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
Steel
Charlotte Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They think I need to hear
What's in their empty eyes, eyes, eyes
We're few and far between
We've hardly been serene
But stand up to their lies, lies, lies
We are steel
Anything at all
He took me in his arms
But then he squeezed too hard
He wouldn't let me breathe, breathe, breathe
It's been too many years
I've hurt too many times
To give up everything, thing, thing
I am steel
I don't feel
Anything at all
The way I've been confused
The way that I've been used
And spit out on your dime
And still you lead me on
And still you tear me down
And say it's in my mind
Well I've seen hell and back
I've hidden in the dark
With no one there at all, all, all
I've scraped us back to life
I've laced up both my boots
So try and twist the knife, knife, knife
I am steel
I don't feel
We are steel
We don't feel
Anything at all, anything at all
Anything at all, anything at all
Anything at all, anything at all
Anything at all
The song "Steel" by Charlotte Martin speaks of resilience and strength after going through trials and heartbreaks. The song emphasizes the idea that although the world may try to bring us down, we always have the power to stand back up and continue fighting. Throughout the lyrics, Charlotte Martin refers to being steel, not being able to feel anything at all. These lyrics seem to convey that even though we may have experienced intense pain, we can't let the pain break us.
The first verse emphasizes how people who are lost and insincere think they know what is best for us, but in reality, their words are empty. We shouldn’t let them bring us down. We must be strong like steel to protect ourselves from their lies. The second verse talks about a painful relationship where the person wouldn't allow her to breathe. She has been hurt so many times that she can’t give any more of herself. Instead, she remains strong like steel, never feeling, because feeling exposes us to more pain.
Towards the end of the song, she notes how she has been confused, used, and spit out on someone else's dime. The person continues to lead her on, tearing her down, and blaming her for her pain, but she has already learned how to rise above it all. She has seen the worst of it, hidden in the dark, with nobody there to comfort her. Despite all of this, she has managed to find her way back to a place of strength, and now she understands that she is made of steel, nothing can break her.
Line by Line Meaning
The lost and insincere
People who lack genuineness believe I need their advice.
They think I need to hear
They are of the opinion that I must listen to them.
What's in their empty eyes, eyes, eyes
Their eyes are devoid of any true emotion or feeling.
We're few and far between
We are a rare breed, not often found.
We've hardly been serene
Our lives have been anything but peaceful.
But stand up to their lies, lies, lies
We oppose their falsehoods with courage and resilience.
We are steel
We are strong and unbreakable.
We don't feel
We don't show our emotions or let them control us.
Anything at all
We don't let our feelings affect our actions.
He took me in his arms
A person held me close.
But then he squeezed too hard
But their embrace became unbearable.
He wouldn't let me breathe, breathe, breathe
I felt suffocated and unable to catch my breath.
It's been too many years
It has been a long time.
I've hurt too many times
I have been emotionally damaged repeatedly.
To give up everything, thing, thing
I refuse to sacrifice my life and happiness anymore.
I am steel
I am tough and resilient.
The way I've been confused
I have been bewildered and uncertain.
The way that I've been used
I have been taken advantage of by others.
And spit out on your dime
They exploited me and then disposed of me without care.
And still you lead me on
Yet you continue to deceive and misguide me.
And still you tear me down
You continue to criticize and belittle me.
And say it's in my mind
You dismiss my struggles as mere illusions or figments of my imagination.
Well, I've seen hell and back
I have endured and survived a lot of trauma.
I've hidden in the dark
I have sought refuge in the shadows and anonymity.
With no one there at all, all, all
I felt abandoned and alone during my darkest moments.
I've scraped us back to life
I have worked tirelessly to reform and rejuvenate myself.
I've laced up both my boots
I have prepared myself for the challenges ahead.
So try and twist the knife, knife, knife
So go ahead and try to hurt me further, but I won't falter.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CHARLOTTE MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind