The party
by St. Vincent Lyrics
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Red wine lipped a little early
Reminiscing got us laughing
And that's when I saw your face cracking
Smiles and smoke and screams
Your Gucci purse a pharmacy
Pretend to want these things
Not getting what you need
Need
You can't hide from me
Are you still working on your screenplay?
Or did those lights go out on Broadway
Think if you can just keep spinning
You won't miss what you've been missing
Pills and jewels and speed
Your little purse a pharmacy
And hide behind these things
So no-one sees you not getting
Not getting what you need
Need
You can't hide
You can't hide from me
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(No, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(No, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(You can't, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(No, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(You can't, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(No, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(You can't, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(No, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide)
(You can't hide)
(You can't, you can't hide from me)
(You can't hide from me)
(You can't hide from me)
The lyrics of St. Vincent's "The Party" delve into the inner struggles of a person who is trying to hide their vulnerabilities under the veil of materialistic possessions. The first verse paints the scene of a holiday party where the singer has had a little too much to drink and is reminiscing the past with friends. However, amidst the laughter and joy, there is a sense of underlying tension that becomes apparent when the singer sees the cracks on the face of someone they know. The second verse reveals that the person in question is hiding their pain with the help of pills, jewels, and speed that are all kept in their little Gucci purse. The irony here is that the singer knows that the person is pretending to be happy with these things but is still not getting what they need.
The chorus employs repetition to emphasize the point that the singer is trying to make. They know that the person in question cannot hide from them and that the pills, jewels, and speed that they are hiding behind are not enough to cover up their true emotions. The third verse brings up the question of the individual's work and whether they are still pursuing their screenplay. The line "Think if you can just keep spinning, you won't miss what you've been missing" refers to the idea that if you stay busy enough, you can distract your mind from the underlying issues. However, the singer knows that this is not a permanent solution and that the person in question will eventually have to confront their issues.
Overall, the song is a commentary on how people tend to use materialistic possessions to cover up their inner pain and emotions. The singer knows that no matter how hard the person in question tries to hide, they cannot escape the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
At the holiday party
A social gathering during the holiday season.
Red wine lipped a little early
Drinking alcohol before the official start of the party.
Reminiscing got us laughing
Recalling past memories that brought joy and laughter.
And that's when I saw your face cracking
Noting a change in mood or demeanor from someone.
Smiles and smoke and screams
A chaotic scene with various emotions and activities.
Your Gucci purse a pharmacy
Carrying various drugs or medications in a designer purse.
Pretend to want these things
Claiming to desire material possessions to mask underlying issues.
So no-one sees you not getting
Avoiding the appearance of lacking certain needs or desires.
Not getting what you need
Failing to receive essential emotional or physical needs.
Need
Emphasizing the important and urgent nature of those needs.
You can't hide from me
Acknowledging that problems or struggles cannot be concealed indefinitely.
Are you still working on your screenplay?
Asking about someone's creative project or dream.
Or did those lights go out on Broadway
Questioning whether someone's aspirations have failed or been abandoned.
Think if you can just keep spinning
Believing in the idea of distracting oneself to avoid facing reality.
You won't miss what you've been missing
Hoping to fill the void of unmet needs or desires through other means.
Pills and jewels and speed
Using drugs and jewelry as a means of temporarily finding happiness.
Your little purse a pharmacy
Depicting the purse as a container for various substances.
And hide behind these things
Using material possessions to mask underlying problems or insecurities.
So no-one sees you not getting
Avoiding the appearance of lacking certain needs or desires.
Not getting what you need
Failing to receive essential emotional or physical needs.
Need
Emphasizing the important and urgent nature of those needs.
You can't hide
Acknowledging that problems or struggles cannot be concealed indefinitely.
You can't hide from me
Accepting that someone cannot hide their true struggles or needs from the singer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Annie Clark, Jack Antonoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind