Kristine Flaherty grew up outside of Chicago, devouring her father's classic rock records and staying up late dancing to Parliament-Funkadelic in the living room. It was this same musical open-mindedness that would later spark her artistic development. She found her musical voice in college, fusing the eclectic power of the Bay Area hip hop scene with her own unique presence, inspired by strong, independent female artists ranging from Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill to Fiona Apple and Liz Phair.
On stage, K.Flay is a one-woman whirlwind: whether she’s creating beats, singing, rapping or playing guitar, her wit and acerbic charm shine through. Her talents have led her to share the stage with artists including Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, and 3OH!3, where she quickly won over audiences who hadn’t seen anything quite like her before. Further setting her apart from the pack, she serves as her own producer in the studio, methodically infusing her hip hop swagger with a dose of sonic exploration.
With one mixtape (the genre-hopping MASHed Potatoes) already available online, K.Flay is spending the rest of 2010 recording in San Francisco and touring with Passion Pit in October and 3oh!3 in November.
Nothing At All
k.flay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I drank too much coffee
Some people say there's no such thing as too much coffee
But I say there is such thing
See, see, see, see
See I thought it might be easier to be who I'm not
Took a sip, now uno mas
Thinking about my dreams and hopes, just jokes
I've told myself to close the holes in my brain
Getting older by the second
Inching forward toward my grave
Wondering what's the lesson
I'd rather be dumb than smart
I'd rather make shit than art
I'd rather just sit and watch the ships depart
Every mark I, mark I, mark I make is a b-side
Besides all I eat's freeze dried, harbinger of my demise
The dude telling you it's a ruse well he's right
Packing up a parachute and a pair of Levi's
Apocalypse coming blank pages I'm thumbing
The gyres keep widening till I am number
Than gums at a dentist just covered with gauze
Gasping for gas, trapped in the jaws
Don't you set me straight, I've got it square
Squandering my youth, but I don't care
What I feel is nothing at all
What I feel is nothing at all, all
Scratch, scratch, scratching at my shins
First season Mad Men on in the background
Can't stop laughing
Half of what I do is purposeless
Windex-ing surfaces, vultures circling
I'm searching for what on earth this really is
You can catch me in a Super 8
Things are going super great
Melting my mental space is how I'm losing weight
I'd rather be thin and hungry than happy and fat
I'd rather be uninformed than face the facts
Re-relax I'm choking on a splinter with a termite
Ermines living like they're kings cause their fur's nice
Feel myself trapped somewhere between LA and Irvine
Doubtful that the shards of my fractured mind will survive
Eyeing the traffic light, but I'm not yielding
Left arm if left hanging, glued to the ceiling
A feeling like this could get out of control
Ten in my pocket, got money to blow
Don't you set me straight, I've got it square
Squandering my youth, but I don't care
What I feel is nothing at all
What I feel is nothing at all, all
The song "Nothing At All" by K.Flay is a reflective and introspective commentary on her feelings of listlessness and disillusionment with society. The lyrics start by setting the scene on a Saturday morning after drinking too much coffee, and then she contrasts the idea that some people believe there's no such thing as too much coffee, but she believes there is. This immediately sets up the theme of the song where K.Flay is going to reveal her thoughts on society, including her state of mind and her emotional and intellectual pursuits, or a lack thereof.
She then goes on to express the idea that she thought it would be easier to be someone else, perhaps someone more interesting or successful, but unfortunately she is just herself. The line "I'm lots of things but none of them interesting" highlights her negative self-talk, where she compares herself to others and their success, and coming to the conclusion that she is not so special herself. She further highlights her self-doubt and inner turmoil when she touches on her brain's holes, which she tries to close, but somehow she feels like she is getting older by the second, inching towards her grave. The song's chorus "What I feel is nothing at all" repeats twice, emphasizing her apathy towards the world, her life, and her pursuits.
The rest of the song continues with K.Flay's negative self-talk, where she discusses purposelessness in half of what she does, the bad decisions she has made, her preference to stay uninformed than to face reality, and finally, choking on a splinter with a termite. K.Flay concludes that she doesn't care, squandering her youth, but not wanting anyone to set her straight, despite her struggles. The song ends on a disarming note with her stating that she has ten dollars in her pocket and the intention to blow it. Overall, the song is a commentary on societal pressures and self-doubt, ending with K.Flay's need to rebel against both by spending her money frivolously.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Saturday morning
The song takes place on a lazy weekend morning.
