All Born Screaming

St. Vincent's song 'All Born Screaming' delves into the raw and often painful human experience, exploring themes of existential angst, identity, and the search for meaning. The opening lines, 'I have climbed power lines and mountains / Just to feel above the ground,' suggest a relentless quest for elevation and escape from the mundane. This imagery of climbing and crawling out of 'hallowed houses' paints a picture of someone striving to break free from societal constraints and personal limitations, only to be met with physical and emotional exhaustion.

The chorus, 'We're all born screaming,' serves as a powerful reminder of the inherent struggle and suffering that accompanies human existence. This line can be interpreted as a metaphor for the primal scream of life, a universal cry that signifies both the pain of birth and the ongoing challenges we face. The repetition of this phrase throughout the song emphasizes the inescapable nature of this struggle, suggesting that it is a fundamental part of the human condition.

In the second verse, St. Vincent reflects on personal relationships and the facade of modern life. The lines 'I have climbed into open arms / They turned into a straitjacket' and 'I was a pantomime of a modern girl' highlight the disillusionment and confinement that often accompany societal expectations and romantic entanglements. The reference to being a 'karaoke version of Leonard's