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
My True Name
Carrie Newcomer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you hate it when they call you Louise
But isn't it scary, when they want to call you Mary
A whore, or a saint, or a tease.
But you came here in summer, you'd been living in Manhattan
You caught me wide eyed and half sane
But you saw to my center past every imposter
And you whispered My True Name
I've been the shamed Magdaline
And if the truth be known I've attempted Saint Joan
Donna, and Sarah, and Jane
For we all have our heros and we all have tormentors
And we'll play them again and again
But you saw to my center, past every imposter
And you whispered My True Name
And if you see me standing on the banks of Lake Griffy
Throwing white bits of paper to the wind
I'm just throwing the shards, of all my calling cards
And I'm speaking My True Name
I'm just throwing the shards, of all my calling cards
And I'm whispering My True Name
Carrie Newcomer's song "My True Name" is a powerful exploration of identity, self-discovery, and the struggle to be seen and heard for who we truly are. The lyrics speak of the many names and identities that we adopt over the course of our lives, from the names our parents give us to the labels that others impose upon us. The chorus, "But you saw to my center past every imposter, and you whispered my true name," highlights the importance of being seen and acknowledged for who we truly are, rather than for the names or labels that we carry.
The verses of the song are filled with examples of the different names and identities that the singer has taken on throughout her life, including Betty, Eleanor, Rosie, Mary, Magdalene, Saint Joan, Donna, and Sarah. Each of these names represents a different aspect of the singer's identity, from the shameful to the heroic. The repetition of these names emphasizes the idea that we all have many different facets to our identity, and that it is important to be seen for all of them, not just the ones that others expect or want to see.
The final verse of the song is particularly powerful, as the singer describes throwing the "shards" of her calling cards into the wind and speaking her true name. This imagery suggests a sense of release and liberation, as the singer lets go of the names and identities that no longer serve her and embraces her true self. The use of the verb "whispering" in the final line also suggests a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, as the singer shares her true name with someone who truly sees and accepts her.
Overall, "My True Name" is a deeply meaningful and personal song that speaks to the universal human experience of searching for identity and acceptance. Through its introspective lyrics and powerful imagery, it offers a message of hope and affirmation, reminding us that we are all worthy of being seen and heard for who we truly are.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me call you darlin', maybe call you sweetheart
I want to address you with affectionate names like darling and sweetheart
Don't you hate it when they call you Louise
I understand how it feels to dislike when someone addresses you by a name you do not prefer
But isn't it scary, when they want to call you Mary
It can be frightening when others try to name or label you in a way that makes you uncomfortable
A whore, or a saint, or a tease.
There are many labels people might use to describe a person, some might be the opposite of each other and some might be twisted or unjust.
But you came here in summer, you'd been living in Manhattan
You arrived in the summer after living in Manhattan
You caught me wide eyed and half sane
You met me when I was ready to listen and understand
But you saw to my center past every imposter
You saw beyond my appearances and identities that I might have put onto others to impress them or hide my authentic self
And you whispered My True Name
In your eyes and words, I found a sense of who I truly am
I have been Betty, Eleanor, and Rosie
I have been known and identified with various names and personas in my life
I've been the shamed Magdaline
I've experienced guilt and shame for things I might not have done anything at all or been falsely accused of
And if the truth be known I've attempted Saint Joan
In moments of inspiration or desperation, I might have aimed to embody an ideal of courage, faith or spirituality even if it seemed impossible or transitory
Donna, and Sarah, and Jane
I've been called or called myself by many names, some of which may have represented a particular identity or expectation
For we all have our heroes and we all have tormentors
We all look up to certain people or ideals and we all struggle with some fears or challenges that might make us feel powerless or unworthy
And we'll play them again and again
We might encounter similar situations or patterns in our lives that bring up similar emotions or responses
But you saw to my center, past every imposter
Despite my complexity or history, you recognized me for who I am in my essence
And you whispered My True Name
You reminded me of my worth and uniqueness that goes beyond any name or role
And if you see me standing on the banks of Lake Griffy
If you ever happen to observe me near the Lake Griffy
Throwing white bits of paper to the wind
I'm letting go of things that no longer serve me or represent me
I'm just throwing the shards, of all my calling cards
I am discarding all the ways in which I have tried to define or portray myself that are not true to my real self
And I'm speaking My True Name
I am expressing my own voice and identity that is not confined by any societal or personal expectation
I'm just throwing the shards, of all my calling cards
I am getting rid of all the external masks or labels I might have used to get by in life or impress others
And I'm whispering My True Name
I am embracing my truest self and sharing it with the world despite any risk or discomfort
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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