She sings. It's what she does. Chelsea Lee sings like she means it, with a … Read Full Bio ↴She sings. It's what she does. Chelsea Lee sings like she means it, with a voice that services the emotion of the song. It's a voice that carries joy and pain into the heart of the listener, with unbridled passion that borders on obsession.
So let's get this out of the way now: Chelsea Lee is 16. As in, born in 1991.
It's not a gimmick, it's just the chronological way things are. It's too easy to say she sings beyond her years, but she does. The maturity and professionalism showcased on stage and on disc are hallmarks of seasoned veterans, yet the chestnut haired charmer -- who carries herself with the same sophistication as she performs -- has it all. And she mixes the professionalism with youthful enthusiasm because singing is fun. It's what she does.
And she writes the songs that she sings, which may be why she sings them to perfection. The songs are soulful folk with a modern pop sheen that showcase those beyond-her-years vocals.
Not content to rely simply on a voice that has captured a growing audience in and around her home of Northern Virginia, Chelsea Lee studies voice and guitar as well as attends high school. But while her friends are enjoying extracuriculars, Chelsea Lee can be found at one of the DC area's top venues opening for, or sharing the stage with, Marc Cohn, Stephen Stills, Alexa Ray Joel, Mary Ann Redmond and others. This year she headlined a sold-out show at the 200-seat Jammin' Java in Vienna, Va.
There will be more sold out headlining shows to come. There's plenty of time. After all, she is only 16.

Open arms
Chelsea Lee Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Save yourself
You're screaming out loud
The things you lack
Are the things that you had.
And you're pretending now
Oh
You're pretending now

What you see in front of you right now
Is what you think you want
But I can see straight through you
I can see straight through your open arms
Your open arms

You found yourself
to feel anything
But you've gone too far
'Cause your heart just won't bleed
You can lie to me

What you see in front of you right now
Is what you think you want
But I can see straight through you
I can see straight through your open arms

I try to say what's left to you
But nothing I could ever do
Would change just who you are
And I keep more than I can say for you
'Cause every time I got closer
I could feel us fall apart
I can see straight through your open arms

What you see in front of you right now
Is what you think you want

What you see in front of you right now
Is what you think you want
But I can see straight through you
I can see straight through your open arms
Your open arms

Your open arms
Your open arms

Overall Meaning

The song Open Arms by Chelsea Lee is a powerful and emotional expression of the struggle of finding oneself and the reality of pretending to be someone else. The opening lines "Save yourself, You're screaming out loud, The things you lack, Are the things that you had" suggest that the persona in the song has lost something of great value and is trying hard to fill the void by pretending to be someone else. The use of the word 'pretending' in the lyrics reflects a denial of the situation and a desperate attempt to hold on to something that is no longer there. The persona seems to be seeking comfort in the wrong places and is unable to accept that what they are seeking is not what they need.

The chorus "What you see in front of you right now, Is what you think you want, But I can see straight through you, I can see straight through your open arms" highlights the idea that the persona is not fooling anyone and that their actions are quite transparent. The use of the metaphor "open arms" suggests that the persona is desperate for acceptance and love and is willing to grasp at anything that resembles these emotions. However, the reality is that no one can fill the void that the persona is feeling, except themselves. The song encourages listeners to look within themselves and find the strength to be honest with themselves and face their true emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

Save yourself
Take care of yourself and be safe

You're screaming out loud
You are expressing yourself intensely and with emotion

The things you lack
The things you don't have or are missing

Are the things that you had
The things that you had before but no longer possess

And you're pretending now
You are pretending or putting up a front

Oh
Interjection used to express strong emotions

You're pretending now
You are pretending or putting up a front

What you see in front of you right now
The current situation you are facing

Is what you think you want
You believe this is what you desire

But I can see straight through you
I understand your true motives and intentions

I can see straight through your open arms
I can see through your welcoming demeanor

You found yourself
You discovered who you are or found a sense of self

to feel anything
to experience emotions or sensations

But you've gone too far
You've taken things too far or moved beyond your limits

'Cause your heart just won't bleed
Your heart is closed off and won't reveal your true feelings

You can lie to me
You can deceive me or not be truthful with me

I try to say what's left to you
I am attempting to communicate what remains unsaid

But nothing I could ever do
My efforts are fruitless and ineffective

Would change just who you are
You cannot be altered or transformed

And I keep more than I can say for you
I hold onto more than I can put into words for you

'Cause every time I got closer
Each instance I approached you

I could feel us fall apart
I sensed our relationship disintegrating

I can see straight through your open arms
I understand your true intentions behind your welcoming demeanor

Your open arms
Your welcoming behavior or attitude

Writer(s): Christopher Keup Copyright: Some Kind Of Music, Chrysalis Music, Grantham Dispatch

Contributed by Elena A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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