“The Blower’s Daughter” by Damien Rice

For starters, “The Blower’s Daughter” features a narrative which is very strange and mystifying. For example, the first question that likely pops into many listeners minds is who or what exactly is a ‘blower’? Said terminology can point to a number of professions or activities. But in any event, that answer is never provided in the lyrics.

Indeed, there are only two aspects of this story that are truly ascertainable via its wording. First is that the piece is romantic in nature, with the addressee being the apple of the vocalist’s eye. And secondly, their relationship is apparently a tumultuous one. And again, much detail isn’t given in the regard. 

But the bridge implies that the vocalist likely did or more specifically said something(s) that damaged the union. Also if Damien is relaying these lyrics post-breakup as sorta implied, then it would appear that he lacks the ability to actually get over the lady. That is to say that whatever type of discontent may exist in this relationship or whatever stage it may be in, it is obvious that the singer is infatuated with the addressee.

Unrequited Love?

A number of sources have documented that during live performances, Rice explained the meaning of this song as most simply put being based on an unrequited love. To make a long story short, he fell for someone over the telephone who he never met in person nor actually arranged to meet. Instead, upon communication with her being abruptly and unexpectedly terminated, he decided to spy the lady out and find out who she truly was. And to his dismay, she actually proved to be an underaged student who was basically toying with his emotions.  And with that understanding in mind, some of the lyrics of this song do make more sense than they would otherwise.

But even if that tale is in fact the backdrop of this piece, Damien Rice took a highly metaphorical and very roundabout road in relaying it. For instance, it doesn’t seem that the ‘blower’, who would logically be one of the addressee’s parents, has anything to do at all with this narrative whatsoever. 

So it can be said that Damien conscientiously set about shrouding this story or whatever it is he’s talking about specifically behind intentionally misleading, if you will, language.

Damien Rice and “The Blower’s Daughter”

Damien Rice is a singer from Ireland. He has been professionally active since the early 1990s but didn’t get around to dropping his first album until 2002. The name of that project, which was released on 1 February 2002, is O. And it is from said album that “The Blower’s Daughter” is derived, being its lead single. Thus, this track is also the first song in Rice’s professional discography.

“The Blower’s Daughter” made it onto the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart. It has also been certified silver in the United Kingdom. And just to note, out of the three studio albums Damien Rice has released to date, O stands, by a wide margin, as the most commercially successful.

Damien originally released this song under a label he started himself called Damien Rice Music. However, O itself eventually became a product of Warner Music.

There is a female vocalist present on this track. That would be another Irish singer, Lisa Hannigan, who Damien Rice started dating in the process.

Damien wrote and produced this track.