It’s not every songwriter who can write matter-of-factly about their personal problems and spin it into addictive pop music. Sinead O’Connor pulled that off in spades on her breakthrough album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, with no better example than her hit ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes.’
The first line is a beauty: “It seems years since you held the baby while I wrecked the bedroom.” Such an evocative image, and it feels so real. And these lines, from the chorus, feel less like lyrics and more like something from an apology letter: “If I treated you mean, I really didn’t mean to. But you know how it is and how a pregnancy can change you.”
On their own, the lyrics would be great. But I consider this song a masterpiece because she takes what read like ballad lyrics and wraps them up in a dance tune, and makes it work. This is a song you can dance to (as O’Connor did, barefoot, in the video).
Her combination of regret and defiance somehow feels exactly right expressed through a propulsive drumbeat, fuzz bass and synths.
While I wrecked the bedroom
You said it was dangerous after Sunday
And I knew you loved me
He thinks I just became famous
And that’s what messed me up
But he’s wrong
How could I possibly know what I want
When I was only twenty-one?
And there’s millions of people
To offer advice and say how I should be
But they’re twisted
And they will never be any influence on me
But you will always be
You will always be
If I treated you mean
I really didn’t mean to
But you know how it is
And how a pregnancy can change you
I see plenty of clothes that I like
But I won’t go anywhere nice for a while
All I want to do is just sit here
And write it all down and rest for a while
I can’t bear to be in another city
One where you are not
I would return to nothing without you
If I’m your girlfriend or not
Maybe I was mean
But I really don’t think so
You asked if I’m scared
And I said so
Everyone can see what’s going on
They laugh ’cause they know they’re untouchable
Not because what I said was wrong
Whatever it may bring
I will live by my own policies
I will sleep with a clear conscience
I will sleep in peace
Maybe it sounds mean
But I really don’t think so
You asked for the truth and I told you
Through their own words
They will be exposed
They’ve got a severe case of
The emperor’s new clothes
The emperor’s new clothes
The emperor’s new clothes
Meet Me In Montauk 
Interesting that you juxtaposed this with yesterday’s song, as I think it shows not only how wonderful Sinead’s take on a “dance” song is as compared to the far less interesting and less provocative Santagold.
This song (and the album from which it came) stand as a reminder of Sinead’s fierce talent that was, regrettably, diminished in the eyes of many by her punchline antics in taking on Sinatra and the Pope.
I have always adored this song. I remember her debut with that album as being such an ARRIVAL. She just was suddenly here – more talented, more daring, more… everything than everyone else around her. I’m not sure if it’s possible to sustain that sort of impression, so it’s probably best for her that she went off to be a priest (or whatever exactly she is).
This album was actually her second. Her first was called The Lion and the Cobra and came out a couple of years before this, when she was only about 20 years old. It’s rawer and angrier and, I think, an absolute masterpiece. Opens with a haunting track called Jackie about a woman waiting in vain for her man who was lost at sea. So good.
I agree, Jacques… a stunning, confident debut album.