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
Straight to the Point
Carrie Newcomer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some eat in the kitchen but they don't mind
Some stride in without even knockin'
Some act like they've been here the whole damn time
[Chorus]
Gonna live my life like it don't get much better
Get right down to the heart of the matter
Live straight to the point
Straight to the point
I don't need the keys to the kingdom
'Cause I don't measure my life that way
Try as you might to hold on to something
Sooner or later it's all going to change
[Chorus]
There is no point if the point is not taken
Most of our prisons are of our own makin'
She'd drop dimes and nickels in the jukebox
And The Glory of Love is what she'd always play
She'd say â??You gotta be brave, you gotta be fearless
"And when you're afraid just do it anyway"
[Chorus]
It's all in the tellin', it's all in the story
It's all in the way that you walk the walk
Let your life speak 'cause there ain't no secrets
Let your head help, but let your heart talk
The song "Straight to the Point" by Carrie Newcomer is an anthem for people who do not follow societal norms and approach life with a casual and carefree attitude. The opening lines of the song, "Some come in the side door swingin'/Some eat in the kitchen but they don't mind/Some stride in without even knockin'/Some act like they've been here the whole damn time," emphasise the idea that people who have this mentality do not need to announce or explain themselves to anyone.
The chorus of the song, "Gonna live my life like it don't get much better/Gonna walk right in like I own this joint/Get right down to the heart of the matter/Live straight to the point," further reiterates this carefree mentality. The singer does not need validation or affirmation from anyone, nor does she feel the need to tiptoe around situations, instead opting to jump right into the core of the matter.
The song also touches upon the idea that personal value is not reflected in the accumulation of material possessions or society's definition of success. The lines, "I don't need the keys to the kingdom/'Cause I don't measure my life that way," suggest that the singer values intrinsic experiences and relationships rather than superficial markers of success.
Overall, "Straight to the Point" by Carrie Newcomer is a song that celebrates individuality and expresses the importance of living life with authenticity and integrity.
Line by Line Meaning
Some come in the side door swingin'
Some people enter with confidence and energy.
Some eat in the kitchen but they don't mind
Some people are comfortable with less formal settings and don't require privileges or honors.
Some stride in without even knockin'
Some people are bold and may not follow conventional social norms.
Some act like they've been here the whole damn time
Some people are so self-assured that they seem to belong and need no introduction or acquaintance.
Gonna live my life like it don't get much better
I will live my life to the fullest, with no reservation or hesitation, because it is already so great.
Gonna walk right in like I own this joint
I will enter and behave as if I am the master of the situation, confident and determined.
Get right down to the heart of the matter
I will cut through the trivialities and go straight to the essential issues that matter.
Live straight to the point
I will lead my life with clarity and purpose, without unnecessary detours or distractions.
I don't need the keys to the kingdom
I am not obsessed with power, wealth, or authority, which may come and go.
'Cause I don't measure my life that way
I value my life not by external standards of success or status, but by my inner calling and conscience.
Try as you might to hold on to something
Despite our efforts to cling to things we cherish, they are transient and fleeting, and we must let go eventually.
Sooner or later it's all going to change
Nothing in life is permanent or forever, and we must embrace change as a natural and necessary part of existence.
There is no point if the point is not taken
An insight or lesson is futile if it is not understood or appreciated by the learner.
Most of our prisons are of our own makin'
We are often trapped by our own limiting beliefs, fears, and self-imposed boundaries.
She'd drop dimes and nickels in the jukebox
She would spend her modest resources on simple pleasures that brought her joy and comfort.
And The Glory of Love is what she'd always play
She loved to listen to a particular song that inspired her and reminded her of the beauty and value of love.
She'd say 'You gotta be brave, you gotta be fearless
She would encourage others to face their fears and take bold actions, with courage and confidence.
"And when you're afraid just do it anyway"
Even when one feels scared or uncertain, it is better to try and fail than never to try at all.
It's all in the tellin', it's all in the story
The way we perceive and narrate our experiences shapes our understanding and attitude towards life.
It's all in the way that you walk the walk
Our actions and behaviors reveal our character and intentions, more than our words or thoughts.
Let your life speak 'cause there ain't no secrets
Let your actions and outcomes express your values and beliefs, because they cannot be hidden or disguised.
Let your head help, but let your heart talk
Use your rational and analytic faculties to inform your decisions and choices, but also listen to your intuition and emotions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARRIE ANN NEWCOMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind