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
Ghost Train
Carrie Newcomer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the corner of your vision it beckons to you.
After the crops have all come in amid the stubble and the chaff
Keep on walking when it whispers and don't look back.
Some say it's the Ghost Train's headlight or poor Wayland Smiths' pyre
Some say it's the Will o the Wisp or St. Elmo's fire,
Or the ghost of wandering spirits that got lost between the worlds.
When it's done it's said and done.
What it's gone it's good and gone.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
But pack it up and move along.
I'm not saying don't remember or that all things can be repaired
But after the truth's been told where do we go from there?
Sorrow is a constant companion we learn to walk beside.
Keep walking when it whispers and don't listen when it lies.
When it's done it's said and done.
What it's gone it's good and gone.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
But pack it up and move along.
There are stories that we were told just to keep us in our place.
There are stories that we made up ourselves to save a little face.
There are the ones that made us crazy and the ones that kept us sane,
Keep on walking if the stories all start to sound the same.
When it's done it's said and done.
What it's gone it's good and gone.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
But pack it up and move along.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
But pack it up and move along.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
But pack it up and move along.
The song "Ghost Train" by Carrie Newcomer is a reflection on loss, moving forward, and the power of stories. The lyrics suggest that there is often a light in the darkness that is just out of view, and that we should always keep moving forward towards it, even if we aren't quite sure what it is. Newcomer uses the image of a ghost train to represent this light, suggesting that it might be something mysterious and intangible, or even something supernatural.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that sometimes, when we have experienced a great loss or tragedy, there is nothing left to do but move on. The repetition of the phrase "when it's done, it's said and done" drives this point home, suggesting that there is no sense in dwelling on things that cannot be changed. However, the song also acknowledges that grief and sorrow are constant companions, and that it is important to keep walking forward even in the face of these difficult emotions.
Another theme in "Ghost Train" is the idea that stories have great power. The lyrics suggest that some stories are told to keep us in our place, while others are created to boost our own egos. However, the song also suggests that there are some stories that can keep us sane in difficult times, and that we should hold on to these stories and keep them close, even as we continue to move forward.
Overall, the song encourages the listener to keep walking forward, even in the face of loss and grief. It suggests that there is always a light in the darkness, even if we can't quite see it, and that we should embrace the power of stories to help us move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a light in the darkness just barely out of view
There's a solution to your problems; you just can't see it yet.
From the corner of your vision it beckons to you.
You're not sure if what you're seeing is real, but it's worth investigating.
After the crops have all come in amid the stubble and the chaff
After a long period of hard work, there may be something waiting for you.
Keep on walking when it whispers and don't look back.
Keep pushing forward and don't get bogged down by doubts or regrets.
Some say it's the Ghost Train's headlight or poor Wayland Smiths' pyre
There are many explanations for the mysterious phenomenon you're seeing.
Some say it's the Will o the Wisp or St. Elmo's fire,
People have different interpretations of what's happening.
Or the ghost of wandering spirits that got lost between the worlds.
There may be something supernatural at play.
Keep on walking when they whisper or if the lines begin to blur.
Don't get sidetracked by other people's opinions or conflicting information.
When it's done it's said and done.
Once something is finished, there's no going back.
What it's gone it's good and gone.
When something is over, it's best to move on instead of dwelling on it.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
Sometimes there are no easy solutions or ways to fix a problem.
But pack it up and move along.
In these situations, it's best to cut your losses and keep moving forward.
I'm not saying don't remember or that all things can be repaired
It's important to acknowledge and learn from the past, but not everything can be fixed.
But after the truth's been told where do we go from there?
Once the facts are out in the open, it's time to figure out what to do next.
Sorrow is a constant companion we learn to walk beside.
Sadness is a part of life, and we have to find a way to live with it.
Keep walking when it whispers and don't listen when it lies.
Don't let negative emotions or self-doubt hold you back from your goals.
There are stories that we were told just to keep us in our place.
There are societal expectations and limitations that we're taught to follow.
There are stories that we made up ourselves to save a little face.
We often create narratives to protect our own egos or reputations.
There are the ones that made us crazy and the ones that kept us sane,
Stories can have a big impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
Keep on walking if the stories all start to sound the same.
If you feel stuck or uninspired, it may be time to try something new.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
Sometimes we reach a dead end or a point of no return.
But pack it up and move along.
When this happens, it's time to let go and move on to the next thing.
Sometimes there's nothing left to do,
Some situations are beyond our control or ability to solve.
But pack it up and move along.
Instead of dwelling on these things, it's best to focus on the present and future.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARRIE NEWCOMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind