Alela Diane Menig (born April 20, 1983, Nevada City, California, USA) is an… Read Full Bio ↴Alela Diane Menig (born April 20, 1983, Nevada City, California, USA) is an American singer and songwriter. She grew up singing with her musician parents and performing in the school choir. She taught herself guitar, and began writing songs which blend tense, trance-like arpeggios with warm vocals and meditative lyrics about family and nature. Her first recordings were self-released in 2003 as Forest Parade. Her first solo public appearances were at the invitation of fellow Nevada City native Joanna Newsom. She also did a stint in the Nevada City slow grass band Black Bear before continuing with her solo pursuits.

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.

Tired Feet
Alela Diane Lyrics

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My tired feet
My tired, tried feet
My tired feet
Oh my tired feet
My tired feet brought me to that red boat
So still and foreign waters

And although I've never been here

Oh although I've never been here
I know that here I've swam before
Here I've swam before

And soon I came
Oh so soon I came
Soon I came
Oh so soon I came
Soon I came to the silent place of choir voices

In excelsis Deo
Deo

Where Jesus, he keeps the streets out
Jesus he keeps the heat out
Jesus he keeps the noise out
And here oh here I've sung before
Here I've sung before
I know that here I've sung before

Here I've sat, I've run, I've walked, I've cried
I've died
I've slept in 'til noon and I've laughed and I've sighed
I know that here I've sung before
Oh here I've sung before

I know that here I've sung before
Here I've sung before

Overall Meaning

In the first verse, Alela Diane sings about her tired feet, which have brought her to a red boat in still and foreign waters. The repetition of the phrase "my tired feet" emphasizes the fatigue and the physical journey that she has taken. The boat and the foreign waters represent a new and unfamiliar place she has arrived at. However, despite never having been there before, she has a sense of familiarity with the place, as she believes she has swum there before.

In the second verse, Alela Diane describes arriving at the silent place of choir voices, where Jesus keeps the streets, heat, and noise out. She believes that she has sung here before, emphasizing a spiritual connection to the place. The lyrics "In excelsis Deo" mean "in the highest God," which further emphasizes the spiritual theme of the song.

The third verse is a reflection on the different experiences she has had in this place. Alela Diane has sat, run, walked, cried, slept, laughed, and sighed in this place. Again, she emphasizes the sense of familiarity with the place, stating that she knows she has sung here before. Overall, the song highlights the connection between physical and spiritual journeys and the idea that places can feel familiar even if we have never been there before.

Line by Line Meaning

My tired feet
My exhausted feet

My tired, tried feet
My worn-out, tested feet

My tired feet
My fatigued feet

Oh my tired feet
Oh, my exhausted feet

My tired feet brought me to that red boat
My weary feet led me to that vermilion boat

So still and foreign waters
Unmoving and unfamiliar waters

And although I've never been here
Despite never having visited this place

Oh although I've never been here
Oh, despite never having been here

I know that here I've swam before
I feel like I've swum here before

Here I've swam before
I've definitely swum here before

And soon I came
And shortly thereafter, I arrived