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
Four Walls
Charlotte Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a bottomless cry that is spinning
Interdimensional, hidden inside
Of these lights which I seem to be missing
Marching ahead to silent beats
Bumping into these dead machines
You can hear everything with me
Gonna feel my way around you
And then you're gonna get down on your knees
And grow accustomed to the darkness
And see what you're supposed to see
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
I don't
Don't think I'll talk
Yeah I don't think I'll breathe
And I don't think I'll think
What you're thinking
All that I know of us is what was there
In the longest of stares we were sinking
Ashes to beauty; rust in lust
Passion attempts; misguided trust
Smoking your bag of trickery
Getting to love the little beast
Gonna feel my way around you
And then you're gonna get down on your knees
And grow accustomed to the darkness
And see what you're supposed to see
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
I don't
In this wading pool
In this waiting room
I elevate us down
In a neglected olive tree
Here is the part you reach for me
Say that you have no need of this
Say it again
Say it again
Say it again
Again again again
Gonna feel my way around you
And then you're gonna get down on your knees
And grow accustomed to the darkness
And see what you're supposed to see
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
Gonna feel my way around you
And then you're gonna get down on your knees
And grow accustomed to the darkness
And see what you're supposed to see
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
Gonna feel my way around you
And then you're gonna get down on your knees
And grow accustomed to the darkness
And see what you're supposed to see
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
Head up straight
I know what I'm doing
In "Four Walls," Charlotte Martin poetically describes the feelings of being disconnected from someone she cares about. The first verse mentions the separation between the singer and the person they love, and the pain that it causes. The interdimensional cry that spins within them represents the emotional turmoil they feel, hidden beneath the surface, obscured by the walls that separate them. The second verse paints a picture of the frustration and confusion that comes with trying to find a way through the mechanical aspects of life that stand in the way of their connection. The chorus presents a resolve to push past the obstacles and find a way, even if it means feeling their way through darkness or uncertainty.
The third verse describes the relationship, both the beautiful moments of connection ("longest of stares") and the times when the passion was misguided. The singer acknowledges that sometimes things were not what they seemed, and the trust they placed in each other may have been misplaced. Instead of feeling defeated, though, they resolve to continue trying to connect, to keep pushing through the darkness, even if it means stumbling along the way. The bridge introduces the idea of an olive tree, and the hope that even in neglected places (like the relationship), growth and renewal is possible, if only the other person will reach out and take hold of it. The final chorus repeats the resolve, promising to "feel my way around you" and "grow accustomed to the darkness" until they finally see what they're supposed to see.
Overall, "Four Walls" is a complex and layered song that beautifully captures the ups and downs of a relationship. While there is a sense of sadness and longing, there is also hope and determination, as the singer refuses to give up on love.
Line by Line Meaning
So far from you; other side of the wall
Feeling distant and separated from someone else.
There's a bottomless cry that is spinning
An overwhelming feeling of sorrow or pain that has no end.
Interdimensional, hidden inside
A profound and complex emotion that is deeply embedded within.
Of these lights which I seem to be missing
Feeling like something is missing or incomplete, possibly in reference to understanding or insight.
Marching ahead to silent beats
Moving forward in life without clear direction or guidance.
Bumping into these dead machines
Encountering obstacles or barriers in life that seem insurmountable.
You can hear everything with me
Feeling a deep sense of connection or understanding with someone else.
You can win everyone but me
Feeling like you are constantly in competition with others and not able to truly connect or be understood.
Gonna feel my way around you
Trying to understand or navigate a complicated situation or relationship through intuition or instinct.
And then you're gonna get down on your knees
Getting to a place of humility and vulnerability in a relationship.
And grow accustomed to the darkness
Learning to accept and navigate the difficult, challenging aspects of life or a situation.
And see what you're supposed to see
Gaining clarity or understanding about a situation or relationship.
Head up straight
Maintaining focus and determination in the face of challenges or adversity.
I know what I'm doing
Having confidence in one's abilities and decisions.
Don't think I'll talk
Choosing to remain quiet or guarded in a situation or relationship.
Yeah I don't think I'll breathe
Feeling suffocated or overwhelmed in a situation or relationship.
And I don't think I'll think
Choosing not to engage with or overthink a situation or relationship.
What you're thinking
Feeling disconnected or misunderstood in a situation or relationship.
All that I know of us is what was there
Recognizing that the past and memories are all that remain of a relationship or connection.
In the longest of stares we were sinking
A shared moment of sinking into an emotion or realization in a relationship.
Ashes to beauty; rust in lust
The transformation from something dark or negative to something beautiful or meaningful.
Passion attempts; misguided trust
Trying to connect or build something meaningful despite having doubts or fears.
Smoking your bag of trickery
Feeling deceived or manipulated in a relationship or situation.
Getting to love the little beast
Learning to love the imperfect or difficult aspects of oneself or someone else.
In this wading pool
Feeling stuck or stagnant in a situation or relationship.
In this waiting room
Feeling like time is passing slowly and there is no clear path forward in a situation or relationship.
I elevate us down
Feeling like the situation or relationship is moving backward or becoming more difficult.
In a neglected olive tree
Finding beauty or meaning in unexpected or overlooked places or things.
Here is the part you reach for me
Reaching out or seeking connection in a relationship.
Say that you have no need of this
Resisting or rejecting a connection or relationship.
Say it again
Reiterating a desire to withdraw or resist a connection or relationship.
Again again again
Continuing to strongly resist or avoid a connection or relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARTIN KEMBER, REED VERTELNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind