Martin got her start singing opera while attending Eastern Illinois University in the late '90s. Her father was a respected professor in the music department, and naturally Martin followed his footsteps. She began playing piano when she was a little girl and her childhood was surrounded by music.
While attending school, Martin experienced "real life," from living with her goth roommate and dealing with typical college-like drama to the tragic suicides of two close friends. Martin turned to music for solace. She desperately wanted to make music into a career; therefore, a whirlwind move to Los Angeles seemed like the right thing to do.
Martin eventually made a record, One Girl Army, with producer Tom Rothrock (Badly Drawn Boy, Beck, Elliott Smith), but it was never released. Before 2002 came to a close, Martin got her own studio and recorded a new batch of songs with Ken Andrews (Air, Pete Yorn). The melodic dreamscapes of In Parentheses arrived in August 2003 and Martin's bright voice drew comparisons to Fiona Apple and Kate Bush. Dates with Howie Day and Damien Rice also coincided with the release of the EP.
On Your Shore followed in 2004. Unfortunately, Martin's relationship with RCA proved creatively trying as the singer/songwriter continued writing and recording new material. A decision to leave the major label in 2005 allowed Martin to accomplish her creative goals, thus reconnecting with Test-Drive Records to issue the Veins and Darkest Hour EPs before the year's end. Additional support dates around North American followed into the fall, and Martin rounded out the Veins tour with her first DVD recording, the limited-edition Something Like a DVD.
She also married her long-time collaborator and co-producer, Ken Andrews (Pete Yorn, Year of the Rabbit, Failure), in the midst of recording her second album, Stromata. The album arrived on Martin and Andrews' own Dinosaur Fight label in September 2006.
In 2009, Martin released the instrumental album Piano Trees, a collection of improvised piano songs.
In 2011, Martin released her album, Dancing on Needles.
In 2014, Martin released Water Breaks Stone.
On October 5, 2018, Martin released the second of her instrumental piano albums (after Piano Trees), entitled Clear Blue Sky. The following year, in 2019, two more albums in a similar vein were released: Monotonous Night on March 8 and Dawn on December 27.
http://www.charlottemartin.com
Chasing a Shadow
Charlotte Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm running out of time
There's madness in the river and it has half my mind
A promise is a promise
When did I lose my thrill
I had you for a moment a moment and a pill
I'm chasing a shadow
When you're not there
I'm chasing a shadow
And I just try to find a souvenir-something to borrow
Something to borrow
Something that's you
There's victory in disaster
A masterpiece of dirt
This faith that's in my heart that
Makes me want to hurt
You're running scared
I'm chasing a shadow
When you're not there
I'm chasing a shadow
And I just try to find a souvenir-something to borrow
Something to borrow
Something that's you
You…
You…
You…
You're running scared
I'm chasing a shadow
When you're not there
I'm chasing a shadow
And I just try to find a souvenir
Something to borrow
Something to borrow
"Chasing a Shadow" by Charlotte Martin is a song that explores the feelings of desperation, loss, and a longing for something that is fleeting. The song begins with the repetitive line "The chase goes on forever," emphasizing the sense of never attaining what one is pursuing. The line "I'm running out of time" highlights the urgency and desperation driving the singer's pursuit. The "madness in the river" that "has half my mind" represents the overwhelming emotions that have taken over the singer's thoughts.
The second verse introduces the idea of a broken promise and lost thrill, likely referencing a failed relationship. The line "I had you for a moment and a pill" suggests that the singer was using substances as a means of escape from the pain of the failed relationship. The chorus emphasizes the sense of chasing after something that is not there, with the repetition of "I'm chasing a shadow" and the desperation to find "something that's you."
The third verse introduces the idea of finding victory in disaster and a "faith that's in my heart that makes me want to hurt." This suggests that the singer feels a sense of pleasure or fulfillment in the pain that the pursuit is causing them. Overall, "Chasing a Shadow" is a deeply emotional song that speaks to the complexity of human emotions and the desperate pursuit of something that may be unattainable.
Line by Line Meaning
The chase goes on forever
The pursuit of something continues endlessly and without resolution
I'm running out of time
The time limit to achieve the goal is rapidly approaching
There's madness in the river and it has half my mind
The chaos and unpredictability of life has consumed a significant portion of one's mental state
A promise is a promise
A commitment made must be kept
When did I lose my thrill
When did I become jaded and lose my enthusiasm for life
I had you for a moment a moment and a pill
I briefly experienced what I thought was true happiness, but it was fleeting and artificial
There's victory in disaster
Success can be found even in the midst of failure
A masterpiece of dirt
Even something inherently messy or tarnished can be beautiful in its own way
This faith that's in my heart that makes me want to hurt
Belief in something can drive one to cause pain or hardship to themselves or others
And I just try to find a souvenir-something to borrow
I search for a tangible item or memory to hold onto as a reminder of what I once had or what I'm chasing
Contributed by Keira K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pedrojoper
This one is new to me... I like them all!