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
Gate
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m thinking about What you said
As you walked out the door
Your words stuck in my head
And they’re circling like birds and stars
Chorus
You said
My heart is no weapon, in fact
My heart is a gate
My heart is open and unafraid
And it's waiting for
You to find your way in
Verse 2
When we're old
Will you lean into
The open mouth kiss offered to you
On the porch swing
Under a blanket of stars?
Chorus
(You said) My heart is no weapon
My heart is a gate
My heart is open
My heart is afraid
Refrain
Does this love know enough to bend low into the winds?
Does this love know it's even love at all?
What's to say that this love won't fail like others before it?
I say stop, too many questions to pile onto one little song
Repeat verse 1 + chorus
The song "Gate" by Craig Cardiff is a beautiful representation of love and its complexities. The first verse talks about thinking about something that someone said as they were walking out the door. The words, according to the singer, stick to his head like birds and stars. This simile could refer to different things, but birds and stars are usually associated with freedom, hope, and the infinite universe. The singer is, in a way, trapped by these words, thinking about their meaning and how they could affect his life.
The chorus is the most significant part of the song, where the person who said the words at the beginning is quoted: "My heart is no weapon, in fact, my heart is a gate." This metaphor is powerful, suggesting that the person's heart is not something that can hurt the singer; instead, it is a gate, an entrance to a new path full of possibilities. The person's heart is open and unafraid, waiting for the singer to come in.
The second verse talks about growing old with this person, leaning into the open mouth kiss offered under a blanket of stars. The chorus repeats, emphasizing that a person's heart is not a weapon; it is open, afraid but still willing to take a chance in love. The refrain talks about love's complexities, which raises too many questions to answer in one little song.
Overall, "Gate" is a beautiful song that talks about the challenges of love, the courage to take a chance, and the hope of finding someone who can open their heart's gate to us.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m thinking about What you said
The singer is reflecting on the words the other person said before leaving.
As you walked out the door
The other person left the situation, leaving the singer alone.
Your words stuck in my head
The message that the other person conveyed has resonated with the singer and they can't stop thinking about it.
And they’re circling like birds and stars
The thoughts about the other person's words are persistent and constantly on the artist's mind.
You said
The artist is pondering the other person's message and how it made them feel.
My heart is no weapon, in fact
The other person conveyed that their feelings were not intended to cause harm or be manipulative.
My heart is a gate
The other person's feelings are open and accessible, like a passageway into something deeper.
My heart is open and unafraid
The other person is not shy about sharing their emotions and being vulnerable.
And it's waiting for
The other person is receptive to an interaction or deeper connection.
You to find your way in
The other person desires for the artist to pursue a deeper relationship and to reciprocate the vulnerability.
When we're old
The singer is imagining a possible future with the other person.
Will you lean into
The artist is expressing a desire for the other person's engagement with them.
The open mouth kiss offered to you
The singer is considering the intimacy and passion between the two individuals.
On the porch swing
The singer is envisioning a specific setting that is cozy and romantic.
Under a blanket of stars?
The setting is also picturesque and adds to the romanticism of the scene.
My heart is no weapon
The chorus is repeated, reiterating the other person's perspective on their feelings.
My heart is a gate
The other person's heart is still open and accessible.
My heart is open
The other person is still not afraid of being vulnerable.
My heart is afraid
Despite being open, the other person still has fears and anxieties regarding the relationship.
Does this love know enough to bend low into the winds?
The artist is questioning if the love between them is strong and flexible enough to withstand rough times and remain stable.
Does this love know it's even love at all?
The artist is questioning whether the emotions between the two of them are truly love or not.
What's to say that this love won't fail like others before it?
The artist is acknowledging the possibility that this love may not be successful, and that it might be similar to past experiences that have not ended well.
I say stop, too many questions to pile onto one little song
The singer acknowledges that pondering these questions will unlikely lead to a definite answer, and that it is not practical to try and answer all of them at once.
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.