When Callie was 9 years old, her father started teaching her and her 2 sisters to sing together while he accompanied them on guitar. They performed at many community events, and the 3-part-harmony-singing little girls became quite popular. Callie developed a great love for her life surrounded by music. On long family road trips her dad would sit in the passenger’s seat practicing the mandolin. One of her fondest memories is laying in the back seat, seemingly asleep with the rest of the kids, listening to the music for hours.
At the age of 12, Callie hadn’t really considered playing the guitar. The beginning of her music career just kind of happened without intention one day. She was bored and randomly decided to ask her dad if he would teach her a few chords. He took about 10 minutes and taught her 4 very basic chords, then he went about his day and left her to play with the guitar. Within the next hour she had written her first song.
In the last 10 years, Callie’s songs have evolved into something of a jazzy-folk style. Her guitar playing is percussive and alive, her lyrics are moving and always meaningful. She has a husband, Dave Moore, who plays latin percussion on the congas, bongos, djembe, and several other instruments. She has played with many different musicians, and also performs solo. Her first album is due to arrive this winter.
She thanks her family for all of their love and support, and her father for making her home a “breeding ground for the brain, surrounded by forces constantly inspiring one to practice his/her greatest power - the power of creativity
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October
Callie Moore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since I was last in the womb
Of a woman celebrating the pain
But in her body she was carrying something else
An unwelcome guest
An intruder in a beautiful house
They say that cancer is a hard and a stubborn man
But still he teaches us something that nobody else can
I had a letter that she wrote me
But I couldn't read the cursive yet
So daddy sat me in his lap and he read it
The words she said to me I didn't really grasp it yet
And after all these years I finally understand it
Love will never leave this place
No, love will never this place
You know looking back I was a happy child
I did so much better than to just survive
But I guess I'm singing this song somehow
Because I know somewhere in this world right now
You're sitting in the emptiest corner of the darkest room
You're fighting some great war you fear your gonna lose
If I could find you in the moment of your greatest pain
I'd take you by the hand and I would say come on
Stand up I wanna see you live
As though there something beautiful you have to give
'Cause there is
Yeah there is
Come on and stand up let me see you see this through
As though you've got somebody holding on to you
Cause you do
Yeah you do
And love will never leave this place
No, love will never leave this place
Stand up I wanna see you live
(Love will never leave this place)
As though there's something beautiful
You have to give cause there is
(Love will never leave this place)
There is
Come on and stand up let me see you see this through
(Love will never leave this place)
As though you've got somebody you can hold on to
Cause you do
(Love will never leave this place)
You do
Love will never leave this place
No love will never leave this place
It's been 17 years and a single day
Since the child that I was
Became the child that I still am today
In the song "October" by Callie Moore, the artist reflects on the 25 years and 11 days that have passed since she was in her mother's womb, during a time when her mother was unknowingly carrying an unwelcome intruder, cancer. The lyrics describe cancer as a stubborn intruder in a beautiful house, which is a metaphor for the way cancer takes over and destroys a person's body. Despite the sadness of this topic, the artist highlights that cancer also teaches us valuable lessons that no one else can.
The song then transitions to a letter that Callie's mother wrote to her when she was a child, which her father read aloud since Callie could not yet read cursive. At that time, Callie did not fully understand the words in the letter, but as she sings the lyrics, she shares that love will never leave this place, and this likely represents the love from her parents that she has always felt, even though her mother was taken away by cancer.
The final verse of the song is a powerful message of hope to listeners who may be experiencing a difficult time. Callie sings that someone somewhere might be fighting the hardest fight of their lives, but they should keep fighting because they are loved and they have something beautiful to give. She encourages them to stand up and keep going by reminding them that love will always be present.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been 25 years and 11 days
It has been 25 years and 11 days since Callie Moore was born.
Since I was last in the womb
Since Callie Moore was inside her mother's womb.
Of a woman celebrating the pain
Of a woman in labor.
But in her body she was carrying something else
But also carrying a cancerous tumor.
An unwelcome guest
The tumor was something that was not wanted.
An intruder in a beautiful house
The body was referred to as a beautiful house and the tumor was the intruder in it.
They say that cancer is a hard and a stubborn man
Cancer is commonly referred to as a difficult and unyielding disease.
But still he teaches us something that nobody else can
Despite its challenges, cancer teaches people unique lessons.
I had a letter that she wrote me
Callie Moore had a letter that her mother wrote to her.
But I couldn't read the cursive yet
At the time she received the letter, Callie Moore was not able to read cursive handwriting.
So daddy sat me in his lap and he read it
Her father read the letter to her.
The words she said to me I didn't really grasp it yet
At the time, Callie Moore didn't understand the meaning behind the words in the letter.
And after all these years I finally understand it
Over time, Callie Moore eventually figured out the true meaning of the letter.
Love will never leave this place
The message of the letter was that love is always present and will never leave.
No, love will never this place
The message of the letter was that love is always present and will never leave.
You know looking back I was a happy child
Callie Moore reflects on her childhood as being a happy one.
I did so much better than to just survive
She did more than just survive her past experiences.
But I guess I'm singing this song somehow
Callie Moore is uncertain about why she is choosing to sing this song at this moment.
Because I know somewhere in this world right now
She knows that someone in the world is currently going through something difficult.
You're sitting in the emptiest corner of the darkest room
The person she is speaking to could be in a dark place mentally or physically.
You're fighting some great war you fear your gonna lose
The person she is speaking to is fighting a battle that they may not win.
If I could find you in the moment of your greatest pain
If Callie could be with the person when they were in the most pain she would.
I'd take you by the hand and I would say come on
She would give words of encouragement and support to try and lift their spirits.
Stand up I wanna see you live
She wants the person to be able to live their life to the fullest.
As though there something beautiful you have to give
She encourages the person that there is something amazing that they can offer to the world.
'Cause there is
She truly believes that everyone has something wonderful to contribute.
Yeah there is
She reaffirms that there is something special in everyone.
Come on and stand up let me see you see this through
She wants the person to be strong and see their situation through to the end.
As though you've got somebody holding on to you
She wants them to feel as though they have someone supporting them through their struggles.
Cause you do
The reality is that everyone has someone who cares for them.
You do
She reassures the person that they are not alone.
No, love will never leave this place
Love is a constant that will never fade or abandon them.
It's been 17 years and a single day
It has been 17 years and a day since something significant happened in Callie Moore's life.
Since the child that I was
Since Callie Moore was a child.
Became the child that I still am today
She still holds onto aspects of her childhood and past experiences.
Contributed by Anna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Saz Stetson
I bought this song on the way home to live and care for my grandmother who was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. I re-listened to it on the way to her funeral 3 weeks ago and it struck a major chord with me. I used to hum this to my niece and my grandmother ended up loving this song. Thank you Callie, for giving me so many memories with this song. Much love. xx
Fred Sanford
Jesus Callie...what to say to that? An amazing trail to someones heart...I've lived most of my life alone...lost my mother to cancer in 95 and my older sister in 09...and wasn't with them through it. Everyone has tears to shed but the tug you've put on my heart was overwhelming...what a beautiful song. Thank you for sharing it with the world and in the end with me. Simply wonderful....
lisapy1132
A beautiful song with beautiful hearts involved. Thank you Callie and love to all those who were in the video. Together we can support the world and all the pain inside it XXX
T4Tyson
Hi Callie! I have had 4 people close to my pass away from Cancer including my foster father and it will be two years this upcoming January. A close friend of mine is Brain Cancer. I have been suffering from an undiagnosed condition for 3 years and it's been an up hill battle. But God has really put amazing people in my life to help me get through it all. Thank you and all those involved for making this song. It spoke volumes to me! Many Blessings!!!!!
EWeber
Callie, I'm at the end (hopefully!) of a cancer battle right now, and I can't tell you how much listening to this helped me :) It made me feel like someone out there gets it. Thank you! The messages from people are EXACTLY what I need to hear sometimes. This is such a beautiful video - amazing! My last round (hopefully!) of radiation is in 1 month, and then I should be in the clear. My best comfort through this has been the hope I've found in the stories of people like you and your family :)
Blinkshabonk
I'm heading for my grandfather's funeral in an hour and I just wanted to say thanks to Callie and thanks to all the people in this video. You all have really helped me feel a lot better! = )
CarolsVideos
"An unwelcome guest, an intruder in a beautiful house" I love that lyric...
Bethany Wallis
Thank you so much for finding your voice to finish this song. My dad was just diagnosed with colon cancer. I know he will survive. I wish that no one would have to know what you're talking about. You are so amazing and so beautiful. I keep sharing the song on my facebook page and told people to subscribe. Thank you for everything you do to support cancer research. I personally do Relay for Life every year. It helps me remember people who have died and celebrate those who haven't.
Keysora
Thank you for writing this. My dad passed away four years ago, and I'm only 21 so I don't have many friends who understand and a lot of time I feel alone in my sadness. This song makes me feel not alone, especially reading the comments of so many people who have been through the same pain. I'm not good at crying about it but this video made it feel good. Thank you. <3
Amy Boyd
This is amazing. Almost everyone I know knows somebody who has died form cancer or who is fighting it, such as my grandfather. He passed away a little while ago from lung cancer. It's an evil disease, and the only way we can feel better about it is by banding together and staying strong, which is exactly what you're doing with this music.You moved me to tears with your lyrics and beautiful voice. Thank you so much for instilling faith in cancer victims and their relatives.