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.
Red Tin Roof
Alela Diane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bit the lilacs petals, turned them brown.
They are not in blue pitchers
on the kitchen table anymore.
‘Cause my mother is down in mexico somewhere
And i don't know if she's ever coming back.
And my father we talk on the telephone sometimes
hole
And my brother it's nice to hear his voice
and reminisce about how we all used to live there
Under the red red red red tin roof.
Now all separate we walked away
But i need a grasp to take the cold from my hands
A place to lean on so i can feel those strong breaths
again
To feel the shape without the light
Or to sit in the gleam of the living room again
But my mother is down in mexico somewhere
And i don't know if she's ever coming back
And my father we talk on the telephone sometimes.
But the wire they're not long enough to fill this hole.
And my brother it's nice to hear his voice
to reminisce about how we used to live there.
Under the red red red red tin roof.
Will someone please, please help me.
Unlock this skeleton from this flesh rest
I think it wants to walk away to some place that no.
Longer exists.
Why can't we back track
So we can all sit up on that hill
and watch the trees along the fence grow.
All over again
Why can't we back, track so we can all sit up on that
hill
And watch the trees along the fence grow.
All over again.
‘Cause my mother is down in mexico somewhere, and i don't know if she's ever coming back
And my father we talk on the telephone sometimes,
but the wires they're not long enough to fill this whole
And my brother it's nice to hear his voice
to reminisce about how we all used to live there.
Under the red red red red tin roof.
But never again will I hear the rain fall
so good.
Never again will i hear the rain fall
so good.
Like it did on the red, the red tin roof.
The song "Red Tin Roof" by Alela Diane explores the sense of loss and nostalgia for a past life and home. The opening lyric "A frost covered the ground this way. Bit the lilacs petals, turned them brown" paints a picture of a deserted, abandoned house, full of memories and longing. The absence of the lilacs in blue pitchers on the kitchen table is symbolic of the loss of home and family.
The singer's mother is down in Mexico, and there's uncertainty about whether or not she'll ever return. The wires of the telephone aren't long enough to fill the void left by the missing family member. The brother is still in touch, and it's nice to reminisce about happier times "under the red red red red tin roof."
The yearning for the past is strong in the chorus, where the singer begs for a way to "back track" and relive the moments of closeness and happiness. The final line "never again will I hear the rain fall so good, like it did on the red, the red tin roof" emphasizes the loss of something that the singer can never regain.
Overall, "Red Tin Roof" is a poignant and bittersweet reflection about the nature of home and family, and the longing to revisit that which has been lost.
Line by Line Meaning
A frost covered the ground this way.
The ground is covered in frost, making it look pretty.
Bit the lilacs petals, turned them brown.
The frost has damaged the lilac flowers and turned them brown.
They are not in blue pitchers on the kitchen table anymore.
The lilac flowers are no longer displayed in blue pitchers on the kitchen table.
‘Cause my mother is down in mexico somewhere
The reason why the lilacs are no longer displayed on the table is that the singer's mother is in Mexico and not around to arrange them.
And i don't know if she's ever coming back.
The singer is uncertain whether her mother will return or not.
And my father we talk on the telephone sometimes
The singer talks to her father on the phone occasionally.
But the wires, they're not long enough to fill this hole
However, the distance between them feels too great, and a phone call cannot solve everything.
And my brother it's nice to hear his voice
The singer misses her brother and finds comfort in talking to him on the phone.
and reminisce about how we all used to live there
They talk about their past and the good times they had together.
Under the red red red red tin roof.
They miss their family home with the red tin roof where they used to live together.
Now all separate we walked away
Now each family member has gone their separate ways.
But i need a grasp to take the cold from my hands
The singer needs something to hold onto to feel warmth and security.
A place to lean on so i can feel those strong breaths again
She needs something she can lean against to breathe deeply and feel strong again.
To feel the shape without the light
She wants to feel the familiarity of her family home even when it is dark.
Or to sit in the gleam of the living room again
She wants to sit in the living room, which used to be a happy and lively place.
Will someone please, please help me.
She pleads for someone to help her.
Unlock this skeleton from this flesh rest
She feels trapped in her body and wants to be free from her current state of mind.
I think it wants to walk away to some place that no.
Her mind wants to escape to a place where things are better.
Longer exists.
But that place no longer exists.
Why can't we back track
She wonders why they cannot go back to happier times.
So we can all sit up on that hill
She imagines them all sitting together on a hill as they used to do.
and watch the trees along the fence grow.
She wants to relive those moments of watching the trees grow along the fence.
All over again
She wants to relive everything from the past.
But never again will I hear the rain fall so good.
The singer knows that those happy moments are gone forever.
Never again will i hear the rain fall so good.
She repeats that she can never have those moments again.
Like it did on the red, the red tin roof.
She remembers the specific moments when everything used to be great, like the sound of the rain on the red tin roof of their family home.
Contributed by Kennedy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Guilherme Pereira
This song is so beautiful. I finished TWD the game first season and Alela plays "take it back". Since it happened i've become her fan. This woman is wonderful.
Jackson
I discovered her from TWD too, bene a fan since the end of Season 4
Eva Rodriguez EPTX
Guilherme Pereira x I first read of her in Interview Magazine.shes an amazing lyricist!
Emily Beal
ugh. This song makes me think about my family and I wanna cry. so pretty.
Ben P
Same
hypercat
yalnız hissettim. sonra müziği dinledim, uzun bir süredir bana içimdeki yuvayı hissettiriyor.
Emily Beal
"can someone please help me unlock this skeleton from this flesh vest, i think it wants to walk away to some place that no longer exists."