Has your playlist become too repetitive to the point you know when every single song is going to come up at any point and need a change even though you love all those songs? We’ve all been there. These 5 Ethel Cain songs will give your playlist an updo and help you through your ‘Hard Times!’
Content Warning: This final two songs discussed in this article include topics of abuse. The Honey POP! always encourages mindful reading and champions you to prioritize your wellbeing when consuming media.
‘American Teenager’
This is one of the songs that solidified Ethel Cain as an amazing song writer and producer. The lyrics are deep and sad, but show how it really is to be a teenager living in the south, when you’re told you could do anything but you realize you can’t. The upbeat production makes you wanna get up and dance. In fact, this song definitely made us all cry while dancing the in the living room. We have done it more than once…
The way Ethel describes being a teenager with lyrics like “Crying in the bleachers and I said it was fun,” really captures how it is to be a teenager. Her lyricism and storytelling through will never fail to amaze us. We are definitely feeling very called out because of this amazing song. Very called out but definitely in a good way.
‘House In Nebraska’
Get your big box of tissues out because this is a sad one. Reminiscing about your first love and missing that special connection? Well, this one is absolutely perfect. Ethel tells a story about her and her lover, Willoughby, meeting in an old house in Nebraska (you wouldn’t guess that), and they stayed for a while because it was just those two until Willoughby leaves. She says how much she misses that connection and that she prays that they are okay. Bring out the tissues because we are misty eyed writing this.
The emotional production of the track along with her vocals, never fails to make us sob. Ethel ends the track by saying how alone she is without her lover, with the production becoming heavier after the final verse, really making us feel the emotions of the song with the guitar and her background vocals. Tears coming down our cheeks now. A lot of them. Like a lot a lot.
‘Thoroughfare’
This song is the beginning of Act 2 of Preacher’s Daughter and enters a new character, Isaiah. Ethel sings that she has run away from her family and is now in Texas. While there, she meets Isaiah and he convinces her to come with him and head west to see America. Hopefully Isaiah is a good guy and doesn’t do bad things… right? At least we hope that is the case.
The song takes a romantic turn as we learn how Ethel and Isaiah are falling for each other, with lyrics like “Cause for the first time since I was a child, I could see a man that wasn’t angry.” The song is upbeat and paints sounds and colors of an abstract love song. Now, we want to find someone who will write a song like this. Any volunteers? Well, for now, we’ll stick with Ethel and her amazing writing!
‘Hard Times’
Where do we start on this amazing song? Ethel tells of her childhood and about her fathers abuse on her. She sings about how, as a child, she looked up to her father with lyrics like “Praying I’d be just like you.” But as she grew older, she’s realized that what her father did to her family is horrible. With lyrics like “I’m tired of you still tied to me” and “I was too young to notice some types of love could be bad.” The tears are coming back from writing this.
Ethel’s vocals on the track are angelic almost, especially with the production also being angel-like. The fact she not only wrote but personally produced this beautiful song, blows us away! Every time we hear this song, it makes us misty eye while singing the lyrics. Our eyes are misty right now talking about it!
‘Sun Bleached Flies’
This is the penultimate song on the album Preacher’s Daughter and probably the coolest one if you ask us! The way it goes from deep, emotional and heavy, to light and emotional, never fails to shock us. This is such a beautifully crafted song. It also helps to finish off Ethel’s sonic storyline throughout the music, as she passes away from Isaiah’s abuse and enters heaven, forgiving everything that happened to her.
The way Ethel’s incredible songwriting and production really comes into play here, lays testament to her skill. It makes us want to lay on the floor, crying while listening to it. It’s such a meaningful and deep song with lyrics like, “But I always knew that in the end, no one was coming to save me,” and “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” As the song nears its close, she makes a call back to ‘House In Nebraska,’ talking about how she is still praying for it. The tears are definitely falling on our faces but with a smile knowing Ethel is happy now!
There are plenty more reasons to listen to all of Ethel Cain’s songs, but we hope these are enough songs to give you a jump start! Have an underrated favorite of hers? Tweet us at @thehoneypop or visit us on Facebook and Instagram to let us know what we missed!
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