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
Swann Song
Chris Pureka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I grew up on the bay.
I used to race my sisters up the fence-side
To Mr. Medley's place.
Papa ran the general store
And mama did everything
And the waves and the waves and the sea.
At the whim of the Atlantic breeze.
It was a good life,
Yeah it was a good life,
I'd do it all again.
I joined the Navy Nurses Corp.,
It was 1941
And I met my sailor in that fated harbor
In the days before the bombs came...
Hail Mary, I made it home,
'til I was laughing as my ship went down,
Singing and bailing water right back
To the shores of San Francisco town.
It was a good life,
Yeah it was a good life,
I'd do it all again.
I was hitched out in Reno,
I stayed at home
And he went out to sweep the mines.
I'll never forget the day
We heard it on the radio,
It was the end of the war...
And we laughed and cried
And cheered and laughed again...
Yeah we cried and cheered like it would be the last one.
Yeah sure, yeah sure I've wished for things,
I wish I had been there the day that Nancy drowned.
I wish I hadn't seen them build a highway,
A highway right through my backyard.
But you just learn to love the little things,
I've lived long enough to know.
And I'm still waving from this front porch
And this is still my swan song.
It was a good life,
It was a good life,
I'd do it all again,
I'd do it all again...
Chris Pureka’s song “Swann Song” is a poignant reflection on life, the passage of time, and the importance of cherishing the little things. The song tells the story of a woman who grew up on the bay, racing her sisters to their neighbor’s place and working in her parents’ general store. She later joined the Navy Nurses Corp in 1941, during the time of the fated Pearl Harbor attack. Although she survived the war, she recalls the joy and laughter of hearing the news of the end of the war on the radio. Life wasn't perfect for her and there were things that she wished never happened, which she expressed with "I wish I hadn't seen them build a highway, a highway right through my backyard." However, she learned to love the little things that life offered her and continued to cherish the memories and the place where she lived. She still waves from her front porch, unable to let go of her swan song.
The song brings to light the fragility of human life and how quickly things can change. However, it also highlights the resilience of human will and the ability to find joy in even the smallest of things. Through the woman’s story, Chris Pureka reminds us to appreciate the present moment and to live our lives to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I could tell you lots of things.
I have a lot of stories to share.
I grew up on the bay.
I was raised near the shore.
I used to race my sisters up the fence-side To Mr. Medley's place.
My childhood was filled with fun and games with my siblings.
Papa ran the general store And mama did everything And the waves and the waves and the sea.
My parents worked hard to support our family, while I enjoyed the beach and the ocean.
Time brought me here like a fishing boat At the whim of the Atlantic breeze.
Life is unpredictable and can take us to unexpected places.
It was a good life, Yeah it was a good life, I'd do it all again.
I have fond memories of my past and wouldn't change a thing.
I joined the Navy Nurses Corp., It was 1941 And I met my sailor in that fated harbor In the days before the bombs came...
I served in the Navy and met my husband before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Hail Mary, I made it home, 'til I was laughing as my ship went down, Singing and bailing water right back To the shores of San Francisco town.
I survived a shipwreck and managed to make it back to shore.
I was hitched out in Reno, I stayed at home And he went out to sweep the mines. I'll never forget the day We heard it on the radio, It was the end of the war... And we laughed and cried And cheered and laughed again... Yeah we cried and cheered like it would be the last one.
My husband served in the war and we celebrated the end of it together.
Yeah sure, yeah sure I've wished for things, I wish I had been there the day that Nancy drowned. I wish I hadn't seen them build a highway, A highway right through my backyard.
I have regrets and things I wish I could change about my past.
But you just learn to love the little things, I've lived long enough to know. And I'm still waving from this front porch And this is still my swan song.
Despite these regrets, I have learned to appreciate the small things in life and am content with where I am now.
It was a good life, It was a good life, I'd do it all again, I'd do it all again...
I've had a fulfilling life and would happily relive it all over again.
Contributed by Mila R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.