Like a Lesson (2024) – Pillow Queens

Irish indie rock band Pillow Queens were formed in Dublin in 2016. Their members are Pamela Connolly (vocals, guitar), Sarah Corcoran (bass, backing vocals, pump organ), Cathy McGuinness (guitar, backing vocals) and Rachel Lyons (drums, backing vocals). After a series of singles, they released their debut album In Waiting in September 2020. Off their third and new album Name Your Sorrow, here’s Like a Lesson.

– Christian’s Music Musings

From the first moment I heard Like a Lesson at Christian’s Music Musings it yelled ‘cool’ to me. And don’t get me started when Pamela Connolly sings the word ‘wrapped’ during the choruses, especially ‘And now I’m wrapped around your legs‘. There are so many great lines in this song. The chorus “I don’t wanna ruin my life/But I wanna go home with you” in Connolly’s voice is going to stick in your head. It seems to explore the thin line between being scared and desiring someone. This is modern music I want to hear. With its crafty musicianship (the guitar riffs and strong drum beats) and the lyrics which feel whimsical, but deep at the same time; Like a Lesson tickles the senses and leaves me wanting more.

“It (Like a Lesson) began as a song we felt had a strong country music influence and morphed into something that referenced a wide range of our musical tastes. It’s the 90s soft rock song on the album”

– Pillow Queens

As usual you can find the official video at the end of this article, but I’ll point you to this very fine acoustic version at Hopeless Botanics Dublin.

[Verse 1]
I’ve been more than myself now, I tried to talk to God
But He said sort yourself out
Growing up gets good when you’re clawing your life back
Just focus on yourself, but I don’t really like that

[Chorus]
You treat me like a lesson, you treat me like a test
I thank my lucky stars you don’t treat me like the rest
And I wrapped it around my fingers
Wrapped it around my head
Wrapped it around and ’round
And now I’m wrapped around your legs

[Refrain]
You said, you said, you said you’re sorry
You’re not enough to keep me happy
It’s just a cliff, no one can stop me
We’re so predictable

[Chorus x 2]

[Bridge]
I don’t wanna ruin my life, but I wanna go home with you
I don’t wanna ruin my life, but I wanna go home with you
It’s the shapes that you make and your body is safe
It’s the shapes that you make and your body is safe

[Verse 2]
Good grief, give me a reason, an hour of your time
A kiss every season
Leander in the blue swims up for a greeting
I really do love you, but nobody believes me

[Refrain]

As Christian stated, the Irish quartet released Like a Lesson, from their album Name Your Sorrow (see album inset) in April this year. Pillow Queens started their musical career back in 2016 and released their first album, “In Waiting” in 2020. After signing with Canada’s Royal Mountain Records, they toured around the UK, Europe and North America when releasing “Leave the Light On” (2022).

Guitarist Cathy McGuinness explained that they would work every day, from 9 to 5, in a windowless Dublin room to just “play, swap instruments and experiment”. So they could work on “Name Your Sorrow”, they decided to do a rural retreat in County Clare. “We got on this very non-verbal kind of wavelength, where you just kind of picked up your instruments. It was very instinctive and the most communal experience we’d ever had of working.”

References:
1. Pillow Queens – Like a Lesson – When the Horn Blows