Before the age of nineteen thi… Read Full Bio ↴A singer-songwriter from New Zealand.
Before the age of nineteen this Southland girl had already been mentored by many of New Zealand's top producers, opened for Kelly Clarkson and The Script before eighteen, at seventeen honed her songwriting skills on a U.S. scholarship that took her to Nashville and the South By South West festival in Texas, and won the Smokefree Rockquest Female Musician Award and Play It Strange competition at sixteen and fifteen respectively.
Born and raised on a sheep farm in Tokanui - 60 kilometres south east of Invercargill, Annah has fond memories of singing with her two younger sisters at local jam-nights supported by the tight-knit township. Annah's childhood was also filled with countless family jams on road-trips and Australasian-wide adventures, including annual visits to the Tamworth Country Music Festival in New South Wales. By nine she had already won her first of three Gore Gold Guitar Awards.
Annah says that her songs are a mix of personal experiences and stories told from the perspectives of close friends - a sentiment that is clearly reflected in the lyrics of her debut album, 'Little Stranger'. Annah recorded the majority of the album at Roundhead studios with internationally renowned American producer Brady Blade, working with Josh Fountain from Kidz In Space at Woodcut Studios, and Wayne Bell and Ben King at The Lab to finish other tracks.
City Lights
Annah Mac Lyrics
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Running through the nights
The city lights and my shame
Heart inscribed empty and unsure
On a gravestone missing letters of my name
The people who bring poppies
Walked away with everything I had
They come to see me only out of guilt to find themselves
[Chorus]
So here I go
Giving you everything and all of me
Spirit chained in tow
Don't let me hide
Giving you everything
The whole of me that I hold onto inside
Here I go
Here I go
[Verse 2]
Bare feet on paua shells, I am the sea
It's me alongside my waves
But then we're diving off the rocks
My head spins, my body locks
And this is all I am right now anyway
The people who surround me
They control everything, all that I am
And I keep thinking did I miss that time to find myself
Be understanding and everything
[Chorus]
So here I go
Giving you everything and all of me
Spirit chained in tow
Don't let me hide
Giving you everything
The whole of me that I hold onto inside
Here I go
Here I go
Oh, here I go
Giving you everything and all of me
Spirit chained in tow
Don't let me hide
Giving you everything
The whole of me that I hold onto inside
Here I go
Giving you everything and all of me
Spirit chained in tow
Don't let me hide
Giving you everything
The whole of me that I hold onto inside
Here I go
Here I go
Here I go
Here I go
"City Lights" by Annah Mac is a song about the struggles of finding oneself in a metropolis. The lyrics paint a picture of a lost individual who is trying to navigate their way through life, but is hindered by the hustle and bustle of the city. The first verse talks about how the city lights, which represent the vibrant and fast-paced lifestyle of the city, are juxtaposed with the singer's shame and uncertainty. They feel like an outcast, with their heart feeling empty and their name missing letters on a gravestone. The people around them seem to have it all, walking away with their possessions and leaving them with nothing.
The second verse of the song talks about the singer's longing and connection to nature. With bare feet on paua shells, they are the sea and feel at peace alongside their waves. But when they join the people around them, their head spins and their body locks up. They feel like they are not in control of their life, and the people around them are controlling everything. They question whether they missed an opportunity to find themselves and regain control.
The chorus is a plea for help and a surrender to vulnerability. The singer is giving their all and asking to be understood. They acknowledge that their spirit is chained, and they are not able to hide from the world anymore. They are giving their everything, hoping that they will be accepted and loved for who they truly are.
Line by Line Meaning
Running through the nights
I am navigating through the city at night.
The city lights and my shame
The bright lights of the city remind me of my guilt and embarrassment.
Heart inscribed empty and unsure
My emotions are unsettled and I feel lost.
On a gravestone missing letters of my name
I feel like I am not complete or whole, like my name is not even fully written on my own gravestone.
The people who bring poppies
The others who come to me with gifts and condolences.
Walked away with everything I had
These people took everything I had to give and left me with nothing.
They come to see me only out of guilt to find themselves
The visitors feel obligated to see me, but also hope to find some peace for themselves in the process.
Be understanding and everything
I try to be patient and kind to those around me despite my own turmoil.
So here I go
I am starting a new journey.
Giving you everything and all of me
I am giving my all to whoever is listening.
Spirit chained in tow
I feel like I'm being held back or controlled by something.
Don't let me hide
I am asking someone to help me be my true self and not hide my struggles.
The whole of me that I hold onto inside
I am revealing my innermost self to someone.
Bare feet on paua shells, I am the sea
I am connected to nature and the ocean around me.
It's me alongside my waves
I am moving with and feeling the flow of the waves around me.
But then we're diving off the rocks
Suddenly, I am taking risks and challenging myself to push beyond my comfort zone.
My head spins, my body locks
I am feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, like I cannot move forward.
And this is all I am right now anyway
I am accepting that this is my current state of being, for better or for worse.
The people who surround me
The individuals who are close to me.
They control everything, all that I am
I feel like I am at the mercy of their actions and words, like they have power over my identity.
And I keep thinking did I miss that time to find myself
I wonder if I missed an opportunity to discover who I truly am.
Here I go
Once again, I am starting anew on my journey.
Contributed by Isabella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.