These Not So Precious Things
In the album Tales of a Librarian Tori Amos brings us a compilation of some the greatest works she has produced, some of which she re-mastered for the release, and four completely new works. The song that drew me in the most was “Precious Things.” With her vivid story like lyrics Amos paints pictures of painful childhood memories that will pluck the heartstrings of anyone of us who have had to endure such pasts. The pain in her voice sets the tone for a song that seems to be a way of releasing the demons from her own past. With song titles on the album such as Mary, God, and Crucify the chorus calling out to let “These Precious Things” bleed and wash away the pain there is no doubt a reference to Christian faith.
The music is an entrancing melody broken from time to time with outbursts of agony screaming for release. It should be no surprise to find that the chorus, identifiable by the sudden deep resonating echo, brings chills to the listener. Similarly her warnings of what treacherous things lie within “nice girls” will cause you to reflect cautiously on girls from your childhood. There are certain to be a great many for which this song will become an anthem. When listened to, the lyrics will cause them to revisit the “precious memories” from their own past, and they will scream out their own prayer for release.