In the Springtime of his Voodoo
Music and Lyrics by: Tori Amos
Instrumentation: Vocals, Acoustic Piano (Bosendorfer), Harpsichord, Bass, Percussion, Guitar, Organ, Backgrounds, Bagpipes
Brief Summary: At this point in the story, Tori has had time to reflect and digest the end of this big ol’ relationship and she’s doing a fair amount of introspection. In the Springtime of His Voodoo, she refers to depending too much on someone else to be happy, feel fulfilled, or otherwise make headway in life. I might venture a guess and say that in singing “every road leads back to my door,” Tori is stating “I will have to learn to depend on myself…to use my own voodoo, because at the end of the day I am all I really have.”
Tori’s Comments: “…So much of my life has been about “going to” instead of what is happening now, ‘What are we going to?” and not “What are we really giving to each other now?” What am I promising him? That whole idea of looking to this, the idea that somebody else carries the voodoo, instead of becoming part of the voodoo and accessing it yourself.”
Fan Comments/Interpretations: Some have detected a hint of sadness and regret in Voodoo. In singing “He was going to show me spring” she is disappointed that she didn’t get to enjoy the cool things they were going to do together, learn together, and have together. Others have said that the “He was going to show me spring” line represents a woman who has repeatedly been let down by men with big promises.
China2Ny’s Comments: In the Springtime of his Voodoo boasts one of the album’s best bridges, imho.
In my life I have felt regret about not being more in the moment while living day-to-day. I can see where being so enamoured with someone else to the point of clinging onto everything they say or do can make the moment less fulfilling for yourself. It’s like you’re losing out on the beauty of surprises and the fun that could be had by just relaxing and letting go. I agree that the line “every road leads back to my door” is very telling and is the morale (if you will) of this song.
Too bad she’s pining for love with an “angry snatch” (it sure doesn’t do the trick!), and the warp speed could possibly be interpreted as not allowing the moment to unfold for itself; it’s like putting pressure on time and the relatioship.
My question is why does Isabel sing this song???
Are you a BFP fan, Mere?
he he he
great question re: isabel. Doesn’t seem like the best match, huh?
perhaps she’s trying to say that even the hard, political, feminist types have made some silly choices regarding the men in their lives? Like, she’s showing us the multiples sides of this one persona. Like, a lesson within a lesson?