Cornfield was … Read Full Bio ↴Charlotte Cornfield is a Canadian singer-songwriter.
Cornfield was born in Toronto, and moved to Montreal in 2006 to study jazz drumming. She finished her degree in Spring 2010 and hit the road as the drummer for several bands, including Bent By Elephants, Takk, The Keys (Fr) and Panoramic & True (US). In the fall of 2010 she returned home and spent 4 months in an east-end studio recording her debut full-length effort, Two Horses, released Oct. 25th, 2011.
Her music reflects the duality of Cornfield’s musical influences: the deep lyricism and raw emotion of Mitchell, Dylan, and Young, mixed with the intense energy and hookiness of late-70’s New York rock and roll.
Cornfield's second album Future Snowbird was released in March 2016 through Consonant Records.
The Shape of Your Name was released in April 2019.
wheels
Charlotte Cornfield Lyrics
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You think you know how it feels to fade
Like a flag on a highway, like a flag
No one knew when he was gone
Never talked to anyone
Left an empty flask, no one asked
Five years gone by, no time passed
We raised him up, we let him fall
Never really cared at all
What was behind his eyes
Greyer skies
Early evenings in the spring
And the smell the lilies bring
Wheels in the driveway
And away
All I really wanted was you
All I really wanted was you
All I really wanted was you
All I really wanted was you
The lyrics to Charlotte Cornfield's song Wheels is a reflection on the human experience of fading away unnoticed. The opening line "Everybody's talking Whitney, where's Wheels?" highlights the idea that society often focuses on the glamorous and famous individuals while ignoring those who are less significant. The singer then continues to talk about the feeling of fading away, like a flag on a highway that nobody pays attention to. The repetition of the phrase "like a flag" emphasizes this contrast between being seen and being forgotten.
The second verse tells the story of a man, Wheels, who disappeared without anyone noticing. The line "Left an empty flask, no one asked" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even those closest to him did not take the time to notice his struggles. The singer then reflects on the idea that society may have played a part in Wheels' disappearance, as people never really cared about what was going on inside his mind.
The final verse of the song brings the focus back to the singer's own experiences. They nostalgically recall the sight of Wheels' car in the driveway and the smell of lilies in the spring. The repetition of the line "All I really wanted was you" highlights the idea that the singer was seeking something they never found, perhaps the sense of belonging and connection that Wheels was denied.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's talking Whitney, where's Wheels?
People are discussing Whitney Houston, but what happened to Wheels?
You think you know how it feels to fade
You believe that you can comprehend the sensation of fading away
Like a flag on a highway, like a flag
Fading away is like a flag flying on a highway
No one knew when he was gone
Nobody noticed when he left
Never talked to anyone
He never conversed with anyone
Left an empty flask, no one asked
He departed with an unfilled flask, and nobody bothered to ask
Sister called the motel to see what he said last
His sister phoned the motel to learn about his final words
Five years gone by, no time passed
Half a decade has elapsed, but it feels like a moment ago
We raised him up, we let him fall
We nurtured him to his peak, and then abandoned him in his decline
Never really cared at all
We never displayed actual concern for him
What was behind his eyes
What emotions or thoughts did he keep hidden behind his gaze?
Greyer skies
Skies that are less blue and more grey
Early evenings in the spring
The beginning of the night during the springtime
And the smell the lilies bring
And the aroma that lilies emanate
Wheels in the driveway
A vehicle's wheels are in the driveway
And away
And the car drives away
All I really wanted was you
All I truly desired was you
All I really wanted was you
All I truly desired was you
All I really wanted was you
All I truly desired was you
All I really wanted was you
All I truly desired was you
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
Written by: Charlotte Cornfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind