L.E.S. Artistes by Santigold Lyrics Meaning – The Audacious Anthem Exploring Authenticity and Isolation
Lyrics
To tell it straight, I’m trying to build a wall
Walking by myself
Down avenues that reek of time to kill
If you see me keep going
Be a pass by waver
Build me up, bring me down
Just leave me out you name dropper
Stop trying to catch my eye
I see you good you forced faker
Just make it easy
You’re my enemy you fast talker
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe
What am I here for?
I left my home to disappear is all
I’m here for myself
Not to know you
I don’t need no one else
Fit in so good the hope is that you cannot see me later
You don’t know me
I am an introvert an excavator
I’m duckin’ out for now
A face in dodgy elevators
Creep up and suddenly
I found myself
An innovator
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe
Change-change, change, change
I want to get up out of my skin
Tell you what
If I can shake it
I’m ‘a make this
Something worth dreaming of
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe
I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe
In the realm of music where fads and façades often eclipse substance, Santigold’s ‘L.E.S. Artistes’ hits like a refreshing breath of defiance. The track, a jewel in her self-titled debut album, encapsulates a narrative that is at once personal and universal; a tale of artistic integrity clashing with the superficiality of scene culture.
Released in 2008, the song feels no less relevant today. Its lyrics, layered over an infectious concoction of indie rock and new wave synths, provides listeners with a canvas onto which many project their own struggles with authenticity. Santigold’s voice acts as a spearhead, piercing through the haze of social pretense, questioning what it means to remain true to oneself amid the pressures to conform.
A Glimpse Behind The Artifice
At first listen, ‘L.E.S. Artistes’ appears to address the specific experience of artists in the Lower East Side of New York, a notorious haven for creatives. However, Santigold’s lyrics reach beyond the geographic, delving into the universal struggle between genuine artistry and the temptation to sell out. ‘To tell it straight, I’m trying to build a wall,’ she declares, highlighting a defensive stance against inauthentic interactions and the name-dropping culture that pervades artistic communities.
This battle isn’t just about keeping others at arm’s length; it is a war for self-preservation, an attempt to hang onto one’s own identity and values in an environment that constantly pressures individuals to conform. Santigold articulates this with the line ‘I’m here for myself, not to know you,’ underscoring that her journey is about personal fulfillment, not pleasing others or chasing fame.
Standing Up for Beliefs: The Price of Integrity
‘If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe’ – this recurrent line in the song’s chorus holds the essence of Santigold’s internal struggle. It questions whether sticking to one’s guns, in a metaphorical sense, is worth the potential fallout. To ‘stand up mean’ implies a ferocity and determination to maintain one’s beliefs despite the inherent risks.
The implication here is clear: there is a cost to remaining true to oneself – the possibility of alienation, misunderstanding, and even career suicide. Yet, Santigold implies that forfeiting one’s values would be the greater sacrifice, suggesting that the integrity of one’s work and self is paramount, even if it means walking a path fraught with obstacles.
Navigating Solitude: The Loner’s Perspective
‘I left my home to disappear is all.’ These words evoke a sense of willful isolation, echoing the sentiments of those who feel out of step with their surroundings. Santigold touches on the paradox faced by many artists – the need for self-imposed solitude to create, versus the human desire for connection and recognition.
It encapsulates the solitary journey many creatives undertake in pursuit of their craft, often at the expense of personal relationships. The irony is not lost: in working to express oneself, one may end up feeling more invisible than ever – an ‘innovator’ without an audience.
Transformation and Escape: Shedding Skin
‘Change, change, change, change,’ chants Santigold, a mantra for personal revolution. She expresses a deep yearning to escape her own skin, indicative of the discomfort that comes with growth and the necessity for reinvention. There’s palpable tension between who she is and who she wants to become, or perhaps, who she feels others expect her to be.
The desire to ‘get up out of my skin’ serves as a metaphor for the transformative process that artists must undergo to evolve. It speaks to the struggle of balancing one’s originality with external pressures, embodying the resilience necessary to push through and emerge, against all odds, as something ‘worth dreaming of.’
The Refrain that Resonates: The Hopeful Resolve
The song’s hook, ‘I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up,’ resonates as a poignant, anthemic declaration. It acknowledges the conscious sacrifices made in pursuit of something greater, an artistic ideal that surpasses superficial achievements or societal accolades.
‘Worth what I give up’ is not just a refrain, but a question posed to the self and the audience alike. It forces listeners to consider their own compromises and whether their chosen paths align with their deepest beliefs. It is both a recognition of reality’s harshness and a hopeful grasp at the possibility that true artistry can prevail.
