2007 Highlights:
Finalist "A Prairie Home Companion" People In Their Twenties Talent Contest
2007 New Artist of the Year - WUMB 91.9FM Boston
Nominee, 2007 Boston Music Awards "Local Male Vocalist of the Year"
Grand Prize Winner WMVY radio "Fresh Produce" Sampler
Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Finalist Mountain Stage "New Song" Contest
Summer Concert appearances for ABC-TV "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", and Farm Aid 2007
"As a music fan, I live for those moments when I hear a performer for the first time and detect unmistakable magic. It happened with Shawn Colvin in 1989 and Patty Griffin in 1996. Last summer, O’Brien caught my ear he’’s an uncommonly talented lyricist, with a voice that feels comfortable and familiar at first listen."
-Michael Witthaus Eagle Times, Springfield, VT
"Lighthouse is full of beauty, optimism and, well, light."
-Performing Songwriter Magazine
Chris O’Brien’s debut CD, "Lighthouse", produced by O’Brien, Austin Nevins and Ethan Baird, was recorded at Glowdog studios in Georgetown, MA. It features some of the finest musicians in the Boston area. Guitarist Austin Nevins (Deb Talen, Edie Carey), Zack Hickman (Josh Ritter) on Bass, John Sands (Aimee Mann, Lori McKenna) on Drums, Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter) on piano and keyboards and Singer/Songwriters Antje Duvekot and Frank Marotta Jr providing backing vocals, bring this record to life and fully expose the depth of O’Brien’s songwriting.
Visit Chris’ website www.chrisobrienmusic.com for information on upcoming Performances and the latest news.
Blue Skies
Chris O'Brien Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over my head
Is spinning
With the earth beneath my feet
It's gonna tear me down to the ground
If I let it
If I let it, and
This old cedar tree is dying
When the leaves stop turning to green
But I am holding on
To tomorrow
This golden summer
Come warm my face
I'm listening
To every word you say
I believe I've got it figured out anyway
Tick tock the moment
Is moving along
With blue skies
And no regrets
I am gone.
Every word comes flying right
Out of my mouth
Starts running
My head has fallen behind
And I've been dodging your glances
Trying to find forgiveness
Before I leave it behind
Your beauty like holy wine
I can feel it up and down my spine
It gets inside my head
Makes me feel like flying
Like flying
I'm listening
To every word you say
I believe I've got it figured out anyway
Tick tock the moment is moving along
With blue skies
And no regrets
I am gone.
Tick tock the moment is moving along
With blue skies
And no regrets
I am gone.
In "Blue Skies," Chris O'Brien explores the complexities of life and relationships through the use of poetic and emotive lyrics. The opening lines convey a sense of detachment as the singer feels overwhelmed and unable to keep up with the flow of life's challenges. The image of the world spinning beneath one's feet juxtaposed with the idea of being torn down to the ground creates a sense of disorientation and instability. The impending sense of despair is mitigated by hope as the singer looks forward to a future where summer brings warmth and happiness.
The theme of hope continues as the song progresses, with the cedar tree serving as a metaphor for resilience and endurance in the face of hardship. This is mirrored in the singer's determination to hold on to the promise of tomorrow despite the difficulties of the present. The final stanza invokes a sense of surrender to the moment, with the repetition of "tick tock" highlighting the fleeting nature of time. Ultimately, the song suggests the importance of embracing the beauty of life and relationships, even in the midst of turbulence and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Every word is sailing up
Every single word that is spoken feels like it's rising above me.
Over my head
It feels beyond my understanding.
Is spinning
It feels overwhelming and dizzying.
With the earth beneath my feet
Despite the feeling of disorientation, I'm still grounded in reality.
It's gonna tear me down to the ground
If I let myself get caught up in my thoughts, it will consume me and cause great distress.
If I let it
I have some agency in choosing whether or not to allow it to affect me this way.
This old cedar tree is dying
This symbol reminds me of impermanence and the natural cycle of life.
It's been a long cold winter
I have recently experienced a period of difficulty and hardship.
When the leaves stop turning to green
When things start to feel stagnant and without growth or new life.
But I am holding on
Despite the difficulties, I am persevering and not giving up hope.
To tomorrow
I have optimism and faith in the future.
This golden summer
I have a positive outlook on what is to come.
Come warm my face
I welcome the happiness that is on the horizon.
I'm listening
I am paying attention and taking in all the information around me.
To every word you say
I am particularly focused on what this one person is communicating to me.
I believe I've got it figured out anyway
I think I understand what is being said, or at least have my own interpretation of it.
Tick tock the moment
Time continues to pass and we are constantly moving forward.
Is moving along
Life is constantly evolving and changing.
With blue skies
There is a sense of clarity and optimism for the future.
And no regrets
I am living fully in the present and without any lingering remorse from the past.
I am gone.
I am fully embracing and living in the current moment without any attachment to the past or future.
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.