Baby Girls

Shivaree's 'Baby Girls' is a hauntingly poetic exploration of innocence, corruption, and the cyclical nature of life. The song opens with a surreal image of 'angels in the sitting room,' setting a tone that blends the ethereal with the mundane. The lyrics mention sending 'bread and baby shoes back to heaven,' suggesting a return to purity or a loss of innocence. This imagery is further complicated by the line about keeping curls to 'decorate another dozen baby girls,' hinting at the repetitive and almost industrial nature of innocence being tainted and renewed.

The song's narrative voice seems to be addressing someone who has always understood their need for rest, perhaps a metaphor for escapism or avoidance. The mention of 'cross yourself knock three times hope we throw a seven' introduces a sense of ritual and luck, as if navigating life’s challenges requires both faith and chance. The lyrics also touch on the theme of violence, noting that the subject has 'never thrown a punch at least not until now,' implying a breaking point or a loss of innocence due to external pressures.

The final verse delves into the societal expectations placed on women, particularly the idea that 'we all break the baby and mothers to blame.' This line suggests a critique of how society often holds women responsible for the loss of innocence in their children. The song concludes with a resigned acceptance of life's fleeting joys and sorrows, encapsulated in the lines 'Your cheer is such a treasure / Your tears are like the weather / There never meant to last.' This ending underscores the transient nature of emotions and experiences, reinforcing the song's themes of cyclical innocence and corruption.