you for a while

Music and Lyrics by: Tori Amos

Instrumentation: Vocals, Acoustic Piano (Bosendorfer), Harpsichord, Bass, Guitar, drums, drum programming, er, yeah and a bull.

Brief Summary: From digesting some of what Tori has had to say about Professional Widow in various interviews, it appears that, at least in broad strokes, that this song is about a woman who is tired of just being “cool” or “nice” or “smart” or “creative” … she wants to be powerful…a characteristic that seems to come so much more naturally to men. In a poetic way, Tori is saying she wants this man in her life to be dead so that she can extract from him what he has and what she so desperately wants.

Tori’s Comments: “[Professional Widow] is my hunger for the energy I felt some of the men in my life possessed–the ability to be king. I wasn’t content just being a muse. I was the creative force. I was in relationships with different men where if they could honor that, they couldn’t honor the woman. And if they could honor the woman, they couldn’t honor the creative force.”

Fan Comments/Interpretations: The song Professional Widow seems to remind a lot of fans of Courtney Love/Kurt Cobain relationship, and many believe Tori is accusing Courtney Love of Kurt’s murder, although she has claimed in many interviews that this is not true. Those that don’t adhere to this interpretation see Professional Widow differently…some believing it may be about Yoko Ono or about the trials and tribulations of incest.

China2Ny’s Comments: I have to be in a mood to listen to Professional Widow. Not that I don’t like the song…not true at all…but I still have to be in a mood. Like a not-too-early-in-the-morning kinda mood.