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.
Sunburn
k.flay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack in the motherfucking box I got quarter pounder distention
Too many made up characters vying for my attention
I’m cold and I’m lonely, just floating toward the light
Think that I might get a kick out of life if life was more like a sitcom
Lies I’ve been fed by some bitch exec, boy that’s what I bit on
So tired, all I wanna do’s just find something to sit on
Don’t tell me I’m melting please help me unh uh wait a minute
Sensing next to nothing but that’s the point exactly
Suppose I better do what my toes have asked of me
People waving, blind to what I’m facing
Watch as I spin these blades
Sun burning on my face
So much I’ll never know
No, I don’t want an answer, answer
If you need to be questioning me I’m separate see, so you can ask her
It takes a dozen hits just to numb out half my pain
My father looks down on me and says what a crying shame
Incompetently navigating treacherous terrain
Sleep or stay awake well it’s really all the same
Popping a handful of xanax just to just to just to manage
Filling my head with feelies til my brain it turns to cabbage
Mapping up out my fate with a random collection of mad libs
Aiming for slightly below average
Sinking slowly, getting sleepy
Living mostly cause it’s easy
Sticking closely to the line
Looking happy, feeling breezy
Walking past now do you see me
It’s getting better all the time
Watch as I spin these blades
Sun burning on my face
So much I’ll never know
No, I don’t want an answer, answer
If you need to be questioning me I’m separate see, so you can ask her
Wasting everything, all my vigor and my youth
Diluting the confusion I am choosing what is truth
I’ve got no use for future plans, used to care but now I don’t
Do almost anything I can to hide the fact I’ll die alone
Not worried about my taxes, not giving a flying fuck
Not worried about my ashes, that one day will turn to dust
Not thinking that I should listen, just wanna be feeling great
Doesn’t matter what’s the prison rest assured I will escape
In K.Flay's song Sunburn, the lyrics paint a picture of a person who is struggling with a lack of purpose and motivation, and who is using drugs as a means of coping. The first verse describes the feeling of drifting off into a new dimension, accompanied by physical discomfort due to overeating. The singer is bombarded by too many distractions and false personas, leaving them feeling cold and lonely as they float towards the light. They express a desire for life to be simpler and more predictable, like a sitcom. However, they acknowledge that the lies they have been fed have only made things worse.
The chorus of the song, "Watch as I spin these blades, Sun burning on my face, So much I'll never know" portrays a sense of helplessness and lack of control. The singer feels that they are caught up in a cycle or a machine that is beyond their control, and that they are unable to escape from it. The second verse describes the singer's struggles with their own thoughts and emotions. They express a desire to numb the pain, and they acknowledge that their father looks down on them with disappointment. They describe themselves as incompetently navigating treacherous terrain, and they find it difficult to distinguish between sleep and wakefulness.
The bridge of the song expresses a sense of apathy and a lack of concern for the future. The singer has little regard for future plans or for their own mortality. They simply want to feel good in the present moment, regardless of the consequences. The final line, "Rest assured I will escape" suggests a determination to break free from the cycle of misery and confusion that they find themselves in.
Line by Line Meaning
Feeling like I might might drift drift off into a new dimension
I feel like I am drifting away into a new dimension.
Jack in the motherfucking box I got quarter pounder distention
I feel bloated from eating too much fast food.
Too many made up characters vying for my attention
I am feeling overwhelmed by fake people trying to get my attention.
I’m cold and I’m lonely, just floating toward the light
I am alone, feeling empty, and just going through the motions.
Think that I might get a kick out of life if life was more like a sitcom
I think my life would be more enjoyable if it was like a sitcom on TV.
Lies I’ve been fed by some bitch exec, boy that’s what I bit on
I fell for the lies that some female executive told me.
So tired, all I wanna do’s just find something to sit on
I am exhausted and just want to sit down and rest.
Don’t tell me I’m melting please help me unh uh wait a minute
Please don't say I'm losing it, but hold on a moment.
So so soporific I’m in the midst of apathy, see
I am feeling so numb and apathetic right now.
Sensing next to nothing but that’s the point exactly
I am trying to feel nothing at all and that is my goal.
Suppose I better do what my toes have asked of me
I should probably do what my instincts tell me to do.
People waving, blind to what I’m facing
People are saying hello to me, but they don't know what I'm going through.
Watch as I spin these blades
Watch as I try to distract myself and let go.
Sun burning on my face
The sun is scorching my skin, but I don't care.
So much I’ll never know
There is so much I don't understand and never will.
No, I don’t want an answer, answer
No, I don't need an answer or explanation.
If you need to be questioning me I’m separate see, so you can ask her
If you have questions about me, ask someone else, I don't want to talk about myself.
It takes a dozen hits just to numb out half my pain
I need to take a lot of drugs to forget about some of my pain.
My father looks down on me and says what a crying shame
My dad is disappointed in me, which makes me very sad.
Incompetently navigating treacherous terrain
I am struggling to navigate a difficult situation.
Sleep or stay awake well it’s really all the same
I am indifferent about whether to stay awake or go to sleep.
Popping a handful of xanax just to just to just to manage
I am taking a large amount of Xanax to cope with my problems.
Filling my head with feelies til my brain it turns to cabbage
I am indulging in things that make me feel good, but it isn't good for me.
Mapping up out my fate with a random collection of mad libs
I have no plan for the future and I'm just improvising as I go.
Aiming for slightly below average
I have very low expectations for myself.
Sinking slowly, getting sleepy
I am getting tired and my spirits are low.
Living mostly cause it’s easy
I am only living because it's easier than giving up.
Sticking closely to the line
I am following a set path and not deviating from it.
Looking happy, feeling breezy
I may look happy, but I am feeling lost and carefree.
Walking past now do you see me
As people walk past me, they may not even notice me.
It’s getting better all the time
Things may be slowly improving for me.
Wasting everything, all my vigor and my youth
I am wasting away my life and energy.
Diluting the confusion I am choosing what is truth
I am trying to clear my mind and figure out what is really true.
I’ve got no use for future plans, used to care but now I don’t
I don't care about making plans for the future anymore.
Do almost anything I can to hide the fact I’ll die alone
I am afraid of dying alone and will do anything to avoid facing that fear.
Not worried about my taxes, not giving a flying fuck
I don't care about anything, including things like taxes.
Not worried about my ashes, that one day will turn to dust
I am indifferent about what will happen to my body after I die.
Not thinking that I should listen, just wanna be feeling great
I'm not really considering anything else and just want to feel good.
Doesn’t matter what’s the prison rest assured I will escape
Regardless of the situation, I will find a way to escape or transcend it.
Contributed by Alexander G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.