“For me, this is an album that’s focused on growth and maturity, but it’s not deadly serious,” says front man Barry Privett. “I wanted to examine my life and the lives of my family and friends and do it with a little bit of a wink. The last thing I wanted to do was get all dark and overwrought.”
Privett and his bandmates dodge that pitfall with aplomb on Nothing Rhymes With Woman, the much-anticipated follow-up to the acclaimed 2006 offering Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat. As ever, the quintet -- recently joined by drummer Jason Neal, a veteran of the southeast’s club circuit, and Seattle bassist Jon Markel -- challenge themselves and listeners by steadfastly refusing to retrace old steps, bringing in like-minded collaborators (like Toby Lightman, who brings a burnished tone to her vocal parts on the gritty “Meltdown”) and taking off in plenty of new directions of their own accord.
That sense of freshness, to hear Privett tell the tale, has a lot to do with the relaxed nature of the disc’s recording, which took place in their Richmond, Virginia backyard. “This time, we did something we hadn’t done in a long time, and that was to just throw away the timeline altogether,” says the singer. “We waited until everyone believed in every single song without any doubt or questions. It was a return to the days of doing music for the sheer joy of just doing it.”
The joy he’s talking about proves contagious throughout the 13-song disc, both in sonic touches like the soaring harmonies that buoy “Indecision” and the instantly relatable vibe of narratives like the nostalgic childhood flashback “X-Ray.” The tones are certainly varied -- things get more than a little misty on “Pink,” a poignant tale of a woman battling serious illness -- but they’re invariably free of artificiality. Every color here is one that one can find in nature.
“A lot of the songs are about getting back to your roots,” says Privett, who reckons the band gained a lot of traction by spending a considerable stretch of time close to home, as opposed to its usual relentless touring slate. “You know, holding onto the touchstones that keep you grounded in reality. They’re easy to lose sight of sometimes, and often you need reminding. Fortunately, we have friends and family that will do that in no uncertain terms.”
Nothing Rhymes With Woman finds the Virginia-based band firmly in touch with its roots -- the Celtic tinge that cloaks “Pink” is reminiscent of Carbon Leaf’s passel of self-released discs. Throughout the set, however, the quintet affirms a commitment to moving forward, kicking out the jams a bit more aggressively on the sinewy walking blues “Another Man’s Woman” and interpolating the rich organ playing of longtime Dave Matthews Band keyboardist Butch Taylor on several tracks, including the arresting opener “Indecision.”
“It’s always been really important to us to keep an organic feel to what we do,” says Privett. “For us, recording this album was like a renewal, kind of like the coming of spring. In a way, it’s very sensual, very sexual, gentle and mellow in spots, but also acknowledges a fair share of optimism and a re-awakening to new possibilities.
In 2004, Vanguard released Carbon Leaf’s breakthrough disc, Indian Summer, which earned rave reviews from sources like The Washington Post, which marveled at Privett’s ability to “capture the emotional ache of a twenty-something as he watches his friends scatter to the four corners of the world”. For the next year and a half, the quintet would set about winning over audiences while on tour -- a recipe that helped "Life Less Ordinary" and "What About Everything?” up the charts.
That winning streak continued with Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat, a darker collection, recorded in Nashville, that showcased other facets of the Carbon Leaf sound and rose to number-three on Billboard’s Top New Artists chart. “We definitely stretched ourselves on that album,” says Privett. “It was unsettling in a way, but definitely helped us find ourselves.”
Reunited with producer John Morand, who manned the board for Indian Summer, Carbon Leaf takes the proverbial next step on Nothing Rhymes With Woman. The multi-instrumental web woven by Carter Gravatt and Terry Clark provides a perfect backdrop for Privett’s tenor, which hovers ethereally on “Lake of Silver Bells” and cuts with the precision of a knife wielded by a master chef on the poignant “Miss Hollywood.”
“I think ’Miss Hollywood,’ like a lot of the album, has a kind of feminine energy, which helps explain the title,” says Privett. “It’s that balance of strength and fragility, of keeping dreams in check, but not forgetting where they came from. It’s a positive and nurturing energy, and that’s the feeling we’d like people to come away with when they listen to the album.”
