Ripley made her Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy in 1993. Additional Broadway roles include: Betty Schaeffer in Sunset Boulevard (1994), Bathsheba in King David (1997), Fantine in Les Misérables (1998), Molly Ivors in James Joyce's The Dead (2000), and Janet in The Rocky Horror Show (2000). She also performed in a benefit concert performance of Dreamgirls in 2001.
(added 10-21-08)
Updated biography and other info here: http://nexttonormal.org/aliceripley
Alice is currently starring in Next to Normal on Broadway, in her Helen Hayes Award winning role of Diana. Next to Normal was nominated for eleven 2009 Tony Awards, including a personal nomination of Best Actress in a Musical for Alice. Next to Normal has since won the 2010 Pulitzer prize in Drama.
On June 7, 2009 won Alice Ripley won her first Tony award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Diana in Next to Normal.
Shotgun
Alice Ripley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
End table
Radio
A box full of shoes and records
Ready to go
Take me along
I wanna ride shotgun
I wanna know you better than anyone
But anyone can see why you'd run
I packed
A small bag
Can't you see
A truck full of things
You cherish
What about me
Take me along
I wanna ride shotgun
I wanna laugh at your jokes
I wanna know you better than anyone
But anyone can see why you'd run
When I
Tried to find
A substitute
A box full of hearts
And letters
He wasn't you
Take me along
I wanna ride shotgun
I wanna laugh at your jokes
I wanna know you better than anyone
But anyone can see why you'd run
Waiting
Couldn't sleep
Christmas eve
You sent a box
Of presents
But I still believe
You'll take me along
I wanna ride shotgun
I wanna laugh at your jokes
I wanna know you better than anyone
But anyone can see why you'd run
In Alice Ripley's song "Shotgun," the lyrics describe the longing and desire of someone to be close to the person they love. The utilization of various objects such as a suitcase, end table, radio, shoes and records depict one's departure from their familiar environment into the unknown. The singers plead with their loved one to take them along in the journey, to ride shotgun, and to allow them to know them better than anyone. Nonetheless, there's apparent fear and doubt in the singer's mind that they are aware of why their loved one would choose to run away from the relationship. The lyrics aren't direct regarding the circumstances, but they symbolically convey the theme of missed opportunities and unrequited love.
The song's soft and soothing tone emits a sense of vulnerability and resignation to fate, which heightens the listeners' capacity to empathize with the singer. Despite the hopelessness of his or her pleas to be taken along on the journey, they still cling to the belief that their love is powerful enough to improve the outcomes. The utilization of "Shotgun" conjures up a sense of a powerful force that is untouchable, further emphasizing the overwhelming desire to be close to the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Suitcase
Alice Ripley is ready to leave.
End table
One of the places where Alice keeps her stuff before leaving.
Radio
One of the things Alice is leaving behind.
A box full of shoes and records
Alice has packed her belongings to take with her.
Ready to go
Alice is all set to leave.
Take me along
Alice wants to travel with someone she cares for.
I wanna ride shotgun
Alice wants to be sitting in the front seat next to the driver.
I wanna laugh at your jokes
Alice wants to enjoy the company of the person she is traveling with.
I wanna know you better than anyone
Alice wants to deepen her relationship with the person she is traveling with.
But anyone can see why you'd run
Alice understands why the person she cares for may want to avoid being close to others.
I packed
Alice has prepared for her journey.
A small bag
Alice did not bring as much with her as she could have.
Can't you see
Alice is expressing her feelings of neglect.
A truck full of things
Alice's belongings are important to her.
You cherish
Alice wants to know that she is valued too.
What about me
Alice wants to be given attention and care.
When I
Alice is reminiscing about her past.
Tried to find
Alice has been searching for love and companionship.
A substitute
Alice has been looking for someone to replace the person she cares for.
A box full of hearts
Alice has kept tokens of love and affection from past relationships.
And letters
Alice kept tangible memories of her relationships with the people who wrote to her.
He wasn't you
Alice did not find the love and emotional connection she had with the person she cares for.
Waiting
Alice is waiting for something to happen.
Couldn't sleep
Alice's feelings of anxiety are keeping her from sleeping.
Christmas eve
Alice is thinking about a specific time of year when she received a gift.
You sent a box
The person Alice cares for reaches out to her.
Of presents
The person Alice cares for sends Alice gifts to show affection.
But I still believe
Alice remains hopeful that she will someday travel with the person she cares for.
Contributed by Jordyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.