Gathering material from her life experiences and seemingly infinite travels, Emerick conceived the aptly named Field Notes, her debut, full-length album and subsequent road diary. Recorded with her heart on her sleeve and a collection of autobiographical tunes in her pocket, the album exhibits the raw vocals and heartfelt lyricism that have situated her among fans of Brandi Carlile, Patty Griffin, and Natalie Maines alike. For Field Notes, it’s Emerick’s effortless aptitude to blend pop songwriting sensibilities with pristine Americana overtones that really shines through, highlighting her incredible penchant for spinning tales both uniquely personal and universally recognizable.
Eternally a free spirit with an insatiable wanderlust, Emerick comes by it honestly. “We moved around a lot when I was a kid, so I feel like my life on the road was kind of inevitable,” she laughs. “I’m always exploring the notion of home musically, emotionally, and geographically.” The singer claims a scattering of cities as her muse, growing up in the rich musical heritage of both Seattle and Austin before eventually making her way to Nashville to attend Belmont University. In Music City she honed her craft, but it was several charmed summers as a camp counselor in Maine and New Hampshire that inspired her relocate to Boston and start her musical career.
In 2011, Emerick released her first project, Starry-Eyed, to heavy critical acclaim after it debuted at #9 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart. The seven-song EP featured adult contemporary pop tracks sprinkled with twinkling production value that Performer Magazine hailed as “undeniably good.” Skope Magazinepraised the record’s “mellow and moving” tunes, while The Deli New England celebrated Emerick for “crafting melodies as pretty as her name.” The album went on to also catch the attention of American Songwriter Magazine who premiered her first single and music video, “This Love Won’t Break Your Heart.”
The success of Starry-Eyed prompted a nationwide tour that found Emerick playing to packed venues across the country. Some of her stops included a sold-out show at Cambridge’s historic Club Passim with Grammy-nominated artist Seth Glier and a capacity stint at 2012’s NXNE festival. “You could say my first touring experience was a memorable one,” she smiles. “To have that kind of reception on my first go-round was incredible. Obviously, I enjoyed it. I haven’t stopped since.”
Show by show, one crowd at a time, Emerick built quite a following for herself by taking charge of her own career. She dove right in, booking all of her own performances, self-promoting her music, and amassing fans from all over. “A lot of artists get lost in the business side of being a musician, but I love it,” she confesses. “I love booking shows, traveling, and making relationships with promoters. I think it’s important to know how to help yourself as much as you can.” Emerick’s undeniable work ethic and thirst for knowledge has been widely recognized throughout the music community with Sonicbids crowning her an “indie songstress with a head for business” in a recent blog feature.
Now, three years after the release of her first EP, fresh off of a first place win in the New England Songwriter’s Competition and a relocation back to Nashville, Emerick returns with Field Notes, a folk-inspired, markedly more mature turn for the singer that demonstrates just how much her endless days on the road and years of hard work have fostered her growth as an artist and performer.
“This album really means a lot to me,” she shares. “In a way, it’s a compilation of all the exploring I’ve done over the past few years... songs from being out in the world and experiencing life. These are songs about love, dreams, childhood friends, and stories I’ve picked up from traveling. The whole time I’ve been compiling material for this record, I’ve imagined an explorer out in the wild with a notebook just jotting down ideas, theories, and drawings. And that’s exactly what this album is. These are my thoughts. These are my field notes.”
The Sun And The Moon
Annalise Emerick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the moon I can see up there too
And you're still following Greenland
But me I'm just looking at you
I used to be so scared and I'd sing about terrible things but you
You make it so easy
Your love gave me my wings
You shine so bright and I like the night
Baby we fit together just right
You are the sun and I am your moon
And I don't care about corny cause baby we waited for this
And the days will never be long enough no matter how much I wish
And of course the day will be perfect
This much I know to be true
And baby you can bring on
Come shine
It's just me and you
Cause you are the sun and I am the moon
You shine so bright and I like night
And baby we fit together just right
You are the sun and I am your moon
You shine so bright and I like the night
Baby we fit together just right
You are the sun and I am your moon
The day will come to an end
But we love the night too
The sun it never quite sets
It always waits for you
The lyrics to Annalise Emerick's song The Sun and the Moon convey a sense of contentment and satisfaction in a romantic relationship. The imagery of the sun and the moon is used to symbolize the two lovers – the sun representing one partner who is outgoing and shining brightly, and the moon representing the other partner who is quieter and prefers the night. The singer explains how she used to be scared and sing about terrible things, but her partner has given her the confidence she needs to fly (hence "Your love gave me my wings"). The couple "fit together just right" and even though the day will come to an end, they love the night too.
The chorus, "You are the sun and I am the moon / You shine so bright and I like the night," is particularly poignant as it shows how the two individuals complement each other. Even though they have different personalities and lifestyles, they are perfect for each other. The lines "And of course the day will be perfect / This much I know to be true" show the singer's confidence in the relationship and their future together. The song ends with the reassuring line, "The sun it never quite sets / It always waits for you," implying that the couple will always find each other no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun has been up for hours
Morning has arrived and begun several hours ago.
And the moon I can see up there too
The moon is still visible in the sky even though it's daytime.
And you're still following Greenland
We are on a journey, and although we've been following Greenland for a while, we're not yet there.
But me I'm just looking at you
Despite being on a journey, the artist's attention is focused on their partner.
I used to be so scared and I'd sing about terrible things but you
The artist used to be scared and write songs about sad things, but their partner makes them feel safe and happy.
You make it so easy
Their partner makes everything feel effortless and simple.
Your love gave me my wings
Their partner's love has empowered the singer.
Cause you are the sun and I am the moon
The artist compares themselves to the moon, and their partner to the sun.
You shine so bright and I like the night
The artist enjoys the contrast of their partner's brightness during the day and the darkness of night.
Baby we fit together just right
The artist and their partner are a perfect fit.
And I don't care about corny cause baby we waited for this
The singer doesn't care if their love appears corny because they've waited so long to find it.
And the days will never be long enough no matter how much I wish
The artist wishes for more time with their partner but knows it will never be enough.
And of course the day will be perfect
The singer is confident that the day will be perfect with their partner.
This much I know to be true
The singer is sure of their feelings for their partner.
And baby you can bring on
Their partner is capable of bringing anything.
Come shine
The artist and their partner are ready to face whatever comes their way.
It's just me and you
The artist and their partner are in it together.
The day will come to an end
The day will inevitably come to a close.
But we love the night too
The singer and their partner also enjoy the night.
The sun it never quite sets
The sun doesn't fully disappear, it just waits for their partner.
Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.