Originally a home recorded solo project for Reynolds to explore her folk songwriting on acoustic guitar, Kississippi cut its teeth touring on Fest-friendly pop punk, and the project solidified its emo cred supporting third wave genre progenitors Dashboard Confessional. But like her earliest songwriting heroes Cat Power and Liz Phair (who Reynolds describes as “vulnerable and weird girl rock stars, which was something I saw in myself”), Kississippi songs transcend genre, and lend themselves just as well to slick arena-ready production as they do rock instrumentation. After working closely with Philadelphia studio mainstay and mentor Kyle Pulley on 2018 debut Sunset Blush, Reynolds felt encouraged to explore the sonic possibilities in electronic-focused pop, taking inspiration from favorite bands like Beach House, CHVRCHES and Purity Ring. She learned to produce with studio software Reason, delving deep into its “fun synth sounds and weird tools” to develop the lushly-layered demos that would inform 'Mood Ring'.
Googly Eyes
kississippi Lyrics
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when they tell you she doesn't move.
you know, i know that that's not true
because i know she follows you.
and i think that she's the only thing i share with you.
and i think that she's the only thing i share with you.
uhh.uhh.in the backseat of max's car,
philadelphia gobbles up the stars.
a thousand miles from where you are,
if my arms were long enough i'd reach that far.
and i think longings another thing i share with you,
and i think longings another thing i share with you,
uhh.uhh.
uhh.uhh.
but not for me like i for you.
but not for me like i for you.
but not for me like i for you.
but not for me like i for you.
In the beginning of Kississippi's song Googly Eyes, the singer sings about not believing what people say about the moon not moving. In fact, she knows that the moon follows the person she is singing about. She then declares that the moon is the only thing she shares with this person, which suggests that they may not have any other connection or similarities. The phrase "googly eyes" is used throughout the chorus and is most likely a reference to the way people look when they are infatuated with someone, their eyes wandering and unfocused.
In the second verse, the setting changes to the back seat of Max's car in Philadelphia. The singer marvels at how far away they are from the person she's singing about, and that she wishes her arms were long enough to reach them. This further emphasizes the disconnect between them. The singer ends the verse by repeating that "longing" is something else that she shares with the person, suggesting that the relationship is one-sided and the singer may be longing for the other person more than they are for her.
Overall, the song paints a picture of unrequited love and longing for someone who may not feel the same way. The use of celestial imagery, like the moon and stars, emphasizes the vastness of the distance between the two and the singer's inability to bridge that gap.
Line by Line Meaning
don't you listen about the moon
Ignoring what others say, do not trust the statement that the moon is stationary
when they tell you she doesn't move.
When people claim the moon doesn't have any motion, do not accept their words as true.
you know, i know that that's not true
Both the singer and the listener are aware that claims of the moon being still are untrue.
because i know she follows you.
The artist suspects that the moon follows the person and possibly even associates the moon with a shared connection between them.
and i think that she's the only thing i share with you.
For the artist, the only thing that they seem to have in common with the listener is their suspicion of the moon's motion and association with them.
in the backseat of max's car,
The scene shifts, and the setting changes where the singer is presently situated.
philadelphia gobbles up the stars.
The singer draws attention to the city, mentioning that it obscures the view of the stars in the sky.
a thousand miles from where you are,
The artist realizes it's quite a distance from their current location to the listener.
if my arms were long enough i'd reach that far.
The artist expresses a desire to reach out to the listener if it were physically possible.
and i think longings another thing i share with you,
The artist notes their yearning for emotional connection or closeness as another seemingly shared aspect with the listener.
but not for me like i for you.
Although the singer feels an emotional longing, they recognize it isn't authentically reciprocated to the same extent by the listener.
but not for me like i for you.
The prior line repeats itself with similar phrasing as though to emphasize the importance of the sentiment.
Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@skelemm
Kississippi deserves to be more recognized. :'3 such an amazing band!!
@ionbraun
I love Kississipi! Big up from Spain!