Amy Boersma came to LA as a singer songwriter in 1970 and during the typical string of artist development deals that for some reason, don’t quite pan out, she met and captured the interest of more than a few distinguished record producers. Among these were Jack Daugherty (the Carpenters. Paul Williams) and Rick Jarrard (Jefferson Airplane, Nillson, Jose Feliciano). However it was a randomly brief but fortuitous rehearsal encounter with a relatively unknown composer, and for the moment, piano accompanist Michael McDonald, during these early years that would lead ultimately to Amy Hollands success at radio years later, winning her a best new artist nomination at the Grammy Awards of 1980. McDonald who, years later, remembering the allure of her vocal style, would join forces with keyboardist/composer/producer, Patrick Henderson to produce her first Capitol LP from which the top 20 hit “How do I Survive,” (composed by Paul Bliss), emerged on to the charts, taking Amy Holland around the world as an American 80’s ingénue. This period of Amy’s career is documented by TV appearances in Japan and the US that can still be found on YouTube.
A second Capitol LP titled “On Your Every Word” and musical contributions to films such as “Scarface” and “Teen Wolf” (Some of those tracks produced and written by the infamous Giorgio Moroder) along with her contributions to the projects of other artist’s such as Kenny Loggins, Joni Mitchell, Tim Weisburg, Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons and McDonald’s solo projects, would mark her career path for the next few years.
During this time her music business relationship with producer McDonald had developed into something much more and with their marriage and the subsequent birth of their two children, Amy found herself embracing the role of wife and mother. discovering along the way that she had to somewhat relax her grip on her lifelong dream of being a recording artist.
After a much longer than intended hiatus due to a battle to survive breast cancer, Amy found a renewed inspiration in the making and release of “The Journey To Miracle River”. Produced by Bernie Chiaravalle, this Album is very much the autobiography of a personal sojourn she was destined to return from at this point in her life, It’s her first solo album release in over 20 years.
With songs co-written by Amy with friends Jon Vesner, John Goodwin, Michael McDonald and Bernie Chiaravalle. The album features contributions from Vince Gill, Michael McDonald, Shannon Forrest, Bernie Chiaravalle, Stuart Duncan, Tim Akers, and her son, Dylan McDonald.
Amy’s voice can be heard on Willie Nelson’s release of “Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth”. A poignant call to conscience featuring other artists such as Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Michael McDonald, and Pat Simmons with all proceeds going to benefit the National Veterans Foundation.
Honest Emotion
Amy Holland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than this little piece that I've broken off
And keep suspended closed behind these four walls
Or have I just blocked out the sky
That fills this ol' river with
Pure water of love stronger than pride
Once it hurts you enough to last a lifetime
Would honest emotion even know me
If I walked through that door
I'm a skater on the lake of love
Always gliding on the surface of deeper feelings
But never fallin through
On my blades of flashing steel
Between the sky and the deep blue clear
Crystal waters of true love
Honest emotion so hard to come by
Once it hurts you enough to last a lifetime
Would honest emotion even know me
If I walked through that door
I'm a skater on the lake of love
Always gliding on the surface of deeper feelings
But never fallin through
On my blades of flashing steel
Between the sky and the deep blue clear
Crystal waters of true love
Got wings on my shoulders
I never thought to use them
And these shadows in my heart
I never thought I'd lose them
The lyrics of Amy Holland's song Honest Emotion expresses her struggle to truly experience and express honest emotion. She starts by acknowledging that there is more to life than the little piece that she has broken off and seems to have isolated herself within four walls, which suggests that she has lost touch with her emotions. She then wonders if she has deliberately closed herself off from the pure water of love that fills her surroundings by blocking the sky, which is an allusion to the idea that sometimes we cause our own suffering. The metaphorical language is used to express how love and deeper emotions are out there but seem to elude her.
Throughout the song, Holland compares herself to a "skater on the lake of love" who is always "gliding on the surface of deeper feelings" but never fully immersing herself in them. She describes herself as having "blades of flashing steel" between the sky and the deep blue clear crystal waters of true love, which indicates that she once had the ability to express honest emotion but has lost it. The chorus emphasizes that honest emotion is hard to come by and once it hurts you enough, it lasts a lifetime. Holland ends the song by declaring that she has "wings on my shoulders" but has not thought to use them, and these "shadows" in her heart that she never thought she would lose. In essence, the song echoes the idea that expressing and experiencing true emotion is a difficult process that requires effort and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that there is more to life
I am aware that life consists of more than just a small, broken-off piece that I have kept hidden behind my four walls.
Than this little piece that I've broken off
I understand that my life is not limited to the small piece that I have separated from it.
And keep suspended closed behind these four walls
I have intentionally hidden away this piece of my life behind walls, keeping it away from others and the world.
Or have I just blocked out the sky
Perhaps, it is not just a small piece of my life that I am blocking from view, but the entirety of the world around me.
That fills this ol' river with
The river is not just blocked by me, but it is full of life that I am refusing to see.
Pure water of love stronger than pride
The river is full of love that is stronger than pride, but I am not letting it in.
Honest emotion so hard to come by
True, genuine emotion is difficult to attain.
Once it hurts you enough to last a lifetime
Sometimes, honest emotion can hurt so much that it stays with you forever.
Would honest emotion even know me
I am unsure if I would even recognize true emotion if I experienced it.
If I walked through that door
If I were to open up and let honest emotion in, would I recognize it or would it recognize me?
I'm a skater on the lake of love
I am figuratively skating across the surface of love, not delving into its deeper waters.
Always gliding on the surface of deeper feelings
I am always just skimming the surface of emotions, rather than experiencing them at their core.
But never fallin through
I never fully allow myself to fall into the depths of emotions that I experience.
On my blades of flashing steel
I am moving forward rapidly, but not experiencing any substantial emotional growth.
Between the sky and the deep blue clear
I am in a place between superficiality and deeper emotional understanding.
Crystal waters of true love
There is an opportunity for me to experience the true depths of love, but I am hesitant to do so.
Got wings on my shoulders
I have the potential for growth and change.
I never thought to use them
I have yet to take advantage of this potential for growth and change.
And these shadows in my heart
There are negative emotions hidden within me.
I never thought I'd lose them
While I may never fully rid myself of these negative emotions, I am surprised at the possibility of overcoming them.
Contributed by Hannah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.