Today’s song, in celebration of women, is from the British singer-songwriter from her debut album Dry – a robust defence of and pride in the female body in response to an insulting lover. The title refers to the crude Celtic fertility figurines that typically have an exaggerated vulva. Do they portray women as sexual objects or as a fertility goddess? Is the sheela-na-gig an insulting or empowering symbol? That’s open to interpretation, but man portrayed in the song fails to see the narrator’s body in anything but a negative way, and i using the historical context, highlights how women have been forced to feel ashamed of themselves. But Harvey’s driving guitar sound and emancipatory exclamation is a fabulous rebuttal of man and myth. In reference to the song from the musical South Pacific, she will “wash that man right out of my hair” and more directly “take my hips to a man who cares”. An inspiration to many artists, female in particular, including the Duke Spirit’s Liela Moss, who has identified as the spark that boosted her confidence as an angst-ridden teenager and made her want to become a performer.
Sheela-na-gig figurine
Been trying to show you over and over
Look at these, my child-bearing hips
Look at these, my ruby-red ruby lips
Look at these, my work strong-arms
You've got to see my bottle full of charm
Lay it all at your feet
You turn around and say back to me
He said:
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
[Verse 2]
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before
He said:
[Chorus]
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
[Verse 3]
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said he didn't care
Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Turn the corner, another one there
Gonna take my hips to a man who cares
Heard it before
He said
[Chorus]
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Sheela-na-gig, Sheela-na-gig
You exhibitionist
Put money in your idle hole
Put money in your idle hole
[Outro]
He said "Wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "Please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "Wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "Please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "Wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "Please take those dirty pillows away from me"
He said "Wash your breasts, I don't want to be unclean"
He said "Please take those dirty pillows away from me"
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