One of my favorite albums from the ‘90s is PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love. Lately, I’ve been putting “Long Snake Moan” on repeat. It’s a ferociously strong and sexual song that defies the waifish appearance of Ms. Harvey. Her desire for control, fueled by violence that pushes her to the brink of murder, turns the tables on the archetype of physically dominant men in the sexual realm.
To Bring You My Love twists and turns through the throes of a tumultuous affair. The narrator bars no holds against a man who evilly seduced her, jilted her, and left her with child. “C’mon Billy” wails the angst of pleading for a lover to stay by a desperate woman’s side. The accompanying string section weaves the agony and longing throughout the tune.
Another standout that saw radio release, “Down by the Water,” reveals the strength of a scorned woman who focuses solely on her young daughter. The narrator defines maternal instinct to the hilt as she goes to the depths of the ocean for her lost daughter.
A woman scorned is not necessarily dangerous but certainly powerful. To Bring You My Love represents the output of ‘90s female musicians as a standout in composition and feeling.
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