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
The Fisher King
Carrie Newcomer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just down the road and to the left
It's never been any further
To find the thing you never lost
Who serves, who serves the grail
Are you the one that's common born,
A fool in many ways
Looking for some Holy Grail?
Did you see it in a dream,
A vision once when you were young?
Does the circle lead you back,
To the place where you begun.
[Chorus]
Are you the one he left behind,
Or was it you to finally leave
The one that always wore your heart,
Out for anyone to see
Brow to brow and side to side,
Palm to palm and Toe to toe
Had you really no idea,
How far and deep an echo goes
[Chorus]
Are you the pilgrim on the road,
Are you the hermit in the wood
Have you followed what you know,
What you want or what you should
Have you learned a thing or two,
Have you wondered at the time?
In your dark night of the soul,
Am I the one you thought you'd find
Grace and laughter, ever after,
Sorrow folds her hands together
Was it all and did you mean it,
In the dark you've always seen a
Bright and shining true idea
I am the wound that will not heal.
I am the song you cannot sing
I am the endless restless ache.
I am I am the fisher king
And all that I can ask of you,
Is do what small good that you can
Speak the words that hear,
And meet me where I am
[Chorus]
The Fisher King by Carrie Newcomer is a thought-provoking song that touches on the themes of searching for identity, purpose, and meaning in life. The song is based on the legend of the Fisher King, who is believed to be the keeper of the Holy Grail, and the narrative is driven by a series of questions directed at the listener. The chorus, "Just down the road and to the left, It's never been any further, To find the thing you never lost, Who serves, who serves the grail," is an invitation to seek the elusive Holy Grail, which seems to be within close reach yet beyond grasp.
The first verse of the song asks if the listener has been searching for something all their lives, a Holy Grail perhaps, which they saw in a dream or vision when they were young. The verse also suggests that the circle of life leads one back to the place where they started, and the question is, what have they learned in the journey? The second verse is about heartbreak and loss, and how one might never fathom the depths of the impact they have on others. The third verse of the song is directed to those who have taken different paths in search of fulfillment and meaning in life, and who may have ended up feeling lost and alone. The chorus repeats, reminding listeners that the quest for the Holy Grail is always within reach.
Overall, the Fisher King's lyrics invite listeners to reflect on their journeys in life, their aspirations, and their accomplishments. It challenges them to examine their beliefs, values, and expectations and consider the small yet meaningful things that they can do to make a difference in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Just down the road and to the left
The solution to your problems is not far away and can be found through a simple direction.
It's never been any further
The solution you seek is not complex, but rather something that has been nearby all along.
To find the thing you never lost
The thing you are looking for is actually something you have had all along but never realized it.
Who serves, who serves the grail
Who is responsible for finding the solution to your problems and providing you with fulfillment and happiness.
Are you the one that's common born,
Are you someone who is unremarkable and ordinary in appearance and status in life.
A fool in many ways
Do you make foolish mistakes or exhibit foolish behavior in various aspects of your life.
Have you searched half your life,
Have you spent a significant portion of your life searching for something that has always been within your reach.
Looking for some Holy Grail?
Have you been searching for something extraordinary and elusive, like the Holy Grail.
Did you see it in a dream,
Have you seen the answer or the thing you seek in a dream, but don’t know how to make it a reality.
A vision once when you were young?
Did you receive a message from the universe about your destiny when you were young that you have never forgotten.
Does the circle lead you back,
Do you feel like you are always ending up in the same place in life, with nothing to show for your efforts.
To the place where you begun.
To the place in life where you were when you started the quest to find the thing you seek.
Are you the one he left behind,
Were you the one who has been abandoned and left behind by someone who was important in your life.
Or was it you to finally leave
Did you leave someone behind that you should have stayed with, or do you need to move on from a toxic or unfulfilling situation.
The one that always wore your heart,
Were you the one that wears your heart on your sleeve and is easily affected by your emotions.
Out for anyone to see
Were you the one that experiences emotions that are difficult to hide from others and are always on display.
Brow to brow and side to side,
Have you been in a situation where you have been in close physical contact and intimate with another person.
Palm to palm and Toe to toe
Have you been close enough to someone that you have touched them with your palm or your toes.
Had you really no idea,
Did you have no realization of the consequences of your actions, even though they were obvious.
How far and deep an echo goes
Did you not realize how the consequences of your actions ripple out into every part of your life and affect everything around you.
Are you the pilgrim on the road,
Are you the traveler who is seeking something deeper and more profound than what you have experienced in your life so far.
Are you the hermit in the wood
Are you someone who has isolated themselves from society and from relationships in order to pursue a deeper purpose or goal.
Have you followed what you know,
Have you pursued the things in life that you believe to be true and your true path.
What you want or what you should
Have you followed your heart and your desires, or have you chosen a path because you felt like it was the right thing to do.
Have you learned a thing or two,
Have you gained the experience and wisdom that life has to offer through your quest for meaning and purpose.
Have you wondered at the time?
Have you ever wondered if the passage of time is leading you down the right path or if you are making a mistake.
In your dark night of the soul,
Have you ever experienced a period of profound sadness and loss that seems almost overwhelming or insurmountable, like a dark night for the soul.
Am I the one you thought you'd find
Have you found what you were looking for in your quest for meaning and purpose, or are you still searching.
Grace and laughter, ever after,
The pursuit of joy and well-being is a lifelong endeavor and must be pursued with grace and humor to be sustainable.
Sorrow folds her hands together
Sorrow can be an ever-present companion in our lives, but it is important to be mindful and accepting of it to find fulfillment and happiness.
Was it all and did you mean it,
Have the struggles and sacrifices that have been made to find fulfillment and purpose been worth it in the end.
In the dark you've always seen a
Even in the darkest moments of life, you have always been able to see a flicker of light, a sign of hope and redemption.
Bright and shining true idea
An idea or vision of fulfillment and joy that is at the center of your quest for purpose and meaning in life.
I am the wound that will not heal.
The pain and trauma of past experiences that remain with you and seem impossible to escape.
I am the song you cannot sing
The pain and trauma of past experiences that prevent you from expressing joy and happiness in your life.
I am the endless restless ache.
The experience of an unending sense of longing or pain that continues despite efforts to address it.
I am I am the fisher king
The embodiment of the struggle to find purpose and foster a meaningful relationship with the world around you that can lead to fulfillment and happiness.
And all that I can ask of you,
The hope and ask for those around you to help in the quest for fulfillment and purpose, to work together to find meaning in life.
Is do what small good that you can
The power of small, incremental steps toward a larger goal that can ultimately help individuals find fulfillment and purpose in life.
Speak the words that hear,
The power of communication and expression as a means of working toward fulfillment and happiness in life.
And meet me where I am
The importance of relationships and connection as a means of finding purpose and fulfillment in life.
[Chorus]
The repeated request to pursue the path of fulfillment and meaning in life and find the Holy Grail of happiness and purpose.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: JOHN MCGLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind