Some Catch Flies

Song Meaning

Kristin Hersh's "Some Catch Flies" isn't a casual listen; it's a plunge into the volatile psychology of obsessive attachment. The opening lines set the stage: a relationship defined by scrutiny and self-inflicted pain. The speaker is 'a wreck,' experiencing a paradoxical mix of sharpness and numbness. This isn't romantic love; it's a codependent dance teetering on the edge of self-destruction. The image of a glass filled with 'shiny tacks' is viscerally unsettling, hinting at a willingness to embrace pain as a form of connection. The repetition of 'I am numb' underscores the speaker's dissociation, a common defense mechanism against overwhelming emotional turmoil. There's a push-pull dynamic at play, a simultaneous recognition of the relationship's toxicity and an inability to break free. The lines 'And when he drools/It's like he's spitting jewels' are particularly striking. What should be repulsive is reinterpreted as something precious, a clear indication of distorted perception. The declaration 'I am clean' suggests an attempt to reclaim a sense of self, though the context implies this cleanliness is defined by the absence of others, a stark contrast to the chaotic presence of the 'god' figure. The repetition of 'I play dumb' reveals a calculated strategy for survival within the relationship, a performance of naivete to maintain a fragile equilibrium. The song's title, "Some Catch Flies," serves as a metaphor for the speaker's passive role in this dynamic. While others might actively confront or reject undesirable elements ('kill them till they die'), she simply 'stare[s],' accepting whatever comes her way. The final lines, a repeated affirmation of love, are delivered with an almost desperate intensity. It's a declaration tinged with both vulnerability and a sense of resignation. "Some Catch Flies" becomes a raw, unflinching exploration of how love can morph into something unrecognizable, a trap from which escape seems impossible. The song meaning resides in the tension between genuine affection and the damaging patterns that bind the speaker to her object of desire.