"If They Knew What You Did" by Izzie Derry

In 1851, John Everett Millais posed Elizabeth Siddall fully clothed in his bathtub to provide him with a model for his painting of Ophelia. In 2025, Izzie Derry has reproduced the method (albeit through the medium of photography instead) for the cover of her new single "If They Knew What You Did"

The symbolism is fraught to be honest: while definitely an image of a young woman committing suicide after being ill-treated by a man, the actual moment captured is of her singing before she actually drowns.

You can't accuse Izzie of employing oblique imagery to introduce the song: artistic as it is (she is even wearing the coronet of flowers cited in ‘Hamlet'), this photo wholly reflects the lyrical impression she wishes to give: in fact presumably amplifies it.

This is strong stuff verging on the highly distressing. What makes that more or so is that this is beyond doubt a first & not third party narrative and Izzie is not singing about an invented character but about her own feelings. If previously I'd identified an "Angry Izzie" persona (and I note her use of the phrase ‘Angry Women Music' in relation to the track), then these is "Simply Furious Izzie".

How does one react when an artist you respect and as a person you cherish writes about potentially suicidal tendencies? You simply cannot escape asking yourself that question since the song leaves no room for misinterpretation. I have been doing so myself constantly since first hearing  "If They Knew What You Did" and I'm no nearer finding a comfortable answer now than I was to begin with.

I processed the problem when feeding back to Izzie directly by splitting my response into two. Artistically, this is her most powerful song to date, a more extreme version of some of the songs she has produced in recent years. Raw & highly charged, it creates precisely the level of intensity which all artists aim for. That it is lyrically a difficult listen is not a negative: bland platitudes don't much impress me and some of the greatest songs of all time like "Strange Fruit" aren't easy to play. That's the core of their emotional power.

What is more difficult is getting one's head round the experiences which informed these words. I fully get that great art in many forms is shaped by painful events and circumstances: I'm just not convinced that the price is worth paying. I'd rather Izzie had not gone through what she's evidently gone through & had a happier time & then produced a slightly lesser song. I'm sure those readers who know her will tend in that direction also.

The harm done is on a variety of levels alas: not just the more obvious ones of actual transgression ("you used my body for your own amusement") but in addition a sense of shame regarding what those who truly love her would think if only they knew the precise details: it's this extra layer, delving into self esteem & associated issues which also takes "If They Knew What You Did" somewhere your average song of reproach doesn't go: and I think most readers will join the dots between low self esteem & self-harm which Izzie invites us to do.

The contemplation of self-harm I can only hope is an understandable extension of the thoughts going through her head, made for artistic reasons… emphasising to the one who's done her wrong precisely the potential severity of the chain of thoughts which they've initiated.

Obviously, my horror at the story behind the song led me to discuss the issues with Izzie immediately & I'm certain that although cathartic for her to articulate her pain, like good songwriters, the track is intended to universalise the emotions & express what many others also go through.

Those familiar with Izzie's work will not be surprised at how she expresses the intensity of the message: not for her the cheap & tawdry route of unnecessary volume nor bogus howling, but by the icy measured & understated delivery where each word is clear, precise & lingers in the air in reproach over a frigid & sparse soundscape: this is stiletto nor cudgel work.

This is a remarkable piece of work which nevertheless Izzie ought not have been inspired to write. You may join me in doffing your cap at her prowess but frankly she has long been recognised as a strong songwriter (Glastonbury think so & that's not a bad indicator) and therefore she could be creating equally moving pieces on more aimable subjects: which is what I trust her output from now on will consist of.