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
Compass Rose
Chris Pureka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back to the door that slammed in my face,
Oh but here I am, here I am, here I stay...
But when will the street signs stop pointing west,
When will my thoughts stop drifting like smoke
Over the ridge to the trail we used to walk?...
The whole thing fades to black
And then you're waiting, waiting for it to burn again...
Well, I'm lost today, I wont' deny it,
I'm going to lay down and wait for the compass rose
Under my skin to start to glow
But look how the sun has painted the trees,
All these colors never known to them,
Colors never know to their leaves...
I'd like to sing like that
Oh does it sound familiar?
The whole thing fades to black
And then you're waiting, waiting for it to burn again...
But I know that someday, someday,
I'll offer up the song I was made to play
Until even the mocking birds
Don't know what to say
And the mornings just make sense, sense, oh yeah...
And where the dawn went I don't know
Just hang a white flag out the window,
Until the sunlight shines through it,
Well is it morning yet?
I'm lost today, here I am wandering,
It's late and I'm sure noticing
The crook of my arm is lonely...
But look how the snow has painted the town
So that all of the street light
Is dancing, dancing around...
I'd like to love like that
Does it sound familiar?
But I know that someday, someday,
I'll offer up my Sunday afternoons
Until the rocking chairs have gone
And worn right through the paint on the porch floor
And we're grey and grey and gone, gone, gone...
The lyrics of Chris Pureka's song "Compass Rose" represent the feeling of being lost and the search for direction in life. The singer is feeling lost and wandering, but is determined to stay where they are instead of going back to the door that slammed in their face. The street signs that point west represent the direction that the singer's thoughts are drifting in, towards the trail they used to walk with someone. The phrase "waiting for it to burn again" represents the hope that things can be restarted or rekindled. The singer hopes to find direction again with the glowing of the compass rose under their skin, but are still lost and noticing the loneliness of their life. The snow painting the town and the sunlight shining through the white flag hanging out the window represents the beauty in life that the singer longs to love like that. The ultimate goal of the singer is to offer up their true self and talents, so that they can find purpose and direction in life, until the end of their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm lost today, I'm almost wandering
Feeling directionless and unsure in life
Back to the door that slammed in my face
Regretting a past failure or missed opportunity
Oh but here I am, here I am, here I stay...
Resigned to the present moment despite uncertainty
When will the street signs stop pointing west
Longing for change and progress in life
When will my thoughts stop drifting like smoke Over the ridge to the trail we used to walk?...
Pining for a past relationship or connection
Oh does it sound familiar?
Questioning whether others can relate to these emotions
The whole thing fades to black And then you're waiting, waiting for it to burn again...
Anticipating a return to positivity and hope
Well, I'm lost today, I wont' deny it, I'm going to lay down and wait for the compass rose Under my skin to start to glow
Acknowledging and accepting a period of uncertainty and waiting for inner guidance
But look how the sun has painted the trees, All these colors never known to them,Colors never know to their leaves...I'd like to sing like that
Finding beauty and inspiration in nature and wishing to express oneself similarly
But I know that someday, someday, I'll offer up the song I was made to play Until even the mocking birds Don't know what to say And the mornings just make sense, sense, oh yeah...
Believing in one's own potential to create something truly impactful and meaningful
And where the dawn went I don't know Just hang a white flag out the window,Until the sunlight shines through it,Well is it morning yet?
Expressing confusion and longing for clarity in life
It's late and I'm sure noticing The crook of my arm is lonely...But look how the snow has painted the town So that all of the street lightIs dancing, dancing around...I'd like to love like that
Feeling lonely but finding solace in the beauty of the world and wishing for a joyful love
But I know that someday, someday,I'll offer up my Sunday afternoons Until the rocking chairs have goneAnd worn right through the paint on the porch floorAnd we're grey and grey and gone, gone, gone...
Imagining a fulfilled life of dedication and purpose
Contributed by Abigail J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.