04-16-19
Merril Gerbus, Tune-Yards main brainchild, shows a glimpse of the amount of Power she holds within every song, and especially in this one. The range of harmonies and tones she’s able to find are often jaw-dropping, especially when you see how little effort she seems to put into the majority of her performances. In the moments that you see some effort, there’s a small glimpse into the depths of her real power, and it honestly sends a shiver down my body.
The song itself is about the “POWA” her lover holds, both emotionally and physically; “POWA” interchanging between literal and figurative definitions. Nothing and no one else sounds like Tune-Yards. They’ve managed to turn their small size into a powerhouse size that could easily be mistaken for a dozen instrumentalists. “POWA” showcases the musical prowess of Tune-Yards and Merril Gerbus, highlighting the multiple dimensions of Garbus’ voice and how she seems to so seamlessly facilitate between the vulnerable and the empowered in a moment. Add some yelps, howls, and bends, and you’ve created a song with a perfectly delicate balance.
The majority of the song reads like Merill’s in a back-and-forth conversation with herself. She’s yearning for the relief of her lover’s “POWA.” She is a strong, feminist, calling forth her own mantras in-between moments of feeling like she may need someone else. It’s as if she’s giving herself a pep talk, distinguish herself from all the other broken models of individual she’s seen in counterparts. This justifies any ultimate slide into what could be construed as a less empowered role.
Lyrics:
Wait for me, honey honey
Wait for me, honey honey
I will never get to sleep
Rebel, rebel, no
I can never get to sleep
I’m a rebel, rebel, no
Hold me til I get to sleep
Oh baby bring me home to bed
Rebel, rebel, no
Valium dances in my head
Devil, devil, whoa-oh-oh
Rolling steady as a boulder
Not a pebble, pebble
Baby, bring me home to bed
I need you to press me down before my body flies away from me
Your power inside
It rocks me like a lullaby
Your power inside
It rocks me like a lullaby
Your power inside
Oh baby, I just don’t know why
Your power inside
Your power inside
Waiting for you
Hurry up
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Can you see my face at all?
My man likes me from behind
Tell the truth I never mind
Cause you-you bomb me with life’s humiliations everyday and
You-you bomb me so many times I never find my way
Come on and bomb me
Why won’t you bomb me?
Come on and bomb me
Go on and whoa-oh-a-woah-a-oh-ooh-oh
Your power inside
It rocks me like a lullaby
Your power in my mind
It gives me thrills I can’t describe
Your face in mine
Oh baby, I just don’t know why
Your power inside
Your power