PJ Harvey - When Under Ether

[perjetesi2811]

Her voice is just so........haunting :)

[mutedisease]

I remember viewing a few vids by Polly Jean back in the 90s or early 2000s on MTV (when they still played music videos) and being a fan of British musicians I paid some attention, but not much. It's only been in the last year or so that I have discovered her body of work and it amazes me how could I have been so deaf to what this woman has to say.

[m06een00]

@mutedisease I think that goes for quite a few fans including me. I only really started to listen seriously to her 2 years ago, and am amazed at her transformation, not just musically, but physically as well. She's barely recognisable from her younger days in the '90s.

[taraquita]

this song is so nice, but makes me a bit uncomfortable

[lucasboden]

I love PJ, but never really cared for this song. But today I really took time to read the lyrics and quietly listen to this song like someone with a new pair of ears. Beautiful.

[oillanne]

to all those still wondering wether this song is about abortion: the meaning is pretty straightforward, it's all in the title, it talks about being on ether. See Wikipedia for Ether.

[Rastereyes]

@oillanne This is not an intelligent response. Have you listened to the lyrics?? Ether has been used as an anesthetic for these kinds of procedures in the past. All I can say is that the first time I heard this song on the radio in my car, without any reference, I started crying because it reminded me of the emotions and feelings I felt when I had an abortion in my life... something I would never do again.

[m06een00]

PJ Harvey never denied the song was about abortion. What she actually said when questioned was

"That's obviously what you hear, but for me it's not actually tied to anything specific, like an abortion. These aren't just words. They're songs. They inhabit themselves, really" ie it's open to interpretation by the listener.

[leehazlewoodism]

Nice to see analogue tape being used. I think this is Polly's best album, better than Let England Shake.

[kittydeemime]

FUCK YOU FOLGERS COMMERCIAL! -_-

[DrDougRoss]

when under ether

the mind comes alive

but conscious of nothing

but the will to survive

Most likely one of PJ's best songs.

Great, Great, Great.

Thank You Polly.

[MrIsanybodyinthere]

Her best album for sure, weird, but her best.

[xtx5x]

really? i have to see a 30 second boring awful corona ad in order to watch a 2 minute song? f u vevo

[Rebecca8241]

Ouch.

[cyberactive8]

@iLikeCookie88 well maybe PJ isn't as virtuously artistic as you may think and she's afraid if she says it is she'll lose fan base. I'm not saying this is the case it's just these days it's very hard to see through all the cowardice to find anything real

[minaroar]

"something inside me unborn and unblessed." I can see where people would think this song is about abortion. Does anyone know what its about ?

[artgeek707]

@minaroar she's denied that it's about abortion. Some people have suggested cancer and treatment at the early part of the 20th century

[minaroar]

@artgeek707 PJ seems to poetic and romantic to right about early cancer treatment but okay.

[artgeek707]

@minaroar well considering this song was part of an album dedicated to a Victorian time period I think it makes sense. I mean why not?

[minaroar]

@artgeek707  I didn't know it was about the victorian time period, interesting

[LimeTheSlime]

@artgeek707 Where did she state that? I can see how it would apply to both.

[ritualpenguin]

so now I have to watch an advert to see and listened to this? Where's the Human Kindness? Fuck that for a laugh!

[krono965]

PJ Harvey is a brilliant and inspiring woman.

[spudcustardx1]

I think its a beautiful CD, I didn't get PJ before this and sadly I don’t think many got this version of PJ, I love the fact that it haunts me, that’s what art is supposed to do

Love to all spud custard

[suzannimal]

I adore this song but it makes me feel a little unsettled every time i listen to it!

[relfexreaction]

@suzannimal why :))

i didn't like that album btw, just too sad(whiny)-sounding.

[harrycallaham]

fuck the ads in you tube....right in the middle of the song...really?

[sleepisoptional]

i dont know if ppl get this but the song is about having an abortion... haunting

[KosmoAntoninus]

@sleepisoptional

"Feeling happiness

Human kindness"

Does not sound like abortion to me.

[sleepisoptional]

@KosmoAntoninus its ironic... kindness to the survivor.

human "kindness".. they gave her ether to perform the procedure... she did not have to be awake for it

[KosmoAntoninus]

@sleepisoptional and "happiness" ?

[TheCeilingIsMoving]

@KosmoAntoninus Are you kidding?  What about kindness to the woman?

[KosmoAntoninus]

@TheCeilingIsMoving I just realized that your nick is the first verse of this song. Cool.

[iLikeCookie88]

@sleepisoptional PJ Harvey is quoted saying that this isn't about abortion..

[pontecanis]

Anyone who's had ether never forgets the experience!! Blecccchhhh!!

[eruseron]

thank you for being, Polly.

[Akshay8585]

do i really see analog recording equipment in a digital era? *rubs eyes* HOLY FUCK SWEEEEEEEET! sure this was recorded analog?

[T1AOaNOMaly]

human kindness!!!

[waterywoman]

she's more than unique this is what an Artist sounds like,adept, non-definable borderlined ,exquistely envisioned , executed .

[knd53]

Que temasoooooooooo!!1!!. aguante PJ!

[cazandnaoise]

Love pj x

[KatjarkSch]

Relax song. I love it.

[madeyes4u]

This song scares the shit out of me.

[paganklh1]

@madeyes4u

"white clalk" is a scary cd

[loveofGod7]

@madeyes4u- Why?

[uhuher]

a chilling song more like it.

[MOSS722]

She's Unique.

[tlberio]

such a great chill song

[whsonic]

@tlberio you did not read the lyrics, did you?