Barry Privett: Vocals, guitar
Terry Clark: Guitar, vocals
Carter Gravatt: Guitar, vocals
Jason Neal: Drums, percussion
Jon Markel: Bass
Paloma
Carbon Leaf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you might be found
Face all aglow, to leave from here
To pack up and go
But it takes some time to get away
And you will have to build from what remains
To run it takes the courage of a lamb
To love, the fierceness of a storm
Paloma you wonder if you'll miss the thunder
Everyone's staring , but no one is caring for you now
Just spread your wings, latch onto the breeze
Just take the leap... and you're free
Chase the high ground - where you'd rather be
Where you might be found
This move may erase the troubles in your head
Or expose the absence of your soul
And so, it takes some time to get away
And you will have to tear down what remains
And I can't stand for goodbyes
So hold on to me, or lead the way
Paloma you wonder if you'll miss the thunder
Everyone's staring , but no one is caring for you now
Just spread your wings, latch onto the breeze
Just take the leap... and you're free
Pace yourself when outrunning fear
Take cover when it's dark
And keep an even keel
In your world you're only a phone away
But in my world you're too far to feel
And it may take some time to learn what's real
And you may have to beg and borrow
And you will surely steal
Remember all those lonely sessions
Turned into yesterday's lessons
To never forget love, to never forget love
Paloma you wonder if you'll miss the thunder
Everyone's staring, but no one is caring for you now
Just spread your wings, latch onto the breeze
Just take the leap... and you're free
Paloma you wonder if you'll miss the thunder
Everyone's staring but no one is caring for...
Paloma you cry out you beg for connection
The dreams you seek are straight ahead in every direction
Now you're free
Now that you're, you're free
Now that you're, you're free
You're free
Today I watched the greatest thing of all
A flock of birds, preparing for the fall
The song Paloma by Carbon Leaf explores the theme of taking a leap of faith and pursuing one’s dreams, even if it means leaving behind the familiar and comfortable. The lyrics urge the singer, named Paloma, to chase after the “high ground” where she would “rather be” and “might be found.” Paloma is a metaphor for anyone who desires to break free of their current situation and seek adventure, but is afraid of the unknown.
The song acknowledges the difficulties and challenges that may arise when one pursues their dream, such as tearing down what remains and running towards courage. Paloma wonders if she will miss the “thunder,” the excitement of the known, and doubts whether anyone will care about her once she leaves. Yet, the chorus encourages her to spread her wings, latch onto the breeze, and take the leap towards freedom. The song ends with the realization that the dreams one seeks are “straight ahead in every direction,” and once one takes the leap, they are free.
Line by Line Meaning
Chase the high ground - where you'd rather be
Find the higher path that you desire
Where you might be found
Seek the place where you belong
Face all aglow, to leave from here
Find the courage to leave behind the past, with a bright face full of hope for what's ahead
To pack up and go
It's time to leave all behind and move forward
But it takes some time to get away
Moving on and starting anew takes time
And you will have to build from what remains
Move forward with what you have left and rebuild your life
To run it takes the courage of a lamb
To move forward and leave the past behind, you need to be brave
To love, the fierceness of a storm
To love someone deeply, you need to be passionate and fierce
Paloma you wonder if you'll miss the thunder
Paloma, are you afraid of what you may leave behind?
Everyone's staring , but no one is caring for you now
No one is paying attention or concerned about your worries
Just spread your wings, latch onto the breeze
Take the leap, embrace change and the opportunities that come with it
Just take the leap... and you're free
Move forward, and you will find freedom
This move may erase the troubles in your head
Moving on can remove the worries that trouble your mind
Or expose the absence of your soul
Starting anew can reveal if there is something missing in your life
And I can't stand for goodbyes
Leaving behind the past can be difficult
So hold on to me, or lead the way
I will support you through this change or follow where you lead
Pace yourself when outrunning fear
Be careful and take your time while facing your fears
Take cover when it's dark
When things get difficult, protect yourself and take shelter
And keep an even keel
Stay balanced and steady in your course
In your world you're only a phone away
In your own world, you can stay connected no matter where you go
But in my world you're too far to feel
But in my world, the distance is too great to feel the same connection
And it may take some time to learn what's real
It can take time to understand what's true and what isn't
And you may have to beg and borrow
You may need to ask for help from others
And you will surely steal
You may have to take what you need, even if it's not yours
Remember all those lonely sessions
Think back to the times when you felt alone
Turned into yesterday's lessons
Those times taught you something which now shapes your past
To never forget love, to never forget love
Always remember to love and be loved
Paloma you cry out you beg for connection
Paloma, are you longing for a connection with others?
The dreams you seek are straight ahead in every direction
Your dreams are in your reach, no matter what direction you take
Now that you're, you're free
Now that you have embraced change, you are free
You're free
You have found your freedom
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BARRY THOMAS PRIVETT, CARTER GRAVATT, SCOTT ANDREW MILSTEAD, TERRELL H. CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind