On Bended Knees

Sleater-Kinney “Sympathy”

“Sympathy” is about a painful experience that is fairly common, but rarely addressed in music: Nearly losing a child who is born prematurely. Corin Tucker is singing from experience here, and it shows. Tucker typically sings with the maximum level of emotional commitment, but she’s especially raw here as she pleads, belts, and wails. The first few verses set up the context as a prayer to God, but the most powerful bits in the song come later when she switches over to addressing her audience and passing along wisdom borne of total agony on the bridge. The dynamics shift dramatically in this section; it’s like the snap of a whip. “There is no righteousness in your darkest moment,” Tucker shouts at full intensity just before going a few steps further. “WE’RE ALL EQUAL IN THE FACE OF WHAT WE’RE MOST AFRAID OF.” That line wrecks me; it’s just too real. Anyone who’s had to confront serious loss or trauma knows this is the truth. There’s a happy ending to this song, and it ends on a note of genuine gratitude. But even with that, it’s hard to shake that lingering pain.

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