Raised on George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris, she sang harmonies as a toddler, eventually thinking she'd make a career of it. Following the murder-suicide of her parents (perpetrated by her father) in 1986, she moved into her aunt and uncle's home.
Not long afterwards, sister Shelby Lynne moved to Nashville for a career in music, and after her high school graduation, Moorer followed. She sang harmonies with her sister for a while but returned to Alabama to earn a degree in public relations. She skipped the graduation ceremony to move back to Nashville.
Her song "A Soft Place to Fall" was tapped for Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer in 1998, and she also appeared in the movie. Because the ballad earned her an Academy Award nomination, she performed it on the 1999 Oscars ceremony. However, none of her singles from her debut "Alabama Song" or its follow-up "The Hardest Part" received much radio airplay, nor achieving chart success though both projects were highly praised by critics.
When Brown moved from MCA to sister label Universal South, Moorer followed. Her 2002 album "Miss Fortune" earned more raves, but didn't meet sales expectations. She almost got another big break by recording the duet "Picture" with Kid Rock after Sheryl Crow had bowed out. However, Crow changed her mind, and the Rock/Crow-version became a huge radio hit. Yet, the song was credited on the charts to both Crow and Moorer. In addition, the CD single featuring Moorer sold 500,000 copies and is certified Gold by the RIAA. Her ballad "Tumbling Down" (from Miss Fortune) was featured on the soundtrack of the popular 2002 film The Rookie.
Her live album album "Show"(2003) was recorded in one night (two performances) at the 12th and Porter in Nashville and despite popular belief, it features the first recorded collaboration by both Moorer sisters.
After releasing Show and a DVD on Universal South, Moorer moved to independent label Sugar Hill Records. With a slightly rougher edge than past efforts, The Duel was released in April 2004.
After a divorce between Moorer and Primm, she eventually married Steve Earle, after serving as his opening act on a European tour. Earle produced her 2006 album, "Getting Somewhere". Moorer wrote all the songs, with the exception of one co-written with Earle. She and Earle were nominated for a Grammy award in the category Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for the song "Days Aren't Long Enough" from Earle's "Washington Square Serenade".
Moorer released the Buddy Miller-produced "Mockingbird" in February 2008; an album mainly of covers of songs by female singer/songwriters including her sister, Shelby Lynne.
Her latest studio album "Crows" (2010), features her first departure from the Contemporary Country style of her earlier albums, instead changing to a Pop and Contemporary Singer/Songwriter style.
http://allisonmoorer.com
Tear Me Apart
Allison Moorer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suns coming up blazing red
Setting on fire everything you said
To me last night it's breaking my heart
Don't know why you want to tear me apart
Tried so hard to turn the other cheek
Ain't ever gonna be another brand new start
What am I supposed to do
When I wanna scream every time I look at you
I ain't safe and I ain't sound
Might as well put me in the lost and found
Oh
What am I supposed to say
When I wanna scream every time you look my way
I ain't sad and I ain't sound
Might as well put me in the lost and found
Because I feel like a crumpled up paper sac
Empty ring that's been thrown in the trash
I gived and learned because I'm pretty smart
But I still don't know why you want to tear me apart
The song Tear Me Apart by Allison Moorer is about heartbreak and confusion. The lyrics depict the aftermath of a painful conversation between two people, presumably a couple. The sun coming up blazing red is a metaphor for the intensity of the emotions that are still fresh from the conversation they had the night before. The setting everything on fire is an allusion to the destruction that was caused by the words that were spoken. The singer is struggling with the consequences of that conversation, trying her best to maintain her composure and not let her emotions get the best of her. She is torn between her desire to lash out and scream and her need to remain in control of her feelings. Unfortunately, the weight of the situation is too much for her to bear, and she feels that she may be lost forever.
The second verse of the song depicts the same situation, but this time from a different angle. The singer is trying to maintain her stoicism, but it is clear that she is on the verge of a breakdown. Her emotions are too intense for her to contain, and she feels like she is losing herself. She compares herself to a crumpled up paper sac, a metaphor for the destruction that has been wrought upon her spirit. She is confused about why the other person is trying to tear her apart, but this confusion only adds to her desperation. She feels lost, and she doesn't know what to do.
Overall, Tear Me Apart is a powerful emotional song that deals with the aftermath of heartbreak. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and strong metaphors that help to convey the intensity of the emotions being experienced. The song is relatable to anyone who has ever gone through a similar experience and is looking for a way to cope with their pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Suns coming up blazing red
The morning is coming and it feels like everything is ablaze.
Setting on fire everything you said
Every word you said last night feels like it's on fire, burning me up inside.
To me last night it's breaking my heart
What you said last night is breaking my heart into a million pieces.
Don't know why you want to tear me apart
I don't understand why you are trying to break me down and tear me apart.
Tried so hard to turn the other cheek
I have been trying my best to ignore the hurtful things you say, but it's getting harder and harder.
That my head's spinning around like a tumbleweed
I feel so dizzy and disoriented, like I'm lost in the middle of nowhere.
Ain't ever gonna be another brand new start
I don't think we can ever start over again and make things right between us.
What am I supposed to do
I don't know what to do next or how to fix things between us.
When I wanna scream every time I look at you
Every time I see you, I want to scream because of the pain you've caused me.
I ain't safe and I ain't sound
I don't feel secure or stable in this relationship anymore.
Might as well put me in the lost and found
I feel like I am lost and have no sense of direction or purpose anymore.
What am I supposed to say
I don't know what to say to you anymore.
When I wanna scream every time you look my way
I want to yell and scream every time you even glance in my direction.
I ain't sad and I ain't sound
I'm not necessarily depressed or crazy, but I'm definitely not happy or content either.
Might as well put me in the lost and found
I feel like I am completely lost and have no idea where to go next.
Because I feel like a crumpled up paper sac
I feel like an insignificant, worthless piece of garbage.
Empty ring that's been thrown in the trash
I feel like an unwanted, unloved object that has been discarded.
I gived and learned because I'm pretty smart
I've tried so hard and learned so much because I'm a smart, capable person.
But I still don't know why you want to tear me apart
Even though I've done my best, I still don't understand why you're trying to hurt me so much.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALLISON MOORER, KENNY GREENBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Harley Angel
I love her voice, she brings back great memories of Linda Ronstadt's awesome voice!!
Catherine S. Todd
Wow. Speechless.
Darren Walsh
This record is so good!
Pieter Meulendijks
Awsome this new album
robert williams
Don`t throw away a pretty white girl,she needs to reavaluate her worth.
Jason McCoy
i love allison but this videos creepy
Robert Kostanczuk
Oh yeah....
zack zelmo
BORRRRING. Where have I heard this tune? Oh in just about EVERY country album as filler. More crap from the "music" industry.
Catherine S. Todd
+caesarmtnmama : Agreed!
JC Wood
@zack zelmo Not so, Zack; & damn good vid