Pruett self-released two albums, 2003’s Natural Fact and 2004’s Winter Apple, both of which were recorded in Portland, Oregon. She later re-released them through Tiger Friends Collective, the same company that released 2011’s The Stars, The Moon, The Owl, The Cougar, and You and 2012’s Keeping You In Mind.
Pruett’s 2013 debut on Canyon Records, Gypsy Bells, gained generally favorable reviews and media attention.
Pruett committed suicide on September 2, 2015.
New Life
Brianna Lea Pruett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to find a new life, new life / new life, new life
weren't no visions of saving her soul / just running away from the old dustbowl
to a new life, new life / new life, new life
new life
fell in love with a Cherokee boy / he was a good man but daddy said no
no new life.
all of life was so hard, fingers worked to the bone
no room for dreaming, got to find a home.
sharecropping since the day she was born / til a man said come to California baby
get a new life, new life / new life, new life .
left her with their babies, out on the town / his other women and liquor bringing her down
is this my new life, new life? / new life, new life
new life.
all of life was so hard, fingers worked to the bone
no room for dreaming, got to find a home.
boarded up a greyhound bus she did / for Californio
to find a new life, new life / new life, new life.
The lyrics of Brianna Lea Pruett's song "New Life" tell the story of a woman who boards a Greyhound bus and embarks on a journey to California to start a new life. Her motivation for leaving her old life behind is not entirely clear, but it seems that she was simply looking for a fresh start and an escape from the hardships of her past. These hardships are vividly described in the opening stanza, with the image of a boarded-up Greyhound bus serving as a stark symbol of her determination to leave the past behind.
As the song progresses, we learn more about the woman's experiences and the challenges she faces in her quest for a new life. She falls in love with a Cherokee boy, only to have her hopes dashed when her father objects. This rejection underscores the difficulty of breaking free from the constraints of tradition and societal norms. Later, she is left alone with her children after her partner abandons her for other women and alcohol. Yet despite these setbacks, she remains determined to find a better life for herself and her family.
The repetition of the phrase "new life" underscores the theme of renewal and the idea that the woman is seeking a fresh start. It also highlights the contrast between her old life and the new one she hopes to build. Overall, the lyrics of "New Life" offer a poignant reflection on the struggles and hardships of starting anew, and the determination required to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
Boarded up a greyhound bus she did
She got on a greyhound bus and left.
for Californio to find a new life, new life
She went to California to start a new life.
weren't no visions of saving her soul
She wasn't looking for spiritual salvation.
just running away from the old dustbowl
She was leaving behind a difficult life.
to a new life, new life
She was hoping to start a new life.
fell in love with a Cherokee boy
She fell in love with a Cherokee man.
he was a good man but daddy said no
Her father disapproved of him.
you won't be his wife, his wife
She was not allowed to marry him.
no new life.
Her dream of a new life with him was shattered.
all of life was so hard, fingers worked to the bone
Her life was very difficult, she worked very hard.
no room for dreaming, got to find a home.
She had no time for idle dreaming, she needed a place to live.
sharecropping since the day she was born
She had been sharecropping since birth.
til a man said come to California baby
A man told her to come to California.
get a new life, new life
He promised her a new life.
left her with their babies, out on the town
He left her alone with their children to go out and have fun.
his other women and liquor bringing her down
His infidelity and drinking were hurting her.
is this my new life, new life?
She questioned if this is what her new life had become.
boarded up a greyhound bus she did
Once again, she got on a greyhound bus.
for Californio to find a new life, new life.
She still hoped to find a new life in California.
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.