Newcomer is recognised as a rare breed of singer/songwriter: the kind who illuminates life with startling depth, humor and clarity. Her ability for sharp observation of the world lead the Dallas Morning News to rave, "She's the kind of artist whose music makes you stop, think and then say, 'that is so true'." Mining what is true, Newcomer's latest Rounder release, Before and After is a multi-layered work that invites the listener to slow down and reflect on the experiences that have changed and shaped our lives. On Before and After, Newcomer remarks, she has "peeled back another musical and emotional layer". The result is melodious and smooth, infused with classic Newcomer grace and honesty, so that, she says "there is something unguarded and naked about this album."
Praised by Billboard as a "soaring songstress," Newcomer is an acclaimed musician who continues to create music from her uniquely spiritual and poignant take on the world. Before and After is no exception, highlighting Newcomer's ability to blend her rich alto with a poetic lyricism on a skillfully arranged and performed collection of folk roots tracks, with Appalachian and classical influences. "The joy and challenge in creating this album was endeavoring to be fearlessly uncluttered and subtle," Newcomer says. The title track features an unforgettably haunting and beautiful duet with a special guest appearance by Mary Chapin Carpenter, launching the album with a remarkable collaboration from two of acoustic music's most resonant female vocalists.
Recorded and produced by Newcomer and David Weber at Airtime Studios, Before and After is Newcomer's twelfth release on Rounder, with prior albums including Regulars & Refugees, The Age of Possibility, The Gathering of Spirits, the Betty's Diner collection and her last critically acclaimed album The Geography of Light. Before and After results from working closely with a core of exceptional musicians, including Gary Walters on piano, Chris Wagoner on violin, mandolin, dobro and accordion, Mary Gaines on cello, Byron House on upright acoustic bass, Jim Brock on percussion, Keith Skooglund on guitar, and a second stunning duet featuring special guest Krista Detor on "Do No Harm." At the center is Newcomer's adept guitar work and resonant voice, which the Austin Statesman has described as being "as rich as Godiva chocolate." The album's artwork features the work of Hugh Syme, whose sense of magical realism captures Newcomer's joyous idea about finding miracles in common places.
On Before and After, the listener experiences a deep connection through Newcomer's lyrics, which explore life with a progressive spiritual sensibility. The Minneapolis City Pages wrote, "Newcomer's musing is deeply introspective, but she offers it with a poet's sense of nuance and a folkie's common touch, turning philosophical theory into the stuff of people's daily lives." On the captivating title track, Newcomer ponders the notion that "We live our lives from then until now, by the mercies received or the mark upon our brow" - exploring the large and small experiences by which we mark our lives. On "Stones in the River" she tenderly reveals that we may never see fruit from the seeds we plant today, but regardless, it is still vital that we plant them. She holds close the insistence of hope in "If Not Now" ("But miracles do happen every shining now and then") in a style reminiscent of the richness and depth of the traditional spirituals. From the cinematic lushness of "Before and After" to the elegant string accompaniments of "I Do Not Know Its Name," to the lighthearted and poignant "I Wish I May I Wish I Might," Before and After is both timeless and contemporary.
Newcomer, a Quaker, cuts across secular and spiritual boundaries. In recent years, she has emerged as a respected and recognized artistic voice for the progressive spiritual community. On Before and After, Newcomer continues to be inspired by her friendships and recent collaborations with leading authors and theologians, including Parker J. Palmer, Phillip Gulley, Scott Russell Sanders, Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, Jill Bolte Taylor, Richard K. Thomas and Barbara Kingsolver. Her relationship with this community influenced many of the album's compelling themes and inspired the songs: "Do No Harm," "Stones in the River," and "I Wish I May, I Wish I Might."
Newcomer has worked with many notable artists throughout her career and has met with critical acclaim for her music. In 2008, she was listed as one of the Top Most Influential Artists of the past 25 Years by Boston's WUMB. Her successful 2008 release, The Geography of Light, also earned her Artist of the Year and Album of the Year from Folk Wax Magazine. She has toured with Alison Krauss and Union Station in Europe and the U.S. and recorded the title track of her 2002 The Gathering of Spirits album with Krauss. Krauss went on to introduce Nickel Creek to Newcomer's song "I Should've Known Better," which the band recorded on their Grammy-winning, gold-selling album This Side (produced by Krauss). Currently Carrie is writing a collection of essays and a musical based on the characters and music of Betty's Diner with author, playwright and internationally recognized sound designer Richard K. Thomas.
