The Lyrical Genius of Lucy Dacus
You may recognize the name Lucy Dacus as one-third of the Grammy-winning band boygenius. Her voice and lyrics are heavily featured on songs like “Not Strong Enough” and “True Blue”. What you might not know is that Dacus has three studio albums under her own discography, in addition to the one album and two EPs under the Boygenius discography. If you're familiar with her music then you can understand why I might be referring to her as a lyrical genius. If you’re unfamiliar, then you may be confused. How is this woman I’ve never heard of a genius? Is her music really that good? The answer to that second question is yes. To answer the first question, I’ll give you a window into her lyrics from two of my personal favorite songs.
“I used to be too deep inside my head
Now I'm too far out of my skin”
~ Lucy Dacus, “Next of Kin”
First, let’s discuss the middle child of Lucy Dacus’s discography, Historian. This album changed the trajectory of Dacus’s career. One of her biggest hits of all time, “Night Shift”, is featured on this album. This is a 6-minute 32-second tortured ballad about a toxic relationship finally ending and the difficulties in trying to find love again after a heartbreak as well as the hate that grows for the one you once loved.
“The first time I tasted somebody else's spit, I had a coughing fit
I mistakenly called them by your name
I was let down it wasn't the same”
The song opens with Dacus acknowledging the fact that she will never find someone like the person this song is about again. The pain that comes with a relationship ending, while trying to move on and grow from it.
“I feel no need to forgive but I might as well
But let me kiss your lips so I know how it felt”
She feels no need to forgive; she has accepted what happened. Forgiving wouldn’t make her life any worse or any better—but she might as well because it has no impact on her if she forgives her ex or not, she figures that she just should. When you forgive someone, it often frees them of their guilt, so Dacus is essentially torn on whether or not she should absolve this person.
“You got a 9 to 5, so I'll take the night shift
And I'll never see you again if I can help it”
This is the line that blew this song up. “Night Shift” truly takes us through the emotional roller coaster of getting out of a relationship and beginning to hate someone for what they did to you. Going from missing them to not caring about them, to resenting them. I will always love the powerful symbolism of taking a “night shift” in order to avoid someone you once loved because of what they’ve done to you. That is a true passion.
“The future is a benevolent black hole”
~ Lucy Dacus, “Cartwheel”
One of my favorite albums of all time, Home Video, contains some of the best examples of superior lyricism. My personal favorite song from this album is the opening track, “Hot & Heavy.” This song reminisces on a relationship from Dacus’s past, think high school and early college.
“Heavy memories weighing on my brain
Hot and heavy in the basement of your parents' place
You used to be so sweet
Now you're a firecracker on a crowded street”
This person she once loved was near and dear to her, but that was years ago. They are now just a face in the crowd she sees and feels nostalgia for.
“You were a secret to yourself
You couldn't keep from anyone else”
I love this line, it may even be my favorite from the entire album. When we’re young, we don’t really know who we are. We are growing and learning about ourselves, but the people around us do know us, sometimes even better than we know ourselves. This song is very nostalgic and focuses on how we feel about our childhood, even after we’ve grown up.
She is the voice of a generation of young queer people who are learning to navigate life, love, and self-acceptance. The best songs let you see yourself in them like a mirror, and Dacus’s music often reflects our lives back to us. Her music makes people feel seen and heard.
Do you listen to Lucy Dacus? Tag us in your favorite Lucy Dacus songs @theedgemag :)