Laura
TV Girl
The Melancholic Muse: A Tribute to Laura
TV Girl's song "Laura" is a poignant reflection on inspiration, loss, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a picture of the narrator grappling with a sense of boredom and lack of inspiration, as they sit on a couch and lie in bed, trying to find their muse. The mention of writing "thinly veiled fiction for the soul" suggests a struggle with authenticity and a feeling of being a fraud. This sets the stage for the central theme of the song: the narrator's memories of Laura, a figure who once inspired them deeply.
Laura is depicted as a captivating and enigmatic character, someone who sang with such conviction that the narrator almost forgot the songs weren't meant for them. The line "I know you're from another planet and you're crazy as a loon" highlights Laura's otherworldly and eccentric nature, making her a larger-than-life figure in the narrator's mind. Despite her absence, the narrator finds solace in writing songs about her, as it makes them feel a little less alone. This act of creation becomes a way to keep Laura's memory alive and to cope with the loneliness and existential musings that plague the narrator.
The song also touches on the inevitability of aging and mortality, with the narrator questioning the purpose of it all if the end result is death or the mundanity of middle age. Laura's words about what it would be like when she was "dead and gone" resonate with the narrator, serving as a reminder that life goes on even after someone significant has left. In this way, "Laura" is a melancholic yet comforting ode to a muse who continues to inspire from beyond, highlighting the enduring power of memory and creativity in the face of life's uncertainties.