29 November 2010

Lyrics to Love::Uncharted

I like to sing.

In my car.

At the top of my lungs.

And I think I am pretty good at it. ;-)

Much to the chagrine of my children, I tend to play the same CD over and over and over again. Of course, I don't have a fancy multi-disk CD changer so that is likely why. When I get a new CD I like to give a quick listen and then start learning the songs by heart. And so it is with the newest CD I purchased some weeks ago, "Kaleidescope Heart" by Sara Bareilles.

Sara has been like a personal musical muse for me. I fell in love with her over "Love Song." I have listened to her first album "Little Voice" ad nauseum, but she has been there for me like a melodious cheerleader encouraging me to find my way with the song "Vegas" and there to haunt me with melodies like "Gravity" with words that really pierce the soul. I have created jewelry that is inspired by her songs and words. She is like a friend in the studio.

So when the new CD came out I had to have it even though I rarely buy new music {the radio is good enough for me}. I am so glad I did.


{If you click this picture you will be taken to Amazon MP3 which is currently featuring the download of this CD for just $1.99! That is a STEAL! If I didn't already have it I would go buy it!}

"Kaleidescope Heart" delivers with haunting melodies, smart and poetic lyrics and the pure liquid beauty of her voice. I have a thing for singer-songwriters because there is a depth and magic to what they create. And words are my thing.

The song that is on my repeat right now is called "Uncharted." There are a myriad of lines in here that speak directly to me. I wonder if any of them speak to you.

Uncharted ~ by Sara Bareilles
No words, My tears won't make any room for more,
And it don't hurt, like anything I've ever felt before,
this is

No broken heart,
No familiar scars,
This territory goes uncharted...
 
Just me, in a room sunk down in a house in a town,
and I

Don't breathe, no I never meant to let it get
away from me
Now, too much to hold, everybody wants to
get their hands on gold,
And I want uncharted.

Stuck under this ceiling I made,
I can't help but feeling...

 
I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, of foolproof ideas,
so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted...
La la la-a-a-a.
Oh-h-h.

Each day, countin' up the minutes,
till I get alone, 'cause I can't stay
In the middle of it all, it's nobody's fault, but I'm
So alone, Never knew how much I didn't know,
Oh, everything is uncharted.

I know I'm getting nowhere,
when I only sit and stare like...

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, of foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted.

Jump start my kaleidoscope heart,
Love to watch the colors fade,
They may not make sense,
But they sure as hell made me.
I won't go as a passenger, no
Waiting for the road to be laid
Though I may be going down,
I'm taking flame over burning out

Compare,
where you are to where you want to be,
and you'll get
nowhere

I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how
To get started,
Oh-h
I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go,
I'm already out, foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how
To get started, it's all uncharted...
La la la-a-a-a.

If you can get to someplace that lets you hear a snippet of this song, I would do it. I love this tune. And the lyrics are truly speaking to me right now. I wish there was a video of this song {Sara's videos are just as intriguing as the music that inspires them. Particularly the video for "Gravity"}. Maybe if Sara sees this she will make one ;-)

The meaning in this song will, of course, be different for everyone.

For me it is a powerful mantra. For all of us our paths are uncharted. What this song says to me is that you might want to follow where I am going, but is that really the wisest choice? Even I don't know where I am going. I wouldn't want you to get stuck traveling down some dead end that I find myself faced with because you are following my lead. There are no foolproof ideas and if I get lucky and stumble on a great one that doesn't mean it will work the same for someone else. And it goes both ways. Your foolproof idea is not something that will work for me no matter how shiny and enticing it is.

The fact that our journeys are uncharted might seem unsettling to some. I find it empowering.

Uncharted means that I can make my own path. Or at least find the one less traveled. I might get beat up and scratched along the way, but there is a freedom in charting your course even if you don't know the destination.

And that ceiling? That tippy-top of the height of your personal success? Well, you make your own ceiling, so you have the power to bust on through.

But the one line that grabs me every.single.time {and it is not just because it is at a point in the song that really makes you sit up and take notice} is this...

