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
Many Rivers
Charlotte Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I'll pray for you
The time I waste with my soul on a stretcher
And all I put you through
And there are those who are scared of the dreamers
Their lies become their truths
I try so hard to be your kind of woman
But I have not run out
Although you thought I might
And I have not run dry
And coming from eyes are many rivers
If you can't breathe with your head underwater
Why should I be with you
So I'm left here all alone with a headtrip
And way too lost for you
And I have not run out
Although you thought I might
And I have not run dry
And coming from eyes are many rivers
I must follow where the deep water goes
I must follow you where nobody knows
I must follow where the deep water goes, it goes
And I have not run out
Although you thought I might
And I have not run dry
And coming from eyes
And I have felt the pain
And I have fought the fight
And I have been let down
And I have been alright
With many rivers
The song Many Rivers by Charlotte Martin is about the singer praying for strength during a trying time in a relationship. She wishes for a boat and a raincoat to protect herself on the journey and to pray for the person she loves. The singer is struggling with her own personal issues and is also trying to be the kind of woman that her significant other wants her to be. She feels lost and alone and realizes that sometimes we have to follow where the deep water goes even if it means that we will be uncertain of what the future holds.
The lyric "And coming from my eyes are many rivers" is a metaphor for the tears that she has shed and the emotions she is feeling. The idea of many rivers may suggest that her emotions and tears are flowing like water, and that she is taking her time to process her feelings. The line "If you can't breathe with your head underwater, why should I be with you" implies that she needs to care for herself first before others, and that she cannot be with someone who is unable to understand her.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'll pray for a boat and a raincoat
I wish to be prepared for the hardships ahead and face them courageously.
I think I'll pray for you
May you find strength and support to overcome your struggles.
The time I waste with my soul on a stretcher
I often feel helpless and stuck, unable to move forward and achieve my goals.
And all I put you through
I am aware of the burden of my problems on the people I care about.
And there are those who are scared of the dreamers
Some people are intimidated by those who dare to imagine and pursue their aspirations.
Their lies become their truths
They become so invested in their beliefs that they refuse to acknowledge different perspectives or facts.
I try so hard to be your kind of woman
I make an effort to meet your expectations and needs, but sometimes fall short.
But I have not run out, although you thought I might
Despite the challenges I face, I still have enough strength and resilience to persevere.
And I have not run dry
My emotions and compassion have not faded, even in times of difficulty.
And coming from eyes are many rivers
My tears reflect the depth of my pain and sorrow.
If you can't breathe with your head underwater
If you cannot adapt to challenging situations or change your perspective, how can you expect me to do the same?
Why should I be with you
Why should I stay with someone who cannot support me or understand my struggles?
So I'm left here all alone with a headtrip
I feel isolated and overwhelmed, trapped in my own thoughts and worries.
And way too lost for you
I am too consumed by my own problems to be a good partner or friend to you.
I must follow where the deep water goes
I must explore uncharted territories and face the unknown, even if it is daunting and frightening.
I must follow you where nobody knows
I must take risks and follow my intuition, even if it means going against societal norms or expectations.
And I have felt the pain
I have experienced deep emotional and physical suffering.
And I have fought the fight
I have struggled and persevered through difficult times.
And I have been let down
I have been disappointed and hurt by others' actions or inactions.
And I have been alright
Despite the challenges, I have managed to find moments of peace and hope in my life.
With many rivers
My journey has been marked by many tears and emotional moments, but also moments of joy and growth.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Meena Rivera
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