Born in Windsor, Ontario and raised in France and Kelowna, British Columbia, Fellows lived in Toronto, Vancouver, Guelph and Montreal before settling in Winnipeg in 1992.
In 1993, she formed her first group, Helen, with Barry Mirochnick, Paul James, and Chang. Helen broke up in 1995, and in 1996 Fellows teamed up with singer-songwriter Keri McTighe, Barry Mirochnick, Keith McLeod and Peggy Messing, to form Special Fancy. The group released one album, King Me.
In 2000 Fellows released her debut solo album, 2 Little Birds. This was followed by The Last One Standing in 2002, Paper Anniversary in 2005, and Nevertheless in 2007. These albums feature Leanne Zacharias (cello), Jason Tait (drums, vibraphone), Barry Mirochnick (drums, vocals), John K. Samson (vocals, guitar), Keith McLeod (mandolin), Monica Guenter (viola), Greg Smith (bass), Ed Reifel (percussion), and Cristina Zacharias (violin).
Fellows has performed with the Rheostatics, Veda Hille, The Mountain Goats, Kim Barlow, Old Man Luedecke, and The Weakerthans. She is married to The Weakerthans' lead singer, John K. Samson.
In 2006, Fellows and Samson recorded The Old House, an album intended only as a Christmas gift for friends and family, although they released two songs, "Taps Reversed" and "Good Salvage", for airplay on CBC Radio 3 in early 2007. Fellows and Samson also performed live on the network on March 17, 2007, to mark the final night of the network's terrestrial simulcast on CBC Radio 2.
Fellows also composes music for dance, film and television. She scored part of Clive Holden's Trains of Winnipeg film series, as well as collaborating with Tait and Samson on the associated album. In 2007, she wrote several songs for a dance piece by choreographer Susie Burpee; they were later included on her fourth solo album, Nevertheless, which was released on November 6, 2007.
Fellows has also toured as a member of The Pan-Canadian New Folk Ensemble with Kim Barlow and Old Man Luedecke.
Recently, she was artist-in-residence at Le Musee de Saint-Boniface Museum in Winnipeg (2009), and she has been writing songs for a new solo album, scheduled for release on Six Shooter Records in fall of 2010.
Foreword
Christine Fellows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This paper trail's misleading.
I snapped it shut and just flew open.
I have to admit I love the sound
So i took a little risk.
In this song "Foreword", Christine Fellows is begging for someone to not give up on her just yet. She admits that things may seem confusing and misleading because of the paper trail. However, she is willing to take a risk and cross wires. The metaphor of crossing wires means that she is willing to take a chance and explore unknown territory.
She admits that the sound of the wires crossing is something she loves. This could illustrate that although she may be uncertain of what the future holds, she finds excitement in the unknown. Additionally, when she says she snapped it shut and just flew open, it may suggest that she has been confined and wants to break free.
Overall, this song speaks to the idea that it's okay to feel lost and unsure. It's okay to take risks and try new things. Although things may not make sense at first, it's important to keep trying and not give up.
Line by Line Meaning
So don't give up on me quite yet,
I know I may have made some mistakes, but please don't abandon me just yet.
This paper trail's misleading.
The evidence or records may not accurately reflect the truth.
I snapped it shut and just flew open.
I closed off from the trail earlier, but now I am ready to be open and truthful.
I have to admit I love the sound
Confessing that there is a certain fascination with the unexpected or risk-taking in the situation.
Of wires crossing,
It's an expression of their willingness to take risks and explore different possibilities.
So i took a little risk.
Finally, the line encapsulates the singer's decision to take a chance despite the risks.
Contributed by Reagan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.