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
So It Goes
Chris Pureka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the flowers die in their garden rows
And the warm words can't help at all,
Everybody knows...
You're trying to find a compromise
Between remembering and learning to forget,
So now just pouring a glass of water
It's so hard to see it all,
She tries to hold you in the night,
But you're shaking you're crying out,
Praying for sleep to bless your bedside.
That's right, so it goes,
The whole world folds over you.
Pack your handkerchief and your best shoes...
Reconciliation of guilt and grief,
It's the hardest battle you've tried to win
And now every year you grit your teeth
As it cuts you underneath your skin.
Oh and Sunday mornings don't bring you solace,
You are firm in your disbelief
But you hold tight to that old promise;
You are waiting for the spring,
You are waiting for the spring.
That's right, so it goes,
The whole world folds over you.
Pack your handkerchief and your best shoes...
Don't leave me breathing,
No not alone,
There's so much more I meant to tell you.
I went by with flowers, just to see,
But that granite told me you're still gone....
Don't leave me breathing,
No not alone,
There's so much more I meant to tell you...
I went by with flowers, just to see,
But the granite told me you're still gone....
The song "So It Goes" by Chris Pureka is a hauntingly beautiful ballad, with poignant and melancholic lyrics that describe the feeling of being stuck in between the past and the present. The song is about the difficulty of letting go of loved ones who have passed away and finding a way to move on with your life.
The first verse of the song talks about the changing seasons, with the arrival of fall and the dying of flowers in their garden rows. The warmth of words from others does not provide much comfort, as everyone knows the pain of loss. The second verse describes the struggle to find a compromise between remembering and learning to forget. Even simple tasks such as pouring a glass of water can feel like an impossible feat. The chorus repeats the phrase "so it goes," acknowledging that the world continues to move on despite the pain and that one must keep moving forward.
The third verse describes the difficulty of coping with grief, with the singer shaking and crying out in the night, desperate for sleep. The repetition of the phrase "that's right" adds emphasis to the overwhelming nature of the emotions being felt. The waiting for spring is a metaphorical reference to the hope for a new beginning, a renewal of life after the winter of grief.
In the final verse, the singer pleads with their departed loved one to not leave them alone and expresses regret for not having said more while they were still alive. The reference to the granite as the only remaining sign of their loved one's presence serves as a reminder that life is fleeting, and we should cherish the time we have with those we love.
Overall, "So It Goes" is a poignant and honest portrayal of grief and the difficulty of reconciling with the past while attempting to move forward in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You pack your sweaters for the fall
You prepare for the forthcoming season as time passes by
And the flowers die in their garden rows
The blooms wither away, just like the memories you cling to
And the warm words can't help at all, Everybody knows...
Words of consolation fall short, and the world is aware of your pain
You're trying to find a compromise, Between remembering and learning to forget,
You seek balance between reminiscence and moving on,
So now just pouring a glass of water, Is like trying to move boulders with your breath.
Simple things feel like a battle, everything is a struggle
It's so hard to see it all,
The hurt and confusion make it difficult to comprehend
She tries to hold you in the night,
She attempts to comfort you, to no avail
But you're shaking you're crying out, Praying for sleep to bless your bedside.
The agony grips you, and you yearn for respite from the misery
That's right, so it goes, The whole world folds over you.
The world doesn't stop moving, despite your heartache
Pack your handkerchief and your best shoes...
Prepare for what lies ahead, the hurdles and obstacles
Reconciliation of guilt and grief,
Accepting the pain you feel, and coming to terms with what you could have done differently
It's the hardest battle you've tried to win
The fight against oneself is the toughest one
And now every year you grit your teeth, As it cuts you underneath your skin.
The wound keeps opening up, leaving you battered and bruised
Oh and Sunday mornings don't bring you solace,
Even the day of rest can't calm the chaos in your heart
You are firm in your disbelief
The loss has shaken your faith, and you can't believe in anything anymore
But you hold tight to that old promise; You are waiting for the spring,
You cling to the possibility of a new beginning, hoping for better days
Don't leave me breathing,
Don't let me suffer alone in this pain
No not alone, There's so much more I meant to tell you.
I have things to say, and I don't want to regret holding them back
I went by with flowers, just to see, But that granite told me you're still gone....
I visited your resting place, but it reminded me that you're still not here
Contributed by Charlie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.