Music Review: Lisa Marie Presley "Sinking In"

Lisa Marie Presley

Sinking In

Album: To Whom It May Concern

Year: 2003

                  Blame and hurt linger after an ugly divorce in the cold  “Sinking In.”

A disoriented guitar opens the single, setting an addled tone.  She kisses her daughter goodbye and tells her to have fun with her weekend with Daddy. Her ex-husband avoids her gaze while he waits. He confirms the time to bring her home on Sunday with her and starts chatting with her about school. She locks the door after they go. She realizes she was awful to him. Every time he called her a mean person incapable of any feeling, he was right. It hurt her to have him not even acknowledge her. She’s still in love with him. She wonders what the last straw was for him. Among their friends, she twisted his words around and implied he was cheating. Then, when he was home, their friends wouldn’t even talk to him. She also didn’t stand up for him. She was worried about looking bad. She tried finding jobs for him, which he resented. She only wanted the best for him. (“This is a drag that it's too late now./And I wanted to tell you that I was wrong/I  didn't realize I still hold on to you but I still do./Was it that I turned everyone against you/Was it that I didn't defend you/Was it that I never had your back/Was it that I was always trying to save you and you never wanted me to/Or was it that I loved you.”)

In the chorus, he’s seeking his own revenge, thinking she’s a cruel monster. He ignores her. Snotty comments from are the most direct communication she can get him. He doesn’t get that she’s upset about the breakup, too. (“You don't seem to see me sinking in do you/You're not content in your own head are you/You just want to kick me once again don't you/Don't you baby.”)

          She says “hello” to her ex-husband when he brings their daughter back home. He mocks her hello and then hugs their daughter. She rolls her eyes, thinking he could be civil to her. She thinks he’s angry with her for admitting she was unhappy and leaving. For her, she knew it was over when she would get excited to see one of his friends. Before he came over, she would fix her hair and makeup. It would take an hour for her to decide what to wear. Eventually, she fell for another guy and began seeing him. She thinks he had unrealistic expectations about their marriage. He thought she would be some housewife, content with staying home. (“I did it again/I don't stop paying/You don't look so good to me my friend/Was it because of me I really left this time/Did you ever say goodbye/Was it that I had a crush on your friend/Was it that I left for another man/Was it that I didn't know/You were in over your head and I didn't see what I had did I/No, I didn't and uh.”)

The chorus is sung again.

           In the bridge, she has gotten sick of everyone telling her to what to think and to do. He knew they right for each other since the beginning. However, she believed they had a chance. Now, they try to rattle each other with cutting remarks designed to draw blood. She thinks of calling her new boyfriend. She isn’t the type to stay home and mope, like he’s doing. He’s can’t cut the cord to his mom. He is always checking on her. Once she saw she was mothering him and not being his wife, she had to go. (“Was it that everyone would just kiss my ass/I couldn't see through it and you could/And now look what's come of us here ten years later/I jump from one to the other, you're still worrying your mother/And I almost went over baby.”)

              The chorus is sung again to close the single.

            Presley’s growling vocals attempt to intimidate. She keeps the argument going, giving her ex every reason to push back. She puts her self-loathing on him, saying he was at fault. She enjoys her nastiness, waiting to find another way to maim and ruin him.. In the end, she proves he was right about her.

          The sickening “Sinking In” soaks in its own filth and thinks it’s wonderful.