And I drank too much coffee
The singer has already consumed an excessive amount of caffeine.
Some people say there's no such thing as too much coffee
There are certain individuals who believe there's no harm in drinking more coffee than is necessary.
But I say there is such thing
The artist believes consuming too much coffee can lead to negative side effects.
See, see, see, see
This line is intended as emphasis for the following verse.
See I thought it might be easier to be who I'm not
The singer has contemplated pretending to be someone they're not in order to make life easier.
Took a sip, now uno mas
The singer continues to drink more coffee despite believing they've already consumed too much.
I'm lots of things but none of them interesting
The artist does not find themselves to be particularly interesting or unique.
Thinking about my dreams and hopes, just jokes
The artist does not take their own dreams and aspirations seriously.
I've told myself to close the holes in my brain
The artist is attempting to suppress certain thoughts or feelings that they do not find productive or useful.
Getting older by the second
The singer is aware of the passage of time and their own aging process.
Inching forward toward my grave
The artist feels as though they are slowly approaching death.
Wondering what's the lesson
The singer is pondering the meaning or purpose behind their own existence.
I'd rather be dumb than smart
The singer would prefer to be ignorant or unaware of certain things rather than knowledgeable.
I'd rather make shit than art
The singer values personal expression over creating something that is traditionally viewed as art.
I'd rather just sit and watch the ships depart
The artist is content to observe rather than actively participate in life.
Every mark I, mark I, mark I make is a b-side
The artist feels as though their efforts are not appreciated or valued.
Besides all I eat's freeze dried, harbinger of my demise
The singer believes their poor eating habits are contributing to their eventual downfall.
The dude telling you it's a ruse well he's right
The singer acknowledges that someone who is skeptical of their own worldview may have a valid point.
Packing up a parachute and a pair of Levi's
The artist is preparing to leave or explore something new.
Apocalypse coming blank pages I'm thumbing
The artist feels as though they are living in a time of uncertainty or crisis.
The gyres keep widening till I am number
The artist is struggling to keep up with the rapid pace of change or progress around them.
Than gums at a dentist just covered with gauze
The singer feels emotionally or mentally numb, like someone who has just had dental work done.
Gasping for gas, trapped in the jaws
The artist feels stuck or trapped in their current situation.
Don't you set me straight, I've got it square
The singer is resistant to criticism or feedback.
Squandering my youth, but I don't care
The singer is unconcerned with wasting their own time or potential.
What I feel is nothing at all
The singer feels emotionally numb or disconnected.
Scratch, scratch, scratching at my shins
The artist is physically uncomfortable or restless.
First season Mad Men on in the background
The artist is watching a popular television show while engaging in other activities.
Can't stop laughing
The singer finds something amusing despite feeling emotionally numb.
Half of what I do is purposeless
The singer acknowledges that they engage in activities that are not productive or valuable.
Windex-ing surfaces, vultures circling
The artist is engaging in a mundane task while feeling as though they are being watched or criticized.
I'm searching for what on earth this really is
The artist is seeking to find meaning or purpose in their own life or existence.
You can catch me in a Super 8
The artist is staying in a budget hotel.
Things are going super great
The singer is intentionally sarcastic, implying that things are not actually going well for them.
Melting my mental space is how I'm losing weight
The artist is using their own emotional distress as a means of losing weight.
I'd rather be thin and hungry than happy and fat
The singer values their own physical appearance over their emotional well-being.
I'd rather be uninformed than face the facts
The singer actively avoids or ignores information that may be unpleasant or difficult to hear.
Re-relax I'm choking on a splinter with a termite
The singer is attempting to calm themselves down despite experiencing discomfort.
Ermines living like they're kings cause their fur's nice
The artist observes that external appearances can be deceiving and may not reflect reality.
Feel myself trapped somewhere between LA and Irvine
The artist feels as though they are stuck between two unappealing options or locations.
Doubtful that the shards of my fractured mind will survive
The singer is uncertain whether their own mental state will improve or worsen over time.
Eyeing the traffic light, but I'm not yielding
The singer is anxious and impatient while waiting for something to happen.
Left arm if left hanging, glued to the ceiling
The artist feels as though they are physically and emotionally stuck in place.
A feeling like this could get out of control
The artist is aware that their own emotions could lead to negative consequences.
Ten in my pocket, got money to blow
The artist has some disposable income that they are considering spending in a frivolous manner.
What I feel is nothing at all, all
The singer emphasizes their own emotional numbness and detachment.
Contributed by Maria P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.