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.
I Broke Up
Xiu Xiu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It messed me up
It was her recording herself
Whisper.
"What is it worth to me?"
Thinking one thought
The advice to be okay.
Break into children's hospital
"don't fuck with me, don't fuck with me"
And I broke up
Without a note
And I broke up
Its a mess
Go go go go go
Away from here.
Food color poured out all over her shorts mixed with
I'll make a gate you cannot pass
Taped to there loinclothes
A sign that says "Why us?"
Flip yourself off but erase it when someone sees you.
"This, this is the worst vacation ever, I am going to cut open your
Forehead with a roofing shingle, Ohh Ohh"
And I broke up
Without a note
And I broke up
And I broke up
Behind your house
And I broke up
The lyrics to Xiu Xiu’s “I Broke Up” may seem convoluted and disjointed, but they can be interpreted as a stream of consciousness expression of deep pain and confusion. The first verse appears to describe a scenario where someone is listening to a recording of their ex-partner whispering, “What is it worth to me?” while they try to convince themselves to be okay. This could symbolize the singer’s attempt to rationalize the end of a relationship or explain why they chose to break up without leaving a note. The line “don’t fuck with me” may also suggest that the singer feels vulnerable and defensive and doesn’t want to be judged or criticized for their decisions.
The second verse is even more cryptic, with references to breaking into a children’s hospital to cry, pouring food color all over someone’s shorts, and taping a sign that asks “Why us?” to someone’s loincloths. These images could represent different memories or emotions that are stuck in the singer’s mind and that they can’t shake off. The line “flip yourself off but erase it when someone sees you” could symbolize the singer’s desire to express anger or frustration but also their fear of being misunderstood or rejected.
The final verse concludes with the repeated phrase “and I broke up,” which could be both a literal reference to the end of a romantic relationship and a metaphor for the singer’s broken state of mind. The line “I’ll make a gate you cannot pass” could suggest that the singer is trying to protect themselves from further heartbreak or emotional trauma, while the reference to cutting someone’s forehead with a roofing shingle could symbolize their desperation and desire to lash out.
Overall, the lyrics to “I Broke Up” are enigmatic and resist easy interpretation, but they convey a sense of raw emotion and vulnerability that is characteristic of Xiu Xiu’s music.
Line by Line Meaning
It was not posed
The situation was not staged or planned.
It messed me up
The situation caused emotional distress.
It was her recording herself
She was recording something, possibly intimate.
Whisper.
She whispered something, possibly secret or private.
"What is it worth to me?"
Questioning the value of something.
Thinking one thought
Lost in thought, possibly obsessive or fixated.
The advice to be okay.
Receiving advice to cope or be emotionally stable.
Break into children's hospital
Committing a possible crime out of desperation.
Cry it out.
Releasing emotions through tears.
"don't fuck with me, don't fuck with me"
Demanding others not to mess with them.
And I broke up
The singer ended a relationship.
Without a note
The artist did not leave a written explanation.
Its a mess
The aftermath of the breakup was chaotic and disorganized.
Go go go go go
A command to leave quickly and urgently.
Away from here.
Escaping from the current location or situation.
Food color poured out all over her shorts mixed with
A graphic description of a messy and possibly embarrassing situation.
I'll make a gate you cannot pass
Threatening to create a barrier or boundary that cannot be crossed.
Taped to there loinclothes
A bizarre and nonsensical image, possibly indicating instability or insanity.
A sign that says "Why us?"
Expressing frustration or confusion about life's hardships.
Flip yourself off but erase it when someone sees you.
Engaging in self-destructive or self-hating behavior, but hiding it from others.
"This, this is the worst vacation ever, I am going to cut open your Forehead with a roofing shingle, Ohh Ohh"
A violent and disturbing outburst, possibly stemming from extreme emotional pain.
Behind your house
An ambiguous location, possibly indicating a place of secrecy.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unseen_punx7036
It was not posed
It messed me up
It was her recording herself
Whisper.
"What is it worth to me?"
Thinking one thought
The advice to be okay.
Break into children's hospital
Cry it out.
"don't fuck with me, don't fuck with me"
And I broke up
Without a note
And I broke up
Its a mess
Go go go go go
Away from here.
Food color poured out all over her shorts mixed with
I'll make a gate you cannot pass
Taped to there loinclothes
A sign that says "Why us?"
Flip yourself off but erase it when someone sees you.
"This, this is the worst vacation ever, I am going to cut open your
Forehead with a roofing shingle, Ohh Ohh"
And I broke up
Without a note
And I broke up
And I broke up
Behind your house
And I broke up
@JDeissreVIEWSFROMHELL
Crawling into children's hospital crying out
DONT FUCK WITH ME
@fauskearchive6000
aaaand i brooooke uppp
jamie's voice is so angelical in this ´part
@niedoc34
This song made me fall in love with Xiu Xiu!!!!
@ohshiit9112
Xiu xiu are heroes
@wordviruses
When I heard Jamie scream on this track for the first time it scared the shit out of me lmao
@whereyaat8777
don't heck with me
@KYSMSHKYSMSHKYSMSH
THIS,,, THIS IS THE WORST (HAHAHAHAHA) VACATION EVER, IM GONNA IM GONNA CUT OPEN YOUR FOR(OH!)EHA(OH!) D WITH A ROOFING SHINGLE..... That's my favorite line of all time.
@vick207
I love Xiu Xiu
@trabamondi
Y en la distanciaaaaa, te puedo veeeeeeeeeer, cuando tus fotooooos, me siento a veeeeeeeer.
@unseen_punx7036
It was not posed
It messed me up
It was her recording herself
Whisper.
"What is it worth to me?"
Thinking one thought
The advice to be okay.
Break into children's hospital
Cry it out.
"don't fuck with me, don't fuck with me"
And I broke up
Without a note
And I broke up
Its a mess
Go go go go go
Away from here.
Food color poured out all over her shorts mixed with
I'll make a gate you cannot pass
Taped to there loinclothes
A sign that says "Why us?"
Flip yourself off but erase it when someone sees you.
"This, this is the worst vacation ever, I am going to cut open your
Forehead with a roofing shingle, Ohh Ohh"
And I broke up
Without a note
And I broke up
And I broke up
Behind your house
And I broke up