Newcomer's music has been praised in Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Acoustic Guitar, Performing Songwriter, Paste Magazine and several other outlets. In the words of acclaimed writer Barbara Kingsolver, author of The Poisonwood Bible, "Carrie Newcomer is much more than a musician. She's a poet, storyteller, snake charmer, good neighbor, friend and lover, minister of the wide-eyed gospel of hope and grace."
In the fall of 2009, Newcomer was invited by The American Center, the cultural outreach division of The American Embassy in India, to represent the U.S. as a cultural ambassador. Newcomer performed concerts for Indian audiences and young people involved with community service, taught workshops on songwriting, community service, and met and performed with contemporary, traditional and classical Indian musicians. She also visited slum programs for women and children at risk throughout the country of India. About her impressions of India, Newcomer says, "Music can be a language deeper than words. I love our differences. Cultures are rich and what makes each culture unique is to be celebrated, but I was powerfully moved by what we share as a human family."
www.carrienewcomer.com
Close Your Eyes
Carrie Newcomer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we come equipped with a piece of God in our hearts
But the world exacts a hard and bitter cost
And some of us get oh so very lost
Close your eyes
Your heart knows why
And what's the truth
Through each mistake and every old regret
and every hope that hasn't come through yet
I still believe though it's crazy that I might
And like a diamond shines each bit of light
Close your eyes
Your heart knows why
And what's the truth
And what's the lie
So how I got this job I'll never know
But when it calls you can't refuse to go
So most of us just do the best we can
And in this stumbling world just try to stand
Close your eyes
Your heart knows why
And what's the truth
And what's the lie
In “Close Your Eyes” by Carrie Newcomer, the lyrics suggest that even though we are born with a piece of God in our hearts, the realities of the world can be bitter, leading some people astray. Despite the regrets and disappointments that come with life, the singer still believes that there is hope and light. The chorus urges the listener to close their eyes and trust their heart to discern the truth from the lies.
The message of the song is about the power of resilience and optimism amid life’s challenges. The lyrics convey that life can be stumbling, but we can choose to believe in something greater than ourselves. The line “And in this stumbling world just try to stand” speaks to the importance of perseverance and standing up for what we believe in.
Overall, “Close Your Eyes” is a song about not giving up, even when life is hard. It encourages listeners to trust their instincts and to remain hopeful in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe we're born good from the start
I trust that we all start off as inherently good beings.
And we come equipped with a piece of God in our hearts
We are born with a part of divinity within us that we carry our whole lives.
But the world exacts a hard and bitter cost
Unfortunately, the world takes a toll on us and it can be painful.
And some of us get oh so very lost
Some of us will stray so far from ourselves, we won't know how to find our way back.
Through each mistake and every old regret
Even though we all make mistakes and have regrets, we can learn from them.
and every hope that hasn't come through yet
We all have unfulfilled hopes and dreams, and that's okay.
I still believe though it's crazy that I might
It might sound silly, but I still have faith in the world and in people.
And like a diamond shines each bit of light
Just like diamonds reflect light beautifully, our positive qualities shine through us.
So how I got this job I'll never know
I'm not entirely sure how I ended up where I am in life, but I'm grateful.
But when it calls you can't refuse to go
When something is calling you, you can't ignore it. You have to follow that inner voice.
So most of us just do the best we can
In this world, we're all just trying our best.
And in this stumbling world just try to stand
In a world that can be difficult to navigate, we just have to try to stay upright and keep moving forward.
Close your eyes
Take a moment to quiet your mind and listen to your inner voice.
Your heart knows why
Your intuition and emotions can guide you towards your true purpose.
And what's the truth
It's important to discern what's true and what's not, especially when it comes to our beliefs and values.
And what's the lie
We need to be aware of deception and falsehoods in the world, and not allow them to take hold.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CARRIE ANN NEWCOMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind