Punisher Analysis- "Kyoto"

Great point that perhaps her dad called her a liar and that's why she kept repeating it. I hadn't considered that! I am so glad you enjoyed the analysis!

English Teacher KP

The juxtaposition between the sound of the song and the content of the song is also something I love. It reminds me of one of my favorite poems- "The Incident" by Countee Cullen which is written almost like a nursery rhyme but is absolutely devastating in content.

English Teacher KP

Yes, aren't cultural differences interesting?! And, though I am sorry to hear about his passing, I am glad Phoebe and her dad were able to reconnect by the end.

English Teacher KP

I forgot all about Sunset Boulevard! Nice catch! I also agree with you that her anxiety regarding her father seems to be draining her of energy!

English Teacher KP

i loved this analysis! phoebe is an excellent writer i love her so much! when she says “i’m going to kill you, if you don’t beat me to it” she could also be saying something like “oh i’m so mad at you i could just kill you… if your substance abuse doesn’t get you first” that’s kind of how i interpreted it, as well as the end when she kept calling herself a liar, it definitely is harsh! i think she kept repeating it and exaggerating it because perhaps that’s what her father kept calling her so she was kind of like throwing that back and saying “but i guess IM the liar” 😂 i can’t wait for your analysis of the rest of the album, her songs make me cry so much 😭

For this one, I love that the lyrics are deeply sad, but it sounds boppy and happy. Similarly there are multiple sarcasms/ironies that I find quite unique to her writing, and the "I'm a liar" bit could be one of them. She meant it, but at the same time she also knows that it's a funny exaggeration (hence repeating the lied/liar/lies), if that makes sense. I think this album has a lot of those -- labeling that she's a bad something and trying to work through it.

I never knew Southern Black households never use the word "lie." Phoebe's dad died about five months ago and she posted on Instagram an old photo of him with her that simply said, "rest in peace dad." It struck me as sweet, despite the ambivalence in the song. From all I can gather, they were able to reconnect by the end. Maybe the song helped with that, but I don't really know. I love this song.

Jim Lent

I’m pretty sure she’s talking about Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. So the “freak show” could be referring to all the celebrities and the paps running around gawking at them. It’s interesting that phoebe juxtaposes that fast paced, celebrity environment with her gawking up at the chemtrails by a goodwill. It sorta aligns with the first verse in that way. It’s almost like her anxiety about her father is taking up too much space in her mind, so she doesn’t have energy left for going to the arcade or going out on Sunset.

Sav Miller

Also, I hope you have so much fun at the Eras tour!!!

English Teacher KP

Ahhhh-- that actually makes a lot of sense about the word "chemtrails" being used as a sort of a joke!

English Teacher KP

Loved this analysis! Its amazing how even though I listened to this song 100 times I didnt notice the meaning in the lyrics until I see them broken down. So many lines I just accept as being something I dont understand. I think she used chemtrails because that is what a lot of young people call them now as a sort of joke. I know I always call them chemtrails even though I know logically what they are. It also suits her dry sardonic sense of humour 🤣 thanks so much for the video. So happy you had fun at the Era’s Tour. I am going in a few weeks at MetLife!!