As a young girl, Myles competed as an equestrian in Canada's prestigious Royal Winter Fair later studying to be a graphic artist, actor, stunt model, make up artist and wardrobe stylist to pay for her true calling, music. Myles changed her surname from Byles at the age of 19, after deciding to pursue a career in entertainment. Between appearing in TV ads, modelling and local gigs which, due to her multi-tasking confused Canadian labels who continually rejected signing her as a recording artist, she financed two songs from her 1989 debut album with match financing from FACTOR and Much Music's Christopher Ward who wrote songs (Black Velvet), executive produced and helped manage her music career signed to Atlantic Records with worldwide international success.
Myles' first self titled album (1989) produced four Top 40 hits, “Love Is”, “Lover of Mine”, and “Still Got This Thing”, as well as the international classic hit, “Black Velvet”, won her a 1991 Grammy award for best female rock vocalist along with four Juno Awards, and a Diamond award for sales in excess of one million in Canada - the only debut artist to retain this status.
In 1991 America's ASCAP awarded the song, Black Velvet with a 'Millionaire Award' for the highest radio airplay in the world and again in 2005 for over five million radio plays of “Black Velvet”. Canada's SOCAN awarded the songs, “Black Velvet” and “Lover Of Mine” each with an award for over one hundred thousand plays in Canada in 2005 with her classically orchestrated ballad, international number one hit, “Song Instead Of A Kiss” to follow.
Her follow-up album; Rockinghorse (1992) received a Grammy nomination for best female rock vocalist and three Juno Awards. After sale of over eight million records on three albums Alannah concluded her alliance with Atlantic Records and signed with Miles Copeland's Ark 21 Records to release her fourth record, A Rival (1997) which produced the top 40 hit, 'Bad 4 You'. WMG released The Very Best Of Alannah Myles (1999) containing hits from four albums and newly recorded songs.
After a lengthy songwriting hiatus, Myles released her fifth studio album in 2009 containing 11 new studio recordings along with several new versions of her classic worldwide hit title track, 'Black Velvet'. Executive produced with co-producer Mike Borkosky from Toronto and Veronica Ferraro from Paris, France, world renown producer Terry Brown mixed one her finest audio CD recordings to date showcasing the same sultry rock blues we've grown accustomed to from Alannah.
After terminating a six-year lease with Canadian indie label Linus Entertainment in August 2013, Myles's "Black Velvet" album was retitled "85bpm", repackaged for her 25th Anniversary with new images photographed by fellow Canadian Deborah Samuel. A newly recorded song written by Anne Peebles, produced by Michael Borkosky, "Can't Stand the Rain" was added to "85bpm", featuring a solo played by Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey, re-released on Myles's independently owned label, Fascinate inc. The last track, Trouble, was written in Nashville and recorded in Toronto with a jug band.
Alibi
Alannah Myles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for an answer, to unfurl
Everything wer’e hiding from
We can’t deny we are soldiers
Out of this world
Don’t pretend that you don’t see the sign
That’s only madness
Our destiny is to remain
You cannot walk away
From anything human...
Chorus:
We are strong when our heroes are one
Love that shines like the moon and the sun
Helpless in the palm of your hand
Like a child in a game
Would you break if I held you again
Won’t you let me try...
Would a promise be only a dream
Or my alibi...
Verse 2:
Now the rivers overflow
All the gods & goddesses
They show no mercy
Everything we’re running from
Is standing right in front of us
Desire is searching
We can’t rely on happenstance
Oh we’ve brought down their anger
And now they curse us
Cannot deny your right
This love you feel is of the light
And you’re only human
Chorus:
We are strong when our heroes are one
Love that shines like the moon and the sun
Helpless in the palm of your hand
Like a child in a game
Would you break if I held you again
Won’t you let me try...
Would a promise be only a dream
Or my alibi...
Tag:
There was a time when we knew how to fly
We could love til it made us both cry
Helpless in the palm of your hand
Like a child in a game
Would you break if I held you again
Would a promise be on;y a dream
Or my alibi...
The song "Alibi" by Alannah Myles talks about the fear and uncertainty of embracing a love that feels overwhelming yet sublime. The first verse talks about feeling trapped and hiding from something or someone that has swallowed the person in a blackened pearl. The person is waiting for an answer to unfurl and can't deny that they are soldiers out of this world, which means they are different from others. The chorus reinforces the idea that love makes us stronger and is the only thing that can offer us solace when our world is in turmoil. The person's lover is holding them in the palm of their hand like a child in a game, and the question is whether they will break if the person holds them again. The person also wonders if their promise is only a dream or their alibi, meaning a justification for their actions.
The second verse talks about how the person is no longer running from the issues that are facing them. They are now facing them head-on and understand that they cannot deny their feelings. They understand that love is stronger than anything else and humans cannot run away from the love they feel, no matter how hard they try. The love they feel is bright and divine, and they know it. The tagline reinforces the idea that there was a time when they knew how to fly and love until it made them cry.
Line by Line Meaning
Swallowed by a blackened pearl
We are trapped and consumed by darkness, unable to break free.
Waiting for an answer, to unfurl
We are searching for a solution to our problems, waiting for it to reveal itself.
Everything we're hiding from
We are keeping secrets, afraid to face our true emotions and feelings.
We can't deny we are soldiers
We are warriors in the battle of life, fighting for our own survival and happiness.
Out of this world
Our situation is beyond comprehension, difficult to understand or explain.
Don't pretend that you don't see the sign
Pay attention to the clues and signals around you, don't be in denial.
And close your heart to love
Don't shut yourself off from the possibility of finding love and happiness.
That's only madness
It would be foolish to deny yourself the chance to love and be loved.
Our destiny is to remain
Our fate is to continue on the path we are on, for better or worse.
You cannot walk away
You can't escape your feelings or the reality of the situation.
From anything human...
We are bound by our humanity, unable to change who we are and what we feel.
We are strong when our heroes are one
We are at our most powerful when we come together and fight for a common cause.
Love that shines like the moon and the sun
Love can be a transformative force, bringing light and warmth to our lives.
Helpless in the palm of your hand
We are vulnerable and dependent on the one we love.
Like a child in a game
Love can be playful and carefree, like a child at play.
Would you break if I held you again
Are you willing to make yourself vulnerable again and risk getting hurt?
Won't you let me try...
Give me a chance to prove myself and show you my love.
Would a promise be only a dream
Is my commitment to you just empty words, or can you trust me?
Or my alibi...
Is my love for you and my commitment to you a valid reason to hold on?
Now the rivers overflow
Our emotions are overwhelming and difficult to contain.
All the gods & goddesses
We are at the mercy of forces beyond our control, like mythical beings.
They show no mercy
We are experiencing hardship without relief or respite.
Desire is searching
We are driven by our longing and passion, searching for fulfillment.
We can't rely on happenstance
We can't leave our fate to chance, we must take action and make our own luck.
Oh we've brought down their anger
Our actions have consequences, and we may have angered those more powerful than us.
And now they curse us
We are suffering the consequences of our actions, and are being punished for them.
Cannot deny your right
You have the right to love and be loved, and can't ignore your feelings.
This love you feel is of the light
Your love is honest and true, a beacon of hope and positivity in a dark world.
And you're only human
You are fallible and imperfect, capable of making mistakes and taking risks.
There was a time when we knew how to fly
We once felt free and unburdened, able to soar without fear or hesitation.
We could love til it made us both cry
We were capable of feeling such a depth of love that it made us emotional and vulnerable.
Contributed by Savannah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stevemartin6144
Always the best!
@ebavfencer
fovero ! mpravo gia tin epilogi!
@arisgarcon
to epsaxna xronia thanks