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.
Nevertheless
Christine Fellows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Curtains drawn nobody home.
You'll know me from the curtain's twitch.
Windows break and windows fix.
Cardboard and a length of tape
Cover spider cracks and chipping paint.
They're just letting in a little light.
I don't care.
Feather dust and cobwebs go,
Dusting high and dusting low.
Spraying gravel in the lane,
Stop and pull the curtains back again.
I look for quarters in the snow,
Pacing up and down the side of the road.
I'm a moving target.
I keep every single rock they throw.
I know it ain't right. I know it ain't right.
I know it ain't right but I don't care.
I know it ain't right. I know it ain't right.
I know it ain't right but I don't care.
Curtains white let in the light.
Curtains drawn nobody home.
I know it ain't right.
'Cause windows break and windows fix!
The lyrics to Christine Fellows's song "Nevertheless" are full of vivid and evocative imagery that explores the theme of resilience in the face of hardship. The use of curtains and windows as metaphors is particularly apt, as they represent both separation and connection – the curtains drawn when nobody is home create a feeling of isolation, while the twitch of a curtain is a small gesture of acknowledgement and communication. The seemingly mundane task of covering up cracks in the paint with cardboard and tape is imbued with meaning, as it becomes an act of defiance against decay and neglect. The line "I'm a moving target" captures the sense of vulnerability that comes with being constantly under attack, but also suggests a certain fluidity and adaptability – this is someone who is used to being on the move, and who refuses to be pinned down or defeated.
The repetition of "I know it ain't right but I don't care" is a powerful statement of self-determination, a refusal to be bound by societal norms or expectations. In a world that often seems intent on breaking us down, this song is a reminder that we can still find moments of beauty and connection in the smallest things – a ray of sunlight shining through a crack in the curtains, a quarter glinting in the snow. The final lines, "Curtains white let in the light. Curtains drawn nobody home. I know it ain't right. 'Cause windows break and windows fix!", bring the song full circle, highlighting the cyclical nature of life and the constant ebb and flow of connection and disconnection.
Line by Line Meaning
Curtains white let in the light.
The curtains are open to let sunlight in.
Curtains drawn nobody home.
The curtains are closed, indicating no one is home.
You'll know me from the curtain's twitch.
The singer is watchful and paranoid, often peering through the curtains.
Windows break and windows fix.
The world can be destructive and chaotic, but it can also heal and repair itself.
Cardboard and a length of tape
Makeshift repairs using common household items.
Cover spider cracks and chipping paint.
Hiding imperfections with quick fixes.
They're just letting in a little light.
The temporary repairs are only meant to serve a small purpose.
They're just letting in a little air.
The makeshift repairs aren't perfect and allow air to seep through.
I don't care.
The artist is indifferent to the imperfections and temporary fixes.
Feather dust and cobwebs go,
The artist is cleaning and trying to maintain cleanliness and order.
Dusting high and dusting low.
The singer is thorough in their cleaning efforts.
Spraying gravel in the lane,
The artist is trying to deter unwanted attention or visitors.
Stop and pull the curtains back again.
Despite efforts to keep people out, the singer is still curious about who might come by.
I look for quarters in the snow,
The singer is searching for small blessings despite harsh conditions.
Pacing up and down the side of the road.
The uncertainty and restlessness of the singer's current situation.
I'm a moving target.
The artist feels vulnerable and in constant danger.
I keep every single rock they throw.
The artist is resilient and perseveres despite obstacles and attacks.
I know it ain't right. I know it ain't right.
The singer is fully aware that their situation is not ideal.
I know it ain't right but I don't care.
Despite knowing their situation is less than favorable, the singer is accepting of it.
Curtains white let in the light.
The cycle of light and darkness continues.
Curtains drawn nobody home.
The artist is still nowhere to be found.
I know it ain't right.
The artist is still grappling with their feelings about their situation.
'Cause windows break and windows fix!
Despite everything, the world still has an unpredictable and sometimes healing nature.
Contributed by Aria O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.