Anderson was raised by her paternal grandparents in Houston, Texas during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Her mother was Vicki Anderson, a soul singer who was the featured singer with James Brown during the 1960s and 1970s, and Brown is Anderson's godfather. Anderson briefly married in 1978 and had a son, but the marriage did not last and for most of the 1980s she was living as a single parent in California and attempting to launch her singing career. Her only major success was recording vocals for a song by her step-father Bobby Byrd in 1988, and so in June 1990, she decided to relocate with her son to England to try her luck at starting a career there.
Anderson quickly formed an Acid jazz band with Marc Nelson and Femi Williams called the Young Disciples. The group's only album, Road to Freedom (Talkin' Loud, 1991), was a great success and contained the break-out single Apparently Nothin' (Talkin' Loud, 1992). Anderson received a lot of attention as the lead singer (and keyboardist) of the group, and used her heightened profile to negotiate a new, solo recording contract with Virgin Records in 1992.
1992 saw Anderson record backing vocals for Paul Weller's eponimous solo album, which was the start of a long friendship and working relationship between the two. Weller helped Anderson with her production and songwriting, which led to the release of her first solo work, The Dusky Sapho EP (Circa/Virgin, 1993). Throughout this period, Anderson also continued to supply backing and guest vocals for a wide variety of other artists from Galliano to Bryan Ferry to the first volume of Guru's Jazzmatazz project.
Her first solo album - True Spirit (Circa/Virgin, 1994) - followed, and was a moderate critical and sales success. Anderson cemented her working relationship with Paul Weller by providing backing vocals (with her sister, Pamela) on his legendary Stanley Road (Polygram, 1995) record, and the follow up Heavy Soul (Polygram, 1997). To return the favour he worked with her on her second solo album, Blessed Burden (Circa/Virgin, 1998). The album continued her professional development, but was to be her final one for Virgin.
Following her departure from Virgin, Anderson briefly filled in as lead vocalist for the Brand New Heavies following the departure of their lead singer N'Dea Davenport - ironic, considering both were American singers who found their fame in British Acid jazz groups. Anderson also continued to provide guest and backing vocals for other artists whilst working on her first independently produced album, Alberta's Granddaughter (Dusky Sappho Music, 2002), which was followed by greatist hits album Up To Now: The Best Of (Virgin, 2004).
Following this, Anderson moved to Dome records to release Soul Providence (Dome, 2005), and 2006 is mostly to be spent touring to promote the album.
Don't Look Back In Anger
Carleen Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don′t you know you might find
A better place to play
You said that you've never been (sounds like "bean" in order to rhyme
W/"seen")
But all the things that you′ve seen
They slowly fade away
So I'll start a revolution from my bed
Step outside, summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
You ain′t ever gonna burn my heart out
And so, Sally can wait
She knows it′s too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away
But don′t look back in anger
I heard you say
Take me to the place where you go
Where nobody knows if it's night or day
Please don′t put your life in the hands
Of a rock and roll band
Who'll throw it all away
I′m gonna start a revolution from my bed
"Cause you said the brains I had went to my head
Step outside, "cause summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
"Cause you ain't ever gonna burn my heart out
So, Sally can wait
She knows it′s too late as she′s walking on by
My soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say
(Guitar solo)
So, Sally can wait
She knows it′s too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away
But don′t look back in anger
I heard you say
So, Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as she′s walking on by
My soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
Don't look back in anger
I heard you say
At least not today. Slip inside the eye of your mind
Don′t you know you might find
A better place to play
You said that you′ve never been (sounds like "bean" in order to rhyme
W/"seen")
But all the things that you've seen
They slowly fade away
So I′ll start a revolution from my bed
"Cause you said the brains I had went to my head
Step outside, summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
You ain′t ever gonna burn my heart out
And so, Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as we′re walking on by
Her soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say
Take me to the place where you go
Where nobody knows if it's night or day
Please don′t put your life in the hands
Of a rock and roll band
Who′ll throw it all away
I'm gonna start a revolution from my bed
"Cause you said the brains I had went to my head
Step outside, "cause summertime′s in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
"Cause you ain't ever gonna burn my heart out
So, Sally can wait
She knows it′s too late as she's walking on by
My soul slides away
But don′t look back in anger
I heard you say
(Guitar solo)
So, Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away
But don′t look back in anger
I heard you say
So, Sally can wait
She knows it′s too late as she's walking on by
My soul slides away
But don′t look back in anger
Don't look back in anger
I heard you say
At least not today.
The lyrics to Carleen Anderson's song "Don't Look Back in Anger" speak to the idea that sometimes we need to let go of our past and embrace the present. The opening line, "Slip inside the eye of your mind, don't you know you might find a better place to play?" suggests that by looking inward and reflecting on our thoughts and experiences, we may find a more fulfilling way of living. The following lines, "You said that you've never been, but all the things that you've seen, they slowly fade away," imply that memories may lose their significance over time and that staying stuck in the past can be limiting.
The lyrics then shift to a call to action, with the lines "So, I'll start a revolution from my bed, 'cause you said the brains I had went to my head." Here, the singer is acknowledging that they have been given a gift or talent but has yet to utilize it fully. They are determined to make a change, and the summertime represents a new start. The lyrics then tell the story of Sally walking by, with her soul slipping away, but the singer says not to look back in anger. This phrase is repeated throughout the song and represents a message of acceptance and forgiveness.
Overall, "Don't Look Back in Anger" is a song about the importance of living in the present and letting go of the past. It encourages self-reflection, starting a revolution, and embracing new possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Slip inside the eye of your mind
Enter your imagination where anything is possible
Don't you know you might find
A better place to play
You might discover a better state of being
You said that you've never been (sounds like "bean" in order to rhyme
W/"seen")
But all the things that you've seen
They slowly fade away
You may not have experienced a lot, but memories will fade regardless
So I'll start a revolution from my bed
"Cause you said the brains I had went to my head
Starting a change can be done from anywhere, and should not be ignored
Step outside, summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
You ain't ever gonna burn my heart out
Enjoy the weather, don't frown, and don't try to hurt me
And so, Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say
Letting go of past may aid us move forward
Take me to the place where you go
Where nobody knows if it's night or day
Take me to a mysterious place so we may be free
Please don't put your life in the hands
Of a rock and roll band
Who'll throw it all away
Be cautious on who you trust with your life; not all opportunities are worth it
I'm gonna start a revolution from my bed
"Cause you said the brains I had went to my head
Any time is a good time to start a fight for change, and it may be done from anywhere
Step outside, "cause summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
"Cause you ain't ever gonna burn my heart out
Enjoy summer, don't frown, and don't try to hurt me
So, Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as she's walking on by
My soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say
Learning to let go of the past may aid in moving forward
(Guitar solo)
(Instrumental break)
So, Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say
Letting the past go is important for moving on
So, Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as she's walking on by
My soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say
It is important to move on
But don't look back in anger
Don't look back in anger
I heard you say
At least not today.
It is important to let go of anger and resentment for the sake of moving on and growing, even if not today
Writer(s): Noel Gallagher
Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.