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
The Dance
Charlotte Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do not lean over the ledge
I shouldn't look down and I shouldn't have found
That your lips I still taste in my head
Raising my glass to the head of the class
As she powers out steps one through ten
I think I'll be fine if I'm covered in wine
Nice to hate you and love you again
And see you again
Weary and worn little monster is born
Tell me lies and I'll justify them
Desperate today and it's making me pay
For that night for that kiss for your bed
Whoever dared to love someone out there
I don't need a balloon and a pin
The name of the game is outrunning the blame
So I hate you and love you we're friends
Guess we'll be friends
I guess we'll be friends
Oh why (why) can't (can't) you take me in your arms now?
Why (why) can't (can't) you take me?
Why (why) can't (can't) you take me in your arms now?
Why (why) can't (can't) you take me?
Better stop crying hello and goodbye-ing
Go on through me slip right through my hands
You get your time and the other half's mine
It's okay this love weighs fifty men
It's okay this love weighs fifty men
It's okay this love weighs fifty men
Oh why (why) can't (can't) you take me in your arms now?
Why (why) can't (can't) you take me?
Why (why) can't (can't) you take me in your arms now?
Why (why) can't (can't) you take me?
Why (why) can't (can't) you take me in your arms now?
Why can't you take me?
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
"The Dance" by Charlotte Martin is a song that explores the complex emotions of a past relationship. The first verse sets the tone of the rest of the song as the singer hears voices inside her head telling her not to look back at the past relationship she had. The memories are still there, and she is trying to make sense of them. The next few lines describe a moment when the singer raises her glass to the head of the class, almost as if she is trying to mask her pain with alcohol. She hates and loves the person she is thinking about, and she doesn't know how to feel.
The second verse goes deeper into her pain, describing her as a "weary and worn little monster," and goes on to talk about the lies that she will justify. She is desperate and paying the price for that one night, that one kiss, that one time they shared a bed. She doesn't need any condolences; instead, she has decided to hate and love at the same time. The chorus repeats itself multiple times, with the singer asking why her past lover can't take her back in his arms.
The bridge and the ending of the song describe the relationship weighing something that feels like fifty men, and the singer ultimately comes to terms with the fact that she can't get over him. The word "Amen" is repeated four times, perhaps indicating that she has come to accept her reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Inside my mouth I can hear all the voices say
I hear various fears and concerns inside my head.
Do not lean over the ledge
I should avoid taking risks and putting myself in danger.
I shouldn't look down and I shouldn't have found
I regret pursuing something that was not good for me.
That your lips I still taste in my head
I can't forget the kiss we shared.
Raising my glass to the head of the class
I'm toasting to someone who is succeeding.
As she powers out steps one through ten
She is confident and in control of her actions.
I think I'll be fine if I'm covered in wine
Drinking helps me relax and forget my problems.
Nice to hate you and love you again
I have a complex relationship with you, with conflicting emotions.
And see you again
I will likely cross paths with you again in the future.
Weary and worn little monster is born
I'm feeling anxious and vulnerable in a new situation.
Tell me lies and I'll justify them
I'm willing to accept falsehoods in order to feel better.
Desperate today and it's making me pay
I'm acting out of desperation and it's causing consequences.
For that night for that kiss for your bed
I regret giving in to temptation and sleeping with you.
Whoever dared to love someone out there
It's challenging to find someone to love and be loved by.
I don't need a balloon and a pin
I don't require something that will burst and disappoint me.
The name of the game is outrunning the blame
I'm trying to avoid taking responsibility for my actions.
So I hate you and love you we're friends
I have mixed feelings towards you, but we'll stay in each other's lives.
Guess we'll be friends
We'll likely maintain a platonic relationship.
Oh why (why) can't (can't) you take me in your arms now?
I long to be held by you.
Better stop crying hello and goodbye-ing
I need to stop experiencing strong emotions and just move on.
Go on through me slip right through my hands
I'm struggling to hold on to you and keep you in my life.
You get your time and the other half's mine
We each have our own lives to live, but I want to be a part of yours.
It's okay this love weighs fifty men
This love is heavy and burdensome, but I can handle it.
Amen
So be it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Charlotte Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yanaperrault
remembered this song again, I cannot stop listening. ^-^ so good.
cassidy anne
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SONG FOREVER BECAUSE I HAD A DANCE TO IT WHEN I WAS LIKE 10 BUT COULD ONLY REMEMBER THE BEAT . SO SATISFYING FINDING IT
Fi Webster
I just experienced the same thing after searching for months, I randomly remembered some of the lyrics !
Veronica Dario
Me too
Corvo Attano
Basically all the comments:
1.) I danced to this song
2.) Omg I love that so many people danced to this song
3.) I love this song/ Is my favorite.
Or combination of them
Lena Mel
I danced to it my teacher send me the song cause quarantene
Jon B
Corvo Attano I don’t dance but it makes me want to!
Chelsea Schaf
My dance teacher plays this a lot
hannah Gardiner
I’m doing a dance to it for recital🤣
Alexandria Collier
Chelsea Schaf same