Dressed To Suppress

Album: Art of Doubt (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Emily Haines contemplates the frustrations and inhibitions of social performance and how our insecurities prevent us from being ourselves when it comes to looking for love.

    We reach for the things we idolize
    But the rings are just for show
    Her beauty is a form of charity
    Dressed to suppress all kinds of sorrow


    The song title plays on the phrase, "Dressed to Impress."
  • Haines explained the song's meaning: "Lyrically, the song explores the maze of conflicts we encounter in our attempts at finding and holding onto love; the absurd mating rituals we routinely perform, and the vast divide between the desires our appearances can imply and the way we actually feel inside."
  • Metric guitarist Jimmy Shaw lets loose on the solo in this track. A band founder, he was also their producer on most of their albums, but he relinquished that role for the Art Of Doubt album to Justin Meldal-Johnsen.

    "It allowed me to not only focus on the guitar but be in the band," Shaw said in a Forbes interview. "The consequences of that were further reaching that I though when we hired Justin. I genuinely found a new love for the instrument that I've never had."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.