Wednesday, June 16, 2004
(10:52 PM) | Adam Kotsko:
Wilco Question
I've listened to Summerteeth a lot lately, particularly the second song, "She's a Jar." I love nearly everything about the song, especially the lyrics, for example:
She's a jarIt all starts out so beautiful -- "sleepy kisser" especially stands out to me for some reason -- but by the end, he upsets me:
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
She begs me not to miss her
She's a jarI don't understand. I suppose that some of the previous lyrics have prepared us for this point, maybe this stuff:
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
You know she begs me
Not to hit her
Please beware the quiet front yardBut none of it seems like a sufficient cause for domestic abuse. What is this song saying? Is it saying that relationships can go sour due to hard circumstances? Is it implying that there's always an undercurrent of violence in romantic relationships? I really don't know. I'm disturbed, but I still listen to it every time I'm in the car.
I warned you
Before there were water skies
I warned you not to drive
Dry your eyes, you poor devil
...
I believe it's just because
Daddy's payday is not enough
Oh I believe it's all because
Daddy's payday is not enough
If anyone has given this any thought, I'd be interested to hear.
