongue
You're so disgusted that you can't even speak.
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
Heartbreak is tough, but it can be mysterious and alluring.
If you have eaten it all say hi
If you've eaten everything, say hi.
If your bra is on fire say hi
If your bra's on fire, say hi.
If your bed is a living hell say
If your bed is miserable, say hi.
Hi, hi
A simple greeting.
If you don't know what to say say hi
If you're at a loss for words, say hi.
If you have poked out your eyes say hi
If you've painfully poked out your eyes, say hi.
If when you open your arms Ferdinand gores you in the chest
If your hug gets interrupted brutally, say hi.
Have you seen your face as of late, the hippopotamus is beloved
When you look at yourself recently, you feel ugly like a hippopotamus.
Half a crocodile hanging out of its mouth, with the village rejoicing
You look so ugly that the villagers are happy someone else looks worse.
If your curtain has closed and you are still standing behind it
If you're hiding behind a closed curtain, but still standing, say hi.
If there is a bomb in your mouth
If you feel like there's a bomb in your mouth,
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
the broken glass will glimmer with the moonlight.
If your body is wrong and you regret residing in it
If you don't like your body, say hi.
Jack razor blade at your throat
You're feeling suicidal.
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
Heartbreak is tough, but it can be mysterious and alluring.
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
gbrs
If you are wasting your life, say hi
If you are alone tonight, say hi
If you wish he should die, say hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
If you have a hole in your head, say hi
If you have a stitch in your wrist, say hi
If, when you look at the sky
It is black and shredded
A sliver of bone could get caught in your throat
Well, silence is golden
A shot of bone sticking out of your arm
Well, blood is beautiful
If your curtain is closed
And you are still standing behind it
If there is a rag in your mouth
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
If your body has quit
And you forgo residing in it
Rat feces litter the tongue
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
If you don't know what to say, say hi
If your bra is on fire, say hi
If your bed is a living hell, say hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
If you have eaten it all, say hi
If you have poked out your eyes, say hi
If, when you open your arms
Ferdinand gores you in the chest!
Have you seen your face as of late?
The hippopotamus is beloved
Half a crocodile hanging out of its mouth
With the village rejoicing
If your curtain is closed
Yet you are still standing behind it
If there is a bomb in your mouth
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
If your body is wrong, wrong, wrong
And you regret residing in it
Jack razor-bladed your throat
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
Gregory Myles
This is like a really sinister version of "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" ...
Laser Tribe
jamie stewart/// one of the most talented- underrated musician in the last 8-10 years////
gbrs
If you are wasting your life, say hi
If you are alone tonight, say hi
If you wish he should die, say hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
If you have a hole in your head, say hi
If you have a stitch in your wrist, say hi
If, when you look at the sky
It is black and shredded
A sliver of bone could get caught in your throat
Well, silence is golden
A shot of bone sticking out of your arm
Well, blood is beautiful
If your curtain is closed
And you are still standing behind it
If there is a rag in your mouth
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
If your body has quit
And you forgo residing in it
Rat feces litter the tongue
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
If you don't know what to say, say hi
If your bra is on fire, say hi
If your bed is a living hell, say hi
Hi, hi, hi, hi
If you have eaten it all, say hi
If you have poked out your eyes, say hi
If, when you open your arms
Ferdinand gores you in the chest!
Have you seen your face as of late?
The hippopotamus is beloved
Half a crocodile hanging out of its mouth
With the village rejoicing
If your curtain is closed
Yet you are still standing behind it
If there is a bomb in your mouth
Broken glass will shine for with the moon
If your body is wrong, wrong, wrong
And you regret residing in it
Jack razor-bladed your throat
Broken hearts will shine for with the moon
flaschka
wow no comments on meaning of the song? I've known it for so long and I keep coming back. I love the way it speaks of depression, dysphoria and how we hide this sort of things behind a mask, by acting normal. Edgy as all hell. Love it.
flaschka
fffa Of course. Doesn't mean it's not worth mentioning or discussing :p
Ezel
I am SO glad I found this band
ninive207
need a live concert, I want to dance this close to Jamie...
Juan Bascur Núñez
jamie stewart sabe hacer música inquietante, y de repente le salen melodías pop y/o bailables que sirven para entrar en su universo.
Avani Singa
Xiu Xiu rocks!! <3
goldenhog
i wish jamie would direct more music vids