With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
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Craig Cardiff's Bandcamp page
Dearest
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, my what a relief
The photo from the phone and the counting of teeth
Oh, the most terribe part of it was
How calm you were about it
The Buissness of fear
The poitics of cheap
Numb to the fact of how fat we've grown
Leave your name and number
there's no one home
Tell us it will change
Someday Someday Someday
Just Wait
Someday Someday Someday
Ohh they say all
Things will change
Someday Someday Someday
Someday Someday Someday
The Tunnels of ports
Islands safe and clear
the television reports on the mother and her tears
We know whom to watch by the length of the nose
leave your name and number
there's no one home
tell us to wait
for change
Someday Someday Someday
Tell us to watch, and wait
Someday Someday Someday
Someday Someday Someday
Someday Someday Someday
Someday Someday Someday
Someday Someday Someday
Someday Someday Someday
In Craig Cardiff's song "Dearest," the lyrics speak to a sense of detachment and numbness in the face of tragedy, as well as frustration with the way society approaches and responds to such events. The opening lines depict a conversation in which someone has called with news, likely about something violent or traumatic. However, the singer is struck by how calm the other person is, despite the severity of the situation. This suggests a theme of emotional disconnection, where people become almost desensitized to the constant stream of bad news and violence that permeates our society.
The second verse expands upon this idea, touching on the idea of fear-mongering, sensationalist media, and the apathy or disinterest of those in power. The "business of fear" and "politics of cheap" refer to the way that fear is used to manipulate people, both politically and commercially. This is reinforced by the image of the television reports on a mother's tears, which feels almost like voyeurism, consuming others' pain as entertainment. The frustration and hopelessness of the situation is compounded by the final lines, where the singer is advised to "wait for change" and told "there's no one home" - implying that those in power are either incompetent or indifferent to the suffering of their citizens.
Line by Line Meaning
Dearest when you called
When you called, my beloved, it was a relief to hear from you.
Oh, my what a relief
I was overjoyed and relieved to hear from you.
The photo from the phone and the counting of teeth
Seeing the picture you sent of your teeth made me feel worried and anxious for you.
Oh, the most terrible part of it was
The worst part of the situation was...
How calm you were about it
...that you seemed so calm, despite the pain you must have been in.
The business of fear
There are people who profit from scaring others.
The politics of cheap
We are bombarded with cheap and manipulative arguments meant to persuade us to act or think in certain ways.
You wonder if the people up top are asleep
You question whether those in positions of power are truly taking action to make things better for us.
Numb to the fact of how fat we've grown
We have become desensitized to how unhealthy our lifestyles have become and how much we need to change.
Leave your name and number, there's no one home
When you try to reach out for help, you find that no one is available or willing to listen.
Tell us it will change, Someday Someday Someday
Despite the challenges we face, we hold out hope that things will get better in the future, even if that change won't happen right away.
Just Wait, Someday Someday Someday
We must be patient and wait for change to come.
Ohh they say all Things will change, Someday Someday Someday
Others promise that change is inevitable and will surely come at some point in the future.
The Tunnels of ports, Islands safe and clear
There are channels we can use to navigate through life and reach places of safety and security.
The television reports on the mother and her tears
The media focuses on sensational stories that evoke emotions, rather than on the deeper issues and problems we face.
We know whom to watch by the length of the nose
We can tell who is being deceitful or hiding something by paying attention to their body language and behavior.
Tell us to watch and wait, Someday Someday Someday
We are advised to keep our eyes open and be patient as we await change.
Someday Someday Someday
Despite the difficulties and obstacles we may face, we hold onto hope and faith that change will come eventually.
Contributed by Alexandra O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.