Raised in Connecticut, Pureka is said to have begun writing songs at the age of eight; by 16 they were playing the guitar. Following performances at local coffee houses and open mics, they began opening shows for such artists as Erin McKeown and Pamela Means while completing a degree in biology at Wesleyan University. After graduating, they worked in a microbiology research lab at Smith College in Northampton, eventually leaving to focus on their music full-time. In June 2001, they recorded a self-titled seven-song EP in preparation for a three-month nationwide tour with lesbian folk poet Alix Olson.
In 2004, Pureka released Driving North, their first full-length album, earning rave reviews from fans and fellow artists alike. In 2006, they released Dryland, and toured the US a second time as a headlining act. In May 2007, Pureka was a member of the month-long New American Songwriter Tour in New York City, Philadelphia, and Massachusetts. The tour also featured Krystle Warren, Jesse Harris and Ryan Scott. In July 2007, Pureka's song, "Swann Song" won 1st Place in the Acoustic competition on the independent music site OurStage.com.
In October 2007, Pureka was nominated for 2007's Outstanding Folk Act by the Boston Music Awards. They were also awarded an ASCAPLUS award in the summer of 2007.
Pureka is the founder of their label, Sad Rabbit Music. As well as their own releases, they have lent their vocals and guitar playing to several tracks by artists like Olson and Arjuna Greist; a notable track is "Checking My Pulse" with Olson, which went on to become a relative hit for Olson.
Pureka identifies as genderqueer and cultivates an androgynous appearance. They have received positive reviews in the long-running radical feminist publication off our backs and other magazines. Pureka's music does not deal explicitly with LGBT issues, focusing instead on emotional interactions between individuals.
On January 20, 2009, Pureka released a fourth album, an EP entitled Chimera. In April 2010, Pureka released their fifth album, How I Learned To See In The Dark
www.chrispureka.com
31 And Falling
Chris Pureka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As if I don't know what you're going to say...
So let it ring,
I can count the cracks in the ceiling all day long.
I guess the birds they just went south,
But I've got no where to go,
It's 31 and falling,
In case you'd like to know...
God damn my wasted time,
Ringing all the bells.
If I could hold my tongue,
Just long enough to get me through the door
Then you won't know...
Rewind the tape while your back is turned,
Fold my arms and pull the curtains closed,
Bury the roses in the backyard
And darlin' never mind what I might have said, before, before,
God damn my wasted time,
Ringing all the bells...
I've got half a mind to lie to you
Half a mind to tell you everything I have to tell, to tell, to tell.
I've been wasting my time I know I know better,
And I'm tired of waxing sentimental,
I'm tired of saying please, please,
Tired of waiting,
I'm tired of waiting.
You call again,
As if I don't know what you're going to say....
The song "31 and Falling" by Chris Pureka is a melancholic and introspective song about a failed romantic relationship. The singer receives a call from their ex-lover, but already knows what they are going to say. The singer is so accustomed to this routine that they don't bother answering the phone and instead let it ring while they stare at the cracks on the ceiling. They feel stuck and don't know where to go, as if the birds have all flown south without them. Yet, they still dream of their lost love.
The singer is frustrated with themselves for wasting time on this failed relationship and is tired of being sentimental and waiting for something that will never happen. They have half a mind to either lie or tell everything they need to say. At the end of the song, the singer receives another call from their ex-lover, but they are too exhausted to even bother answering.
Overall, “31 and Falling” is a song about the difficulty of letting go of a relationship that has already ended, and the lingering feelings that accompany it. The lyrics delve deep into the singer's mindset and emotions, touching on themes of grief, frustration, and emotional exhaustion.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you call again,
The person being addressed has called again, and the singer knows it will be more of the same.
As if I don't know what you're going to say...
The singer is tired of hearing the same things over and over again.
So let it ring,
The singer is choosing not to answer the phone.
I can count the cracks in the ceiling all day long.
The singer is bored and has nothing to do.
I guess the birds they just went south,
The singer is alone and lonely.
But I've got no where to go,
The singer is stuck and doesn't know what to do.
It's 31 and falling,
The weather is cold and getting colder.
I've been dreaming of you darling,
The singer misses someone special.
In case you'd like to know...
The singer wishes they could communicate their feelings to this person.
God damn my wasted time,
The singer is frustrated with themselves for not moving on.
Ringing all the bells.
The singer is trying too hard to get this person's attention.
If I could hold my tongue,
The singer wishes they could stop themselves from saying too much.
Just long enough to get me through the door
The singer wants to leave this situation behind them.
Then you won't know...
The singer wants to keep their feelings hidden.
Rewind the tape while your back is turned,
The singer wants to go back in time and undo some things.
Fold my arms and pull the curtains closed,
The singer wants to isolate themselves.
Bury the roses in the backyard
The singer wants to forget about any romantic feelings they had.
And darlin' never mind what I might have said, before, before,
The singer wants to take back anything they might have said before.
I've got half a mind to lie to you
The singer is considering not telling the truth.
Half a mind to tell you everything I have to tell, to tell, to tell.
The singer is conflicted about how much to say.
I've been wasting my time I know I know better,
The singer realizes they've been wasting time and needs to move on.
And I'm tired of waxing sentimental,
The singer is tired of getting caught up in their feelings.
I'm tired of saying please, please,
The singer is tired of begging for attention from this person.
Tired of waiting,
The singer is tired of waiting for a change that may never come.
You call again,
The person being addressed has called again, and the singer is back where they started.
As if I don't know what you're going to say....
The singer is still tired of hearing the same things over and over again.
Contributed by Colin L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.