you for a while

Music and Lyrics by: Tori Amos

Instrumentation: Vocal, Acoustic Piano, Backgrounds, Bass, Drums, Guitar, Strings, Violin, Oboe.

Brief Summary: China is the story of a couple who, although they used to love each other dearly, find themselves drifting apart. This is particularly distressing to the “singer” of the song, who is actually trying to strike things up again, but is met face to face with a “Great Wall” of resistance. It is almost as if this could be the happiest couple in the world if it weren’t for one thing…one thing that neither of them can quite put their hands on, but the one thing that keeps one of them looking away to the distance and the other from truly being happy. China is a song almost every one on this planet can relate to, and it is one of the favorites on LE.

Tori’s Comments: (from the Little Earthquakes songbook) “The fifths in the bass represent the beginning of an ancient ceremony. This ceremony took me to China, took me to the kitchen table where most wars get nurtured. I’ve always felt China and secrets are good friends. This song was the first written on Little Earthquakes.”

Fan Comments/Interpretations: China is one of Tori’s most poetic, and fans like that…being drawn to the figurative language. Some enjoy the play on the word China, both the country and the dishes being referred to in the song. One of the most common comments is, “I really relate to this song….and here’s my story…” kinda thing. It seems most people can fit themselves in China’s lyrics.

China2Ny’s Comments: I am China’s namesake In the beginning China was one of my favorite songs, still is, but I really felt this at one point in my life. Except I was the person being sung about I believe. Regardless, the melody is extraordinary, the way Tori plays with the background vocals is delightful, and the straightforwardness of the lyrics gives me a little break from some of the more difficult-to-decipher Tori songs.