Carly announced her retirement from gymnastics in 2006. "It's hard to top an all-around gold," her coach, Evgeny Marchenko, said. However, injuries also contributed to her decision to quit the sport. "Not a lot of people know this - I started having some back issues, and honestly, my doctor was like, 'Carly, you really need to stop if you want to be able to walk when you get older'," she said in 2009. "So I retired and moved on to singing."
She'd first discussed her interest in pursuing a singing career in March of 2005. After singing part of "Damaged" on August 21, 2005, on FOX Sports Net's Sports Sunday, she announced on December 18, 2005, that she had signed a demo contract for four songs with Papa Joe's Records. Together with singer and writer Chris Megert, she wrote and produced songs titled "Time to Wake Up" and "Lost in Me."
In the fall of 2006, Carly participated in the reality show Celebrity Duets (produced by American Idol judge Simon Cowell), in which celebrities not known for singing performed duets with professional singers. The show premiered on August 29, 2006, airing every Thursday and Friday with alternate performance and results shows. During the September 8 results show, Carly joined Cheech Marin and Lea Thompson in the bottom three, but the audience spared her from elimination. The following week, however, she was eliminated from the competition after singing a duet with Jesse McCartney.
Carly signed with MusicMind Records in Chicago in February 2008. The single "Temporary Life (Ordinary Girl)" was released on iTunes on March 25, 2008, and her debut album, Back to the Beginning, was scheduled for an August 8, 2008 release, which happened to coincide with the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. However, the release was pushed back, and Carly first released another single, "Time to Wake Up," on iTunes on February 17, 2009. Back to the Beginning was finally released on iTunes on August 25, 2009 and was also available for purchase at the 2009 Visa Gymnastics Championships on August 12-15 in Dallas, Texas, where Carly was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame and honored with Nastia, Evgeny, and Nastia's coach & father Valeri Liukin (the latter two are also the founders and owners of WOGA) for WOGA's remarkable achievement of back-to-back Olympic all-around champions.
Here I Am
Carly Patterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I'm here gave my all paid the price
And I do it again
I've walked alone in my head
I've cried in my bed
But the morning lights oh so bright
Wake me again
It's about faith and
It's about risking it all everyday
It's about holding when you wanna let go
It's just believing in all that you know
Chorus:
Here I am
Now standing on the edge
Everything I know coming together
All my life
I've seen it in my dreams
Waiting for the day
I'm just a second away
Verse 2:
I'm taking time
Reaching down
To walk through my fear
Break it down
In my head
I can see it so clear
I work it out
In my heart
I see it appear
The world is so beautiful
From the view up here
Bridge 2:
It's about living
Not just getting by
It's about reaching when
There's nothing inside
It's about breathing
When all it too much
It's about standing when you wanna give up
Chorus:
Here I am
Now standing on the edge
Everything I know coming together
All my life
I've seen it in my dreams
Waiting for the day
I'm just a second away
Verse 3:
Everything is disappearing
Standing up here alone
And I feel like
I'm standing forever
This is where I belong
Chorus (x2):
Here I am now
Yeah
Here I am
Now standing on the edge
Everything I know coming together
All my life
I've seen it in my dreams
Waiting for the day
I'm just a second away
I'm just a second away x2
The lyrics of the song "Here I Am" by Carly Patterson are about the journey of self-discovery and self-belief before achieving success. The singer reflects on how far she has come and how hard she has worked to be in the position she is in now. She acknowledges the struggles she has faced along the way, but also the rewards of never giving up. The lyrics convey the idea that success is not just about luck, it's about faith, fate, and taking risks every day. It's about believing in yourself and never letting go of your dreams.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Here I am" which reinforces the idea of self-discovery and self-belief. The singer is now standing on the edge, everything she knows is coming together and her dreams are finally being realized. The verses talk about how the singer overcame her fears by taking time to work through them. She sees the world beautifully from where she is now and feels that this is where she belongs.
In the bridge, the singer shares the message that success is not just about getting by, it's about living and breathing through every challenge. It's about standing up even when you feel like giving up. The final chorus repeats and affirms the message of self-belief and determination to achieve one's dreams.
Overall, the song "Here I Am" is an inspiring and uplifting anthem that conveys the message of never giving up and always believing in oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking back where i'm from can't believe That I'm here gave my all paid the price And I do it again
Reflecting on my past, I can hardly fathom how I arrived at this point. But I'm immensely grateful for the hard work and sacrifices that have brought me here, and I would do it all again without hesitation.
I've walked alone in my head I've cried in my bed But the morning lights oh so bright Wake me again It's about faith and It's about fate It's about risking it all everyday It's about holding when you wanna let go It's just believing in all that you know
I've struggled privately and faced doubt and fear, but each new day brings renewed hope and the knowledge that taking risks and trusting yourself are the keys to success.
Chorus: Here I am Now standing on the edge Everything I know coming together All my life I've seen it in my dreams Waiting for the day I'm just a second away
With everything coming together, I find myself on the brink of realizing my lifelong dreams, just one small step away from taking my place among the greats.
Verse 2: I'm taking time Reaching down To walk through my fear Break it down In my head I can see it so clear I work it out In my heart I see it appear The world is so beautiful From the view up here
Despite the fear that sometimes holds me back, I'm determined to overcome it and envision a bright future full of beauty and possibility.
Bridge 2: It's about living Not just getting by It's about reaching when There's nothing inside It's about breathing When all it too much It's about standing when you wanna give up
Life is about thriving, not just surviving, and sometimes that means pushing through even when you don't think you can. It's about taking a deep breath and standing strong, no matter what.
Verse 3: Everything is disappearing Standing up here alone And I feel like I'm standing forever This is where I belong
As the world fades away and I find myself alone, I feel a deep sense of belonging and peace in the knowledge that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.
Chorus (x2): Here I am now Yeah Here I am Now standing on the edge Everything I know coming together All my life I've seen it in my dreams Waiting for the day I'm just a second away I'm just a second away x2
With the chorus repeating, I emphasize that I am truly on the cusp of achieving my dreams, with everything I've ever wanted just one split second away.
Contributed by William D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.