In 2002, she released The Song They Sang... When Rome Fell. In 2003, she was a winner of the New Folk Competition, at the Kerrville Folk Festival. In 2004, her second album, Hymns for the Exiled, was released (Waterbug Records).
On 8 Dec 2006, Anaïs' 'folk opera' "Hadestown" débuted (written / produced in collaboration with composer Michael Chorney & director Ben T. Matchstick). On 13 Feb 2007, her third album, The Brightness was released (Righteous Babe).
Hadestown, a concept album based on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, was released on March 9, 2010. It features contributions from Justin Vernon as Orpheus, Ani DiFranco as Persephone, Greg Brown as Hades, and Ben Knox Miller as Hermes; Anais herself sings the part of Eurydice.
Her album, 'Young Man in America' was released on Wilderland Records in the UK on February 13, 2012 and in the US on February 28, 2012.
Your Fonder Heart
Anaïs Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
don't you hide your handsome face from me
I want to see you half-lit in the half-light
laughing with the whites of your dark eyes shining darkly
way over yonder I'm waiting and wondering
wither your fonder heart lies
heaving green to red to green
come with your nicotine and wine and tambourine keeping time
come and find me in the evening
way over yonder I'm waiting and wondering
wither your fonder heart lies
way over yonder I'm waiting and wondering
whether your fonder heart lies
come out, come inspired
you will not come to harm
if I cannot take you for a liar or a lover
I'll take you for my brother in arms
way over yonder I'm waiting and wondering
wither your fonder heart lies
way over yonder I'm waiting and wondering
whether your fonder heart lies
In Anaïs Mitchell's song Your Fonder Heart, the singer is calling out to someone, encouraging them to come out and not hide themselves. They want to see this person in the half-light, to see them laughing with the whites of their eyes shining darkly. The singer is waiting and wondering where this person's fonder heart lies, suggesting that there may be some uncertainty or distance between them.
As the song continues, the singer urges the person to come out into the streets, which are "breathing" and moving from green to red to green. They want this person to bring their own vices - nicotine, wine, and a tambourine - and come find them in the evening. The singer reassures this person that they will not come to harm, and even if they are not a lover or a liar, they will still be taken as a brother in arms.
Overall, this song is an invitation to vulnerability and connection. The singer is urging the person to come out of their shell and show themselves, to be seen and loved. They are waiting and wondering where this person's fonder heart lies, suggesting that there is a longing for intimacy and closeness.
Line by Line Meaning
come out, come on, come outside
Please come out from wherever you are hiding and be with me outside.
don't you hide your handsome face from me
I wish to see you and want you to come out of your hiding spot and please don't be shy to show me that handsome face of yours.
I want to see you half-lit in the half-light
I want to see you with the background half-lit and your lovely face illuminated.
laughing with the whites of your dark eyes shining darkly
Let us laugh together, and I want to see your dark eye's whites shining brilliantly.
way over yonder I'm waiting and wondering wither your fonder heart lies
I am eagerly waiting and wondering where your fond heart lies, beyond my reach?
come out, the streets are breathing heaving green to red to green
Come out because the streets are vibrant and alive, and changing their hues from green to red to green again.
come with your nicotine and wine and tambourine keeping time
Come with your cigarettes, wine, and tambourine, keeping rhythm in time with the music.
come and find me in the evening
Come to me in the evening and seek me out.
come out, come inspired you will not come to harm
Please come out and be inspired because you have nothing to fear from me.
if I cannot take you for a liar or a lover I'll take you for my brother in arms
If I can't take you as a lover or a liar, I'll be grateful to take you as my brother in arms.
way over yonder I'm waiting and wondering wither your fonder heart lies
I am waiting and wondering always where your loving heart belongs if anywhere.
Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.