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
Dryland
Chris Pureka Lyrics
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Or drink them like water,
Hope I'll wake up again to a sparrow song...
I'm holding myself,
Waiting and waiting in the belly of a boat,
Praying for dryland...
I tied it to the end of a kite-string
On a windy day.
Well, you can have it if you find it,
But the last time I saw it
It was heading north to the mountain-lands
And here I am....
Turning in circles,
Watching the hour hand passing me by...
All these saltwater days
Until it finally seems like the north star is returning to the night sky,
To my night sky....
So I made a little room,
Up on the top shelf
And I won't hold that place dog-eared anymore,
No which is to say
Life just goes on dear,
Which is to say
Sometimes I miss you like hell...
I'm holding myself,
Waiting and waiting in the belly of a boat,
Praying for dryland,
I'm holding myself,
Waiting and waiting in the belly of a boat,
Praying for dryland...
I can slide through the days
Or drink them like water
Hope I'll wake up again
To a morning song....
The lyrics of Chris Pureka's song Dryland convey a feeling of being lost and adrift. The singer is sliding through their days, either barely living them or numbing themselves with alcohol. They are waiting in the belly of a boat, hoping for dry land or stability. The imagery of the sparrow song and the north star returning to the night sky suggest a longing for a sense of direction and purpose. The singer has lost something important to them, symbolized by the key tied to the end of a kite-string, which is now out of their reach. They have created a little room for this lost thing, but they know that life just goes on, and sometimes they still feel an intense longing for it.
The song's repeated refrain of "I'm holding myself, waiting and waiting" emphasizes the singer's feelings of isolation and loneliness. The sense of being adrift is conveyed through the imagery of the boat, which also suggests a lack of control. The salty water days might suggest tears or the endlessness of the singer's emotions. But despite all of this, the singer still holds onto hope that they will wake up to a morning song, suggesting that they believe there is still beauty to be found in life.
Overall, Dryland is a poignant exploration of the human experience of feeling lost and searching for stability, direction, and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I slide through the days
Or drink them like water,
Hope I'll wake up again to a sparrow song...
I pass my days without relishing them or consume them too quickly, but I hope that someday I will wake up to the sweet sound of a sparrow's chirping.
I'm holding myself,
Waiting and waiting in the belly of a boat,
Praying for dryland...
I am struggling to cope with the situation I am in and waiting impatiently for something to change so that I can finally find comfort.
Well the key that's in question,
I tied it to the end of a kite-string
On a windy day.
The key that is currently elusive to me was tied to a kite string and carried away by the wind on a day with strong gusts.
Well, you can have it if you find it,
But the last time I saw it
It was heading north to the mountain-lands
And here I am....
The key I seek is somewhere in the mountainous regions, and I would willingly give it to whomever finds it, but I am still searching for it myself.
Turning in circles,
Watching the hour hand passing me by...
All these saltwater days
Until it finally seems like the north star is returning to the night sky,
To my night sky....
I have been aimlessly wandering and idly watching the time go by, feeling lost and hopeless until recently, when I started to see glimpses of hope and light in my life once again.
So I made a little room,
Up on the top shelf
And I won't hold that place dog-eared anymore,
No which is to say
Life just goes on dear,
Which is to say
Sometimes I miss you like hell...
I have made a new space for myself and am moving on from the past, but that doesn't mean I don't miss the person I used to be with terribly sometimes.
I can slide through the days
Or drink them like water
Hope I'll wake up again
To a morning song....
Once again, I am admitting that I sometimes take my days for granted, but I am still hopeful that I will someday wake up to a beautiful morning and be filled with joy and gratitude.
I'm holding myself,
Waiting and waiting in the belly of a boat,
Praying for dryland,
I'm holding myself,
Waiting and waiting in the belly of a boat,
Praying for dryland...
I am struggling, and I am still waiting for something to change in my life - to finally find my 'Dryland' - as I continue to hold on and hope for something better.
Contributed by Annabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.