In 2001, she released her first solo album, Stag. That year, she toured solo with the Butchies as her band. Then in 2005, her second solo project, Prom was released. In December of 2006, Amy released Live From Knoxville, a live recording from a show at Blue Cats in October of 2005. In August 2008 she released her latest album Didn't It Feel Kinder, this is the first album she made with the help of a producer, Greg Griffith.
All three albums were released on Amy's independent record label, Daemon Records.
Fans of the Indigo Girls can expect a rawer, punkier, and rockier sound.
Covered For You
Amy Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I take your picture just in case, anybody's seen
A girl who's had her better days, just like the last place that you stayed,
Where I can see you tipping back the curtains, looking for me
You say. “Baby do you have to go away
Just before the deal gets real sweet,
Just before my trouble finally pays off,
I see you coming down the hill
You smile at me like I'm a worn out thrill,
As if I have some endless well of dignity
You cut yourself like a high school kid
I did it once, everybody did,
Just to feel the emptying of everything
Just to watch it all go away,
Every time the deal gets real sweet,
Every time our trouble finally paid off
We said, “Cover for me, cover for me”
It's two years of depravity for every year of recovery,
And you'll lose eventually, if that's what you need
Of all the friends that make me sad,
You're the one I just can't have
All the numbers that you left me,
They just ring and ring
I said, “Baby do you have to go away,
Just before the deal gets real sweet,
Just before my trouble finally pays off,
Can't you cover for me, like I covered for you,
Like I covered for you?”
In Amy Ray's song "Covered For You", the lyrics tell the story of a tumultuous relationship, in which the singer is constantly searching for her lover who seems to always be on the run. The first verse describes the singer's frequent trips to the downtown area, where she hopes to find her lover. She takes pictures of the area just in case anyone has seen her lover, who is described as a woman who has had better days. The second verse shows the singer contemplating the request of her lover to cover for her, just as she has often covered for her lover in the past. The singer acknowledges that her lover cuts herself, something that she sees as a common experience, just as everyone has gone through high school.
The chorus depicts the struggle between the two lovers and their desire to hold onto their relationship in the face of adversity. They repeatedly ask each other to cover for them when their "deal gets real sweet" and when their "trouble finally pays off". The bridge offers a bleak message that for every year of recovery, there will be two years of depravity before they inevitably fall again. The song ends on the singer's plea for her lover to stay and cover for her, just as she has done for her lover in the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "Covered For You" paint a picture of a troubled relationship plagued by addiction, heartache, and a constant need for one another's support. The singer is aware of the unhealthy nature of the relationship but is unable to let go, despite the self-destructive tendencies of her lover. The chorus aptly captures the desperation of the two lovers as they try to cling onto each other and their relationship amidst turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I go downtown I think I might find you around
Whenever I'm in the city, I can't help but wonder if you're there too
I take your picture just in case, anybody's seen
I snap a photo of you, just in case someone has spotted you
A girl who's had her better days, just like the last place that you stayed
Like the place you last visited, you too seem to be going through tough times
Where I can see you tipping back the curtains, looking for me
I imagine you peeking through curtains, searching for me to come back
You say. “Baby do you have to go away
You plead with me, asking if I really need to leave
Just before the deal gets real sweet,
Before things get good and profitable
Just before my trouble finally pays off,
Right before my problems and issues get resolved
Can you cover for me?”
Could you possibly take care of things for me when I'm gone?
I see you coming down the hill
I notice you walking towards me from the distance
You smile at me like I'm a worn out thrill,
You greet me with a smile that has lost its excitement,
As if I have some endless well of dignity
You seem to expect an abundance of grace and poise from me
You cut yourself like a high school kid
You inflict harm on yourself, like a teenager struggling with identity
I did it once, everybody did,
I too have gone through similar struggles
Just to feel the emptying of everything
To experience the sensation of letting everything go
Every time the deal gets real sweet,
Whenever things start to get good and profitable
Every time our trouble finally paid off
Whenever our problems and issues resolved themselves
We said, “Cover for me, cover for me”
We'd ask each other to take care of things while one of us was absent
It's two years of depravity for every year of recovery,
Every year of progress takes twice as long to achieve after a period of indulgence
And you'll lose eventually, if that's what you need
If losing is what you want, then you'll eventually get it
Of all the friends that make me sad,
You are the only one who brings me melancholy
You're the one I just can't have
I can't seem to get what I want from you
All the numbers that you left me,
The phone numbers you gave me
They just ring and ring
But they never lead to anything
I said, “Baby do you have to go away,
I said to you, imploringly, if you really have to leave
Can't you cover for me, like I covered for you,
Can't you take care of things like I have done for you?
Like I covered for you?”
Just like how I did it for you, can you return the favor?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Baconator James
"You'll lose eventually, if that's what you need" Amy, love your lyrics.
Christy Berger
One of my faves, brilliantly written and performed! I've lived this story for the past year so the song has real meaning for me...
flipflopjulie
Thanks for doing this, Amy. There's nothing like the simplicity of great lyrics and an acoustic. :-) You're the best.
pam mcdonnell
My souls stirs uncontrollably when you sing. Thank you for persevering through your writing--it is beautiful!
Michelle Flaherty
I lost myself in this song. It's amazing. Amy Ray, I love your work, it's so beautiful, so raw, so intelligent, words cannot describe! I admire you and your work so much! AWESOME!
Sybil Goodson
Beautiful. How do I explain how these songs you write make me feel? The lyrics are always so "right on time" to how I feeling. I love this song. Thanks for this version! It is so amazing.
Jon
A funny thing happened on the way to learning how to play this song.This awesome,intimate performance,gave me the chord structure I needed.Next time,I'll jam in place of Tanner!!
Charlie Ammatuna
I think that "covered for you" is one of the most beautiful and moving songs that amy ever wrote…maybe it would be an hazard also including her prodution with IG, but this song really captured my heart...
brehojo jordan
bad ass. that song is freaking awesome. Way to go Amy. I love it.
Wyatt Van
Love her voice <3