"I don't even know what to compare it to. In my songwriting style, I feel like I actually stopped writing it earlier than I usually stop writing stuff. I usually write things five times over, and this one was always just like, ‘All right. This is a simple tribute song.’ It’s kind of about the neighborhood [Silver Lake in Los Angeles], kind of about depression, but mostly about stalking Elliott Smith and being afraid that I'm a punisher—that when I talk to my heroes, that their eyes will glaze over. Say you're at Thanksgiving with your wife's family and she's got an older relative who is anti-vax or just read some conspiracy theory article and, even if they're sweet, they're just talking to you and they don't realize that your eyes are glazed over and you're trying to escape: That’s a punisher. The worst way that it happens is like with a sweet fan, someone who is really trying to be nice and their hands are shaking, but they don't realize they're standing outside of your bus and you're trying to go to bed. And they talk to you for like 45 minutes, and you realize your reaction really means a lot to them, so you're trying to be there for them, too. And I guess that I'm terrified that when I hang out with Patti Smith or whatever that I'll become that for people. I know that I have in the past, and I guess if Elliott was alive—especially because we would have lived next to each other—it’s like 1000% I would have met him and I would have not known what the fuck I was talking about, and I would have cornered him at Silverlake Lounge." ― Phoebe Bridgers[1]
"Punisher" is the fourth track on Phoebe Bridgers' sophomore album, Punisher. It was released on June 17, 2020 through Dead Oceans.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
When the speed kicks in
I go to the store for nothing
And walk right by
The house where you lived with Snow White
I wonder if she ever thought
The storybook tiles on the roof were too much
But from the window, it's not a bad show
If your favorite thing's Dianetics or stucco
[Pre-Chorus]
The drugstores are open all night
The only real reason I moved to the east side
I love a good place to hide in plain sight
[Chorus]
What if I told you
I feel like I know you?
But we never met
[Verse 2]
And here, everyone knows you're the way to my heart
Hear so many stories of you at the bar
Most times, alone, and some, looking your worst
But never not sweet to the trust funds and punishers
[Pre-Chorus]
Man, I wish that I could say the same
I swear I'm not angry, that's just my face
A copycat killer with a chemical cut
Either I'm careless or I wanna get caught
Who I'm not
[Chorus]
What if I told you
I feel like I know you?
But we never met
It's for the best
[Outro]
I can't open my mouth and forget how to talk
'Cause even if I could
Wouldn't know where to start
Wouldn't know when to stop
Audio[]
References[]
- ↑ "Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers on Apple Music". Apple Music.
[]
| Punisher |
|---|
| "DVD Menu" • "Garden Song" • "Kyoto" • "Punisher" • "Halloween" • "Chinese Satellite" • "Moon Song" • "Savior Complex" • "ICU" • "Graceland Too" • "I Know the End" |