Some of you may be familiar with Ethel Cain’s album, Preacher’s Daughter, and the storyline that goes with it. If you’re not, let me tell you my top three songs I recommend and the meanings behind them! Overall, the album is about a fake character named Ethel Cain who goes through many hardships during her short life. The album explores themes of religious and generational trauma. It was very hard for me to only pick just three songs because I love the whole album! I encourage everyone to listen to it in order to get the full story, but I’m hoping these songs pique your interest and encourage you to give her a listen!
1. “Family tree (Intro)”
“Family Tree (Intro)” is the first song on the album and sets the stage with an eerie, Southern Gothic vibe. It foreshadows Ethel’s tragic fate and highlights the intergenerational trauma she faces, referencing how her mother’s suffering is passed down to her. The song begins with the line “These crosses all over my body remind me of who I used to be.” It sets the religious tone to the album showing how Ethel leaves behind her religiousness, but she will always be reminded that’s how she grew up. One line that stands out to me is “Jesus can always reject his father / But he cannot escape his mother’s blood.” This line highlights the intergenerational trauma that Ethel faces. It refers to the Virgin Mary and how Jesus only contains his mother’s blood, not his father’s. So, everything bad that has happened to her mother, in turn, gets passed on to her. I really like this song because it sets the vibe for the rest of the album and begins hinting at themes that will later be explored in the rest of the album. The song is relatively short with only two verses and the chorus, but is still very good to start with if you want to get the vibe of the album as a whole.
2. “Western Nights”
“Western Nights” is one of the less popular songs on this album, but it’s personally one of my favorites. It’s a melancholic tune about Ethel’s relationship with Logan, a bad boy with a motorcycle, who introduces her to a life of rebellion and crime. Ethel’s devotion to Logan is evident, though she questions his genuine love for her. In one line she says, “I’d hold the gun if you asked me to / But if you love me like you say you do / Would you ask me to?” She explains how she would do anything for him, being blindly in love. She questions though, if he really loved her, would he make her do these awful things with him? In another line, she says “I’m never gonna leave you, baby, even if you lose what’s left of your mind.” I personally love that line. She’s insinuating that he’s already crazy and that she’ll stay with him while he continues to slip into madness. In the last line of the song, she says “Please don’t love how I need you.” Ethel relies on Logan for security and protection, due to the unstable life she grew up with. She’s hoping that even though she’s dependent on him, he won’t take advantage of her. I love this song because it shows her blind love for him, even if he doesn’t feel the same about her. She’s very vulnerable in this album, especially in this song.
3. “Gibson girl”
“Gibson Girl” is my favorite song on the album, even though that’s an unpopular opinion. It’s seductive and harrowing. This song goes into detail about what happens after Ethel and Isaiah’s road trip to California. Isaiah is first introduced in the song, “Thoroughfare,” where he picks Ethel up and they run away together. Isaiah turns out to be abusive, introducing Ethel to drugs and prostitution. The song reflects her desperation for Isaiah’s approval despite the harm he causes. One of my favorite lines in the song is “And if you hate me / Please don’t tell me.” She is so desperate for Isaiah’s approval and love that she’d rather not know his true feelings for her. This song also has a warped sound to it, which makes sense, due to her being our narrator and to her being on drugs. Isaiah also tries to convince her that what’s happening isn’t that bad. She says that he says “Baby if it feels good / Then it can’t be bad / Where I can be immoral / In a stranger’s lap.” In this song, Ethel has strayed the farthest away from religion and has officially lost it. I really enjoy this song because it has a very different sound from the rest of the songs on the album. It shows how Ethel, yet again, put her trust in someone she shouldn’t have and now is dealing with the consequences. She can never get a break!
Listening to this album the first time was an experience I wish I could relive. The album is a powerful, creative narrative that deeply resonated with me. Ethel Cain’s storytelling through music is both unique and compelling. I hope she continues to create more music as her talent is undeniable. I hope you give these songs a listen and enjoy them as much as I do!