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
Barn Song
Chris Pureka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The corn rattles and the shadows move
It's just the way, it's just the way I'm feeling
I want to lie down in a field of rain
This is a river and I pray for the bottom
Some kind of measure of the way things change
I've been stuck in the middle of a slow storm, counting the days, love
I know we're in the dark, and the cold comes
Through the very cracks that let the light through
Bring me something back from that sunny coast, and keep us, moving on
These are the shadowlands, I've known them
And I think it's going to be the long way down
But I'll be the tiny flame, that you carry around, around, around
I know we're in the dark, and the cold comes
Through the very cracks that let the light through
Bring me something back from that sunny coast, and keep us, moving on
This is a blessing and I don't date doubt it
We built a boat out of willow trees
We caught the moonlight, like a mirror
Shine right through to the best of me
Shine right through to the best of me
We've been living in abandoned houses
Sometimes we're tending to abandoned fields
It's just the way it's just the way I'm feeling
I want to wake up with the sun in my head
The song "Barn Song" by Chris Pureka is a haunting and introspective piece that speaks to the feeling of being lost and searching for a sense of home. The opening lines, "This is a barn and I know it's haunted / The corn rattles and the shadows move," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer feels like she is in a place that is both familiar and unsettling, and she longs for a sense of comfort and security.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on her own life and the changes she has experienced. She talks about being "stuck in the middle of a slow storm" and counting the days, which suggests a feeling of being trapped and unable to move forward. She also mentions the "shadowlands" and the long way down, which could be interpreted as a reference to depression or a sense of hopelessness.
Despite these dark thoughts, the singer also finds moments of hope and positivity in the song. She mentions "building a boat out of willow trees" and "catching the moonlight," which suggests that there is still beauty and wonder in the world. She also talks about wanting to "wake up with the sun in my head," which could be seen as a metaphor for finding new energy and purpose.
Overall, "Barn Song" is a complex and emotional piece that explores themes of isolation, uncertainty, and the search for meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a barn and I know it's haunted
The singer is in a barn which they believe is haunted
The corn rattles and the shadows move
The environment in the barn is creepy and uneasy
It's just the way, it's just the way I'm feeling
The singer acknowledges that their feelings of unease are subjective and personal
I want to lie down in a field of rain
The artist desires a sense of catharsis or cleansing
This is a river and I pray for the bottom
The artist is in a river and hoping to find some sense of stability or grounding
Some kind of measure of the way things change
The singer is contemplating change and its effects
I've been stuck in the middle of a slow storm, counting the days, love
The singer is experiencing a metaphorical storm and feels trapped by its duration
I know we're in the dark, and the cold comes
The artist acknowledges a difficult emotional state
Through the very cracks that let the light through
Despite the difficulties, the artist recognizes the potential for hope or positivity
Bring me something back from that sunny coast, and keep us, moving on
The artist pleads for something positive to pull them out of their current state
These are the shadowlands, I've known them
The singer has experienced difficult emotional states before
And I think it's going to be the long way down
The artist anticipates difficulty ahead
But I'll be the tiny flame, that you carry around, around, around
The singer hopes to provide hope or light to others despite their own struggles
This is a blessing and I don't date doubt it
The singer sees something as a blessing and has faith in it
We built a boat out of willow trees
The singer and others have found resourcefulness despite limitations
We caught the moonlight, like a mirror
The artist has found beauty or joy in their surroundings
Shine right through to the best of me
The artist hopes the positive elements of their surroundings will help them shine through their struggles
We've been living in abandoned houses
The singer has experienced a lack of stability or security
Sometimes we're tending to abandoned fields
The singer has had to care for neglected or forgotten things, possibly as a metaphor for their own struggles
I want to wake up with the sun in my head
The artist desires a renewed sense of positivity and energy to face the day
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ParadoxKismet
This is a barn and I know it's haunted.
The corn rattles and the shadows move.
It's just the way, it's just the way I'm feeling.
I want to lie down in a field of rain.
This is a river and I pray for the bottom,
some kind of measure of the way things change.
I've been stuck in the middle of a slow storm, counting the days, love...
I know we're in the dark, and the cold comes,
through the very cracks that let the light through.
Bring me something back from that sunny coast, and keep us, moving on...
These are the shadowlands, I've known them.
And I think it's going to be the long way down,
but I'll be the tiny flame, that you carry around, around, around...
I know we're in the dark, and the cold comes,
through the very cracks that let the light through.
Bring me something back from that sunny coast, and keep us, moving on...
This is a blessing and I don't dare doubt it.
We built a boat out of willow trees.
We caught the moonlight, like a mirror,
shine right through to the best of me,
shine right through to the best of me...
We've been living in abandoned houses.
Sometimes we're tending to abandoned fields.
It's just the way it's just the way I'm feeling.
I want to wake up with the sun in my head.
Don't You Get Caught Somedays
2 of our most impressive singers of our times, people. Now, letโs gather Jack Johnson & Ben Howard and Iโd know miracles can happen ๐๐ผ
Jamie Sokova
Perfection down to the last subtle nuance. Real artistry and passion for a craft.
dan b
I come back to this every few months. Always magical.
Zach Byrd Adventure Hour
"I know weโre in the dark and the cold comes, through the very cracks that let the light through."
What a god damn line...
Ben Bloom
somewhat of a Leonard Cohen ripoff?
Charlie Rettner
@Ben Bloom
Ring the bells (ring the bells) that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in
T h i b e r o
Because of this song I got to know Gregory, both are awesome
Jegger85
This comes straight form the heart! And it defenitly hits the point! Thank you for that!
Daniel
Such a shame that content like this doesn't get the views it deserves
Cara Mason
Absolutely beautiful ๐น๐น๐น๐นlove discovering new music artists ๐๐