you for a while

Music and Lyrics by: Tori Amos

Instrumentation: Vocals, Acoustic Piano, Backgrounds, Finger Cymbal, Orchestra

Category: Diary–straight up.

Brief Summary: In a cryptic, Tori-kinda way, the red-headed songstress tells a timeless tale of someone coming into their own after having been, well, silent for a very long time. Someone who has had a lot to say over those many years and has just come up with the courage to blast such potent one-liners such as, “So you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts. What’s so amazing about really deep thoughts?” and “Let’s hear what you think of me know, but baby don’t look up…the sky is falling.” These lyrics can apply to any number of Tori’s life experiences (or none, as she often states that her songs are about her but then not about her at the same time). She may be writing about what it was like to admit she had been raped, after not having dealt with it for many years. Or, she could have been referring to having been a minister’s daughter with a penchant for all things non-biblical. She could also be taking aim at the record company who, early in her career, had forced her into a persona so entirely different than who she really was–as a person and a songwriter. In all probability, however, Tori is talking about all of these things, and the combined experiences of all of her fans who have suffered similar fates.

Tori’s Comments: (taken from the Little Earthquakes songbook) “The bumblebee piano tinkle came first. This one evolved slowly but it stayed an obsession until it was finished. I entered boxer occupation–part of me not wanting to hear what ‘I’ was saying the other part fighting off The Brain Drain. I finally distracted The Brain Drain with the task of filing chocolate cake recipes.”

Fan Comments/Interpretations: SATY is Tori’s most recognizable diddy…the infamous piano tinkle will send a stadium of Tori-philes a-thunder with applause. Fans have differing perspectives of this song, and rightly so…Tori writes her songs vaguely for this very purpose. Some say it tells the story of a woman in an abusive relationship, others say it represents young women who have been sexually accosted. A lot of fans hear a reference to pregnancy in the lyrics, and therefore interpret the song to represent a love triangle with a twist. When the lyrics are distilled, all fans agree that SATY helps give a voice to those otherwise unable to speak for themselves.

China2Ny’s Comments: I have to admit…by 2006 I was sorta kinda burned out on SATY. *turns red* Fortunately, I left a mix in my car the week my husband had to drive it. He absolutely fell in love with SATY…”communing” with it daily. We listened to it together and my soul was recharged. That is the beauty of a Tori Amos song…it hits you much differently at different times of your life.