Compare,
where you are to where you want to be,
and you'll get
nowhere


I am sure I am not alone in the fact that I compare where I am now to where I want to be. I feel envy for my future self that will have it all together and have great success and is super organized and doing all that she dreamed of doing. But I am not there yet. So comparing myself to some ideal that I am trying to acheive will get me nowhere. That doesn't mean that I have to be complacent about where I am now and not take charge of my destiny, but that I need to be happy where I am. Happy doesn't have to mean comfortable. I am pleased with where I am and what I am doing, but at the same time I am itching for more. So I am taking out that map and plotting the next course of my action.

This uncharted adventure is what makes it all worthwhile.

So...what do you think?
Do you like the music of Sara Bareilles? What is your favorite Sara B tune?
Do any of these lyrics speak to you? Which one? What is is saying to you?
Would you like to see more Lyrics to Love posts?
Do tell!

P.S. I am still having my Giving Thanks sale in my Etsy shop through November 30th. Enter the coupon code GIVINGTHANKS2010 to receive 20% off your purchase. And shipping is FREE in the US!

Enjoy the day!



 


11 comments:

Patty said...

Thanks for the artist tip, Erin. Next time I'm on iTunes I'll check her out for sure. I love to sing too - in the car, at home, anywhere. Have you checked out the Glee app for the iPhone? It's karaoke with worldwide sharing using either the music from Glee or your own songs. It's a blast!

Judy said...

I love to sing!...although I can't even carry a tune in a bucket! Sara's voice is beautiful,I have not heard of her, thanks for sharing her talents with us.

Alice said...

I have never listend to Sarah Bareilles, but then I'm always behind the times. The lyrics of 'Uncharted' are lovely and I can see why you love this song.

Honestly, I don't really think about where I'm at today as compared to where I want to be--but instead I compare my current talents to other artists and always come up short.

On the other hand, comparing can give us a shot of inspiration and goals to work towards. I guess either way we need to respect and our talents, and the talents of others-at any level.

Unknown said...

I love all of her music and she is amazing to listen to. And sometimes there are videos to see on her offical page so check it out if you already haven't!
http://www.sarabmusic.com/us/home

mairedodd said...

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful... yes, i love her music - her voice and meaningful lyrics... such a wonderful recommendation!
my kids asked me to sing with them while they played rock band the other day - it was fun... i just get embarrassed easily!
and happiness/ceilings/itchings - be happy where you are right now and work towards your dreams... one foot in front of the other, with your gaze on the stars...

Michelle said...

Love all of her music...I don't think I can pick just one that is a favorite! All of her music I can relate to in one way or another. I also love to listen to Marc Brousard while i'm in the studio.
Bead happy!
Michelle

Jack Steiner said...

Compare,
where you are to where you want to be,
and you'll get
nowhere


Interesting lyrics, but I disagree with them. It is important to be happy where you are, but also quite important to be able to map out how to get where you want to be.

Aidan Donnelley Rowley @ Ivy League Insecurities said...

I have just recently fallen in love with Sara Bareilles's Winter Song. I listen to it over and over and over... Aren't her words (and her voice) magic? I'm off to download the album. Thanks for pointing the way! (And thank you for your very thoughtful words on my own blog today.)

Stories They Tell said...

Oh Erin, what a great artist she is! I love to discover new singers and I truly love Sara! Thanks for the tip. I think "The King of Everything" particularly struck home, reminding me of a time in my life when I let someone tell me what I should be doing. I am putting her album on my Christmas list for sure! Lately I have been in uncharted territory too but that's where I love to live these days. No one to prove anything to, not even myself. Ah, getting older is great, the pressure is off because no one expects anything from you-- society figures that you've already done your best work (HA!) so anything else you produce is icing on the cake. Well, we all have a lot of coloring outside the lines left in us so get out those crayons!

Cindy said...

Erin, I do love Sara's voice - so rich and soulful. Love her facial expressions in the "King of Everything" video. I do the same - listen to the same CDs in the car. I was stuck on The Fray and ColdPlay FOREVER. My kids know all of their songs. I am in to One Republic right now. :-)

jessememan said...

Erin - just catching up on your blog! I know exactly what you mean...Love, love Sara! I am a "sing" with the radio/cds as well...my 9yo son hates it, even though I am a trained singer :) Have you seen/heard her take on "Single Ladies" ? Luscious!

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