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
Raven
Charlotte Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fools to swallow - girl is fast asleep
Statue stare place to reach
Watching Jeffrey fall asleep
Daddy hugs dogs to walk
Books to lug
Hands to talk a fever in my naive brain
Once I had a dream
Once I had a dream, I dreamt the dream in green, grass green
Ramen noodle
Black haired poodle
Hansel Gretel how we hate them
Funny sunny smartass honey
Different scary black died hairy
Once I had a dream
Once I had a dream I dreamt the dream in green, grass green
I'm addicted to your spirit, raven
Forget the operas we sang
I'm warped in your personality and
I wonder if I'll see you on letterman
Ramen noodle
Black haired poodle
Hansel gretel how we hate them
Funny sunny smartass honey
Different scary black died hairy
My friend raven
My friend raven
I'm obsessed with your addictions raven
Forget the mardi gras we drank
I understand that you were saying you're afraid of
The second coming
But
Fear of flying you're denying raven
Fear of flying you're denying raven
The lyrics to Charlotte Martin's song Raven are filled with cryptic and enigmatic imagery. It starts with "Kings to follow child to teach, fools to swallow - girl is fast asleep, statue stare place to reach, watching Jeffrey fall asleep", these lyrics seem to hint at the various influences around us and how they shape us. The "kings" could be a metaphor for authority figures, "child to teach" could be about the young minds that are shaped by them. "Fools to swallow" could be the masses who follow blindly. This is contrasted by the "girl" who is asleep, indicating that the singer is aware of this but cannot escape it. The following lines "statue stare place to reach, watching Jeffrey fall asleep" speak to the state of being frozen while everything else moves around; the feeling of watching things happen without any agency to influence it.
The next verse continues with "Daddy hugs dogs to walk, books to lug, hands to talk a fever in my naive brain, not wanting things to be the same." This verse seems to indicate the mundane activities of everyday life, the things we do that keep us moving forward but we do not necessarily enjoy. The line "a fever in my naive brain, not wanting things to be the same" could indicate a desire or longing for change, something new and exciting to break the monotony of life. The chorus "Once I had a dream, I dreamt the dream in green, grass green" seems to harken back to a simpler time, a time when life was less complicated and more vibrant.
The final verse starts with "I'm addicted to your spirit, raven, forget the operas we sang, I'm warped in your personality and I wonder if I'll see you on Letterman". This could be about someone the singer admires or is obsessed with, perhaps even an alter ego. The line "forget the operas we sang" could signify that the singer has moved past the superficial meanings and has found deeper meaning in life. The final lines "fear of flying you're denying, Raven, fear of flying you're denying, Raven" could be referencing the fear of change, something the singer is trying to overcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Kings to follow child to teach
Leaders who wish to guide others first need to learn from the experience of being a child and being taught.
Fools to swallow - girl is fast asleep
Ignorant people will accept whatever they are told, while the girl remains unaware and unconscious of the truth.
Statue stare place to reach
The statue remains motionless and unapproachable, representing an unattainable goal.
Watching Jeffrey fall asleep
Observing someone else's peaceful rest while remaining awake and vigilant can be a metaphor for unrequited love or unfulfilled desires.
Daddy hugs dogs to walk
The comfort of a father figure can be found in simple, everyday routines like taking care of pets.
Books to lug
The pursuit of knowledge and intellectual growth requires effort and dedication.
Hands to talk a fever in my naive brain
A feverish obsession with the idea of communication and connection, despite one's lack of experience or understanding.
Not wanting things to be the same
A desire for change and growth, rejecting stagnation and repetition.
Once I had a dream
The artist remembers a past dream that has made an impact on their life.
Once I had a dream, I dreamt the dream in green, grass green
The artist recalls dreaming of a vivid, green landscape.
Ramen noodle
A reference to cheap and instant food, suggesting feelings of resourcefulness and adaptability.
Black haired poodle
A playful and lighthearted image, contrasting with the darker themes present in the rest of the lyrics.
Hansel Gretel how we hate them
A reference to a well-known fairy tale, expressing distaste with traditional and predictable stories.
Funny sunny smartass honey
A sarcastic or humorous comment on someone who is overly confident or clever, but potentially fake or insincere.
Different scary black died hairy
An unsettling or alarming image, suggesting the singer's willingness to explore and embrace the unknown.
I'm addicted to your spirit, raven
The artist admires the qualities and personality of the raven, expressing a sense of longing or dependency.
Forget the operas we sang
The artist suggests giving up on grand, dramatic performances and focusing on something more authentic and genuine.
I'm warped in your personality and
The singer is deeply influenced and attracted to the raven's unique and unconventional identity.
I wonder if I'll see you on letterman
A playful reference to a popular television show, expressing the singer's hope or curiosity about encountering the raven in public.
My friend raven
The artist refers to the raven as a friend, indicating a sense of closeness or familiarity.
I'm obsessed with your addictions raven
The artist is intrigued and perhaps envious of the raven's habits and vices, seeing them as potential sources of inspiration.
Forget the mardi gras we drank
Similar to an earlier line, the artist suggests moving away from superficial and artificial experiences in favor of something deeper and more authentic.
I understand that you were saying you're afraid of
The singer empathizes with the raven's fears and anxieties, recognizing their emotional complexity.
The second coming
A reference to the Christian belief in a second arrival of Jesus, but used here as a metaphor for an unpredictable and potentially catastrophic event.
Fear of flying you're denying raven
The singer suggests the raven is avoiding something that is ultimately necessary for growth and progress, like learning to fly.
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