The songs for her album, 'The Pirate’s Gospel', were written on a trip to Europe. They were recorded in her father’s studio and were initially self-released in 2004, in paper and lace sleeves with hand lettering. The album was issued in revised form by Holocene Music in October 2006, and received widespread critical acclaim.
A new song, "Dry Grass and Shadows", was issued on a compilation of Nevada City artists, and five more new songs were issued on a limited-edition 10" vinyl pressing, Songs Whistled Through White Teeth, released in the UK in October 2006. The Pirate's Gospel was released in the UK on Names Records in April 2007, garnering favorable reviews in The Times and NME.
Alela Diane has toured in the USA both solo and with Tom Brosseau, and has also opened for the Decemberists, Akron/Family and Vashti Bunyan. She performed in the UK in April and August 2007. According to a relatively recent interview, her second album is to be expected shortly. She now lives in Nevada City, California.
She toured Europe (UK, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany) in March, April and May 2008.
Of Many Colors
Alela Diane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ebony is darker than the deepest
Emerald like the water we swam in for a while
To a man of many colors I give word
He's a charmer, my man of many colors
He sings till hours take him well past midnight
His indigo in evenin' skies, ebony on moonless night
Indigo is blue like the you of me or you
Ebony is darker than the deepest
Emerald like the water we swam in for a while
To a man of many colors I give word
Amidst the gold there is dust in every heart
And in the blue there is a web of tangled thoughts
Oh, how the crystals mix with shards of broken glass
We tried to take the danger from the plight of crimson red
But all left stare me blindly through the colors and the fog
Indigo is blue like the you of me or you
Ebony is darker than the deepest
Emerald like the water we swam in for a while
To a man of many colors I gave word
By the light of a match, I caught the colors in my hand
And the sun threw this old stone
It is red on jam, amber, blue and violet
Like graffiti, scattered leaves dropped the cold mat, ooh
Indigo is blue like the you of me or you
Ebony is darker than the deepest
Emerald like the water we swam in for a while
To a man of many colors I gave word
To a man of many colors I gave word
To a man of many colors I gave word
Alela Diane's song "Of Many Colors" is a vivid and poetic exploration of the many shades and complexities of human emotion and experience. The repetition of the refrain "Indigo is blue like the you of me or you, ebony is darker than the deepest, emerald like the water we swam in for a while, to a man of many colors I give word" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as Diane muses over the different shades and hues of life, from the bright gold of happiness to the dusty brown of sorrow.
The focus of the song is on a "man of many colors," who is described as a charmer, a singer who stays up late into the night serenading with his beautiful voice. Diane paints a picture of this man with the colors she mentions in the refrain - indigo in the evening skies, ebony on moonless nights, and emerald in the morning light. The man of many colors is a symbol for the complexity and diversity of human experience, and Diane seems to be saying that it is the combination of all these shades and hues that make us who we are.
The song ends on a somewhat ambiguous note, as Diane catches the colors in her hand and the sun throws an old stone that reflects a rainbow of colors. The final repetition of the refrain, "to a man of many colors I gave word," leaves us with a sense that Diane is speaking to all of us, encouraging us to embrace and celebrate the many colors of life.
Overall, "Of Many Colors" is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant song that speaks to the universal human experience of joy, sorrow, love, and everything in between.
Line by Line Meaning
Indigo is blue like the you of me or you
Indigo represents the color blue, which is similar to the color that defines you and me.
Ebony is darker than the deepest
Ebony is the darkest color that represents a deep shade.
Emerald like the water we swam in for a while
Emerald signifies the green color, just like the water we swam in for a short time.
To a man of many colors I give word
The artist is directing her words to a man who has a diverse personality and identity.
He's a charmer, my man of many colors
The man of many colors is a person who has a charming personality and traits that attract the artist to him.
He sings till hours take him well past midnight
The man of many colors is a musician or a singer who sings until late hours of the night.
But he's emerald, come the morning through the window, ooh
Despite his late night activities, the man of many colors is still thriving and lively in the morning, similar to the vitality of the color emerald green.
Amidst the gold there is dust in every heart
Everyone has hidden flaws, just like dust amidst gold.
And in the blue there is a web of tangled thoughts
Even calmness and serenity like blue have confusion and complexity hidden within it.
Oh, how the crystals mix with shards of broken glass
The beautiful and precious things like crystals can easily get mixed with the broken and destructive things like shards of glass.
We tried to take the danger from the plight of crimson red
The singer attempted to remove the danger from a grave situation that resembles the color crimson red.
But all left stare me blindly through the colors and the fog
Despite everyone's effort, the situation remained unchanged and challenging, making it difficult to see beyond the confusion and uncertainty.
By the light of a match, I caught the colors in my hand
The singer was able to vividly perceive the colors only in a short moment, represented by the light of a match.
And the sun threw this old stone
The sun shed light on the situation, revealing an old and seemingly forgotten aspect represented by a stone.
It is red on jam, amber, blue, and violet
The stone revealed colors like red, amber, blue, and violet.
Like graffiti, scattered leaves dropped the cold mat, ooh
Like graffiti on a wall, scattered leaves fell on a cold mat, creating an image of abstract art.
To a man of many colors I gave word
The artist reiterates her words, directing it to the man of many colors again.
To a man of many colors I gave word
The singer repeats her earlier comment, demonstrating a sense of emphasis and importance to her words.
Contributed by David J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.