Lucy Dacus drops ‘Thumbs’
LUCY DACUS
UNVEILS DEVASTATING NEW SINGLE,
(Credit: Marin Leong
The last few years have been tremendous for Lucy Dacus. Today, she continues the momentum with a heart wrenching new single, ‘Thumbs’. The song debuted live following its creation in fall 2018 and has since become a fan favorite, so much so that it has its own dedicated Twitter account.
In spirit of the anticipation and love for the song, prior to its official release, Dacus surprised 100 random fans with a hand-assembled VHS tape with a recording of ‘Thumbs’. The track showcases Dacus’ evocative and profound storytelling, her voice magnetic over scaled back synth and mellotron. Listen HERE.
Written during a 15 minute car ride to dinner in Nashville, Dacus says: “Like most songs I write, I wasn’t expecting it and it made me feel weird, almost sick. It tells the story of a day I had with a friend during our freshman year of college, a significant day, but not one that I had thought of for years. I started playing it live a month or so later during the boygenius tour after Phoebe and Julien encouraged me to. I knew I wanted a long time to get used to playing it since it made me feel shaky, so I ended sets with it for about half the shows I played in 2019. Before I played it, I would ask the audience to please not record it, a request that seems to have been respected, which I’m grateful for.”
‘Thumbs’ Lyrics
You hung up the phoneand I asked you what was wrong.Your dad has come to town.He’d like to meet.I said, “You don’t have to see him,”but for whatever reason, you can’t tell him no. So we meet him at a bar.You were holding my hand hard.He ordered rum and coke.I can’t drink either anymore.He hadn’t seen you since the fifth grade.Now you’re nineteen and you’re 5’8”.He said, “Honey, you sure look great.Do you get the checks I send on your birthday?” I would kill himif you let me.I would kill himquick and easy.Your nails are digging into my knee.I don’t know how you keep smiling. I love your eyesand he has ‘em.Or you have his‘cause he was first.I imagine my thumbs on the irisespressing inuntil they burst. I clear my throat and say we oughta get home.He offers us a ride.I reply, “No, that’s alright.”When we leave, you feel him watching,so we walk a mile in the wrong direction. I would kill himif you let me.I would kill himquick and easy.Your nails are digging into my knee.I don’t know how you keep smiling.I don’t know how you keep smiling.I don’t know how you keep smiling.I wanna take your face between my handsand say: You two are connected by a pure coincidence.Bound to him by blood, but baby, it’s all relative.You’ve been in his fist ever since you were a kid,but you don’t owe him shit even if he said you did.You don’t owe him shit even if he said you did.
https://lucydacus.ffm.to/thumbs
LUCY DACUS
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