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.
Suzanne
Alela Diane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going deep into the ricochet of yesteryear
Dwelling on the one place that I know to be long gone
Come see the corners of the property
I was walking along the old rock, ooh
Looking through the gaps in the vine, tangled fins
When I saw her standing there
Suzanne, why do we dream of it?
Suzanne, oh dear Suzanne
Suzanne, why are we taken back?
Suzanne, oh dear Suzanne
La, di, da, early love
Come see the corners of the property
Some nights later I am gathering once again
This reverie is reoccurring
On the ceiling, hand painted flowers
And in my heart, galloping horses
There was a day, forever lingers
Like the scent of antique roses
I can't go back and say I want to
But mental spirit keeps me haunted
Suzanne, why do we dream of it
Suzanne, oh dear Suzanne
Suzanne, why are we taken back?
Suzanne, oh dear Suzanne
La, di, da, early love
Come see the corners of the property
La, di, da, early love
Walk the corners of the property
Some things cannot be understood
Never quite taken in, you cannot leave them
So do you want her, up in the high lakes
Desert stand
Beneath the pine trees
A flock geese lost to an airplane
A memory of what is yet to be
This is music, this is madness
Clear the room
This is music, oh, this is madness
Clear the room
Clear the room
Clear the room
Clear the room
Clear the room
Clear the room
Clear the room
The first verse of Alela Diane's song "Suzanne" sets the tone for the rest of the track. Night has fallen and the singer finds herself lost in thoughts of the past, going deep into the ricochet of yesteryear. She dwells on one particular place that she knows is long gone, but still remains in her heart. The repetition of "come see the corners of the property" feels like an invitation to join her on a journey through time and memory as she looks back on earlier days.
The second verse offers a more concrete image of the singer's musings. She recalls walking along an old rock and looking through gaps in tangled vines when suddenly she saw "her" standing there. The image of a young woman with dark brown hair is so vivid that time seems to move backwards, taking the singer back to a place of early love and innocence. This is where the chorus enters, asking the question "Suzanne, why do we dream of it? Suzanne, oh dear Suzanne. Suzanne, why are we taken back? Suzanne, oh dear Suzanne." The repetition of her name again feels like an invitation to join the singer on her journey back through time.
As for the rest of the song, it seems to be a stream-of-consciousness meditation on memory, love, and loss. The singer describes a vivid day forever lingering, like the scent of antique roses. She knows she can't go back and relive those moments, but they haunt her nonetheless. The final stanza is perhaps the most abstract, with mentions of geese lost to an airplane and a memory of what is yet to be. The repeat of "clear the room" feels like a final exclamation, perhaps an acknowledgement that these memories are so deeply personal that they must be experienced alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Night falls and I am gathered once again
As the darkness descends, I am lost in thought and rememberance.
Going deep into the ricochet of yesteryear
I am diving into the echoes of the past.
Dwelling on the one place that I know to be long gone
I am pondering that one place which only exists in my memories.
Come see the corners of the property
Join me in exploring the corners and details of this old place.
I was walking along the old rock, ooh
I strolled along an ancient stone formation.
Looking through the gaps in the vine, tangled fins
Peering through the twisted foliage and vines, I saw...
When I saw her standing there
Saw her, the one standing amidst it all...
Suddenly young with dark brown hair
...and her youthful looks with her dark brown hair.
Suzanne, why do we dream of it?
Why does she and I sometimes dream of that time and place?
Suzanne, oh dear Suzanne
My dear Suzanne...
Suzanne, why are we taken back?
Why do we often find ourselves reliving those memories?
La, di, da, early love
Those carefree days of young love...
Some nights later I am gathering once again
Some more nights have passed, and I find myself reflecting once more.
This reverie is reoccurring
This dreamlike state happens time and time again.
On the ceiling, hand painted flowers
I see painted flowers on the ceiling above me.
And in my heart, galloping horses
I feel the thundering of galloping horses in my chest.
There was a day, forever lingers
That one day always looms in my heart.
Like the scent of antique roses
Like the perfume of those old, storied roses...
I can't go back and say I want to
I can't return to those days and ask for it again.
But mental spirit keeps me haunted
But I continue to be haunted by those mental recollections.
Some things cannot be understood
Some things simply cannot be grasped by the mind.
Never quite taken in, you cannot leave them
Even though you can never fully comprehend these memories, you also cannot forget them.
So do you want her, up in the high lakes
Do you want her to be found in the high, mountain sanctuaries?
Desert stand
Standing alone in a desert place...
Beneath the pine trees
Underneath those tall, woody pines...
A flock geese lost to an airplane
A group of geese, disorientated by a passing airplane...
A memory of what is yet to be
...reminding me of what is still to come.
This is music, this is madness
This experience is overwhelming, confusing, and yet beautiful...
Clear the room
...let me have my moment to be consumed by these memories...
Contributed by Aiden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.