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.
Partick Artists
Craig Cardiff's Bandcamp page
Making Pies
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can walk
Down the block
To TableTalk
Close my eyes
Make the pies all day
Plastic cap
I used to mind
Now I don't care
I used to mind
Now I don't care
Cause I'm Gray
Did I show you this picture of my nephew
Taken at his big birthday surprise
At my sister's house last Sunday
This is Monday and we're making pies
I'm making pies
Making pies
Pies
Thursday nights
I go and type
Down at the church
With Father Mike
It gets me out
And he ain't hard to like
At all
Jesus stares at me
In my chair
With his big blue eyes
And his honey brown hair
And he's looking at me
Way up there
On the wall
Did I show you this picture of my sweetheart
Taken of us before the war
Of the Greek and his Italian girl
One Sunday at the shore
We tied our ribbons to the fire escape
They were taken by the birds
Who flew home to the country
As the bombs rained on the world
5am
Here I am
Walking the block
To TableTalk
You could cry or die
Or just make pies all day
I'm making pies
Making pies
Making pies
Making pies
The song "Making Pies" by Craig Cardiff is a soulful expression of a woman's life as she works at TableTalk, a pie factory. The first stanza talks about how she can walk down the block to work and close her eyes to make pies all day. The Plastic cap on her hair which she used to mind, now she doesn't care because she's gray (old). The phrase "I'm gray" is an indication that she's no longer young, but she still has to work to make a living. This mundane activity almost becomes a form of meditation or escapism for her, as she's able to focus on something other than the events of her life.
As the song progresses, she reminisces about her past while making pies. She talks about the photo of her nephew's big birthday surprise and one of her sweetheart taken before the war. She narrates how they tied their ribbons to the fire escape and how the birds took them home when the bombs rained. In the third stanza, she speaks of typing poems in the church with Father Mike. It's something that gets her out and keeps her company. She mentions the picture of Jesus who sits and stares at her in her chair with his big blue eyes and honey brown hair.
In the final stanza, she talks about being up at 5 am walking down the block to Table Talk. She says that you could cry or die, but for her, she just makes pies all day.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not far
I don't have to go very far to get to TableTalk.
I can walk
I prefer to walk to TableTalk, rather than drive or take public transit.
Down the block
TableTalk is nearby, just a few blocks away.
To TableTalk
I'm going to TableTalk, a restaurant or cafe of some sort.
Close my eyes
I'm so familiar with my pie-making routine that I can do it with my eyes closed.
Make the pies all day
I spend most of my day making pies.
Plastic cap
I wear a cap to keep my hair out of the food I'm making.
on my hair
The cap goes on my head to cover and protect my hair.
I used to mind
I used to be nervous or embarrassed about wearing the cap, but not anymore.
Now I don't care
I've grown to accept wearing the cap as part of my job.
Cause I'm Gray
I'm getting older and wiser, and my priorities have shifted.
Did I show you this picture of my nephew
I'm proud of my family, and like to show off pictures of them.
Taken at his big birthday surprise
The photo was taken at a special occasion, and captures a happy memory.
At my sister's house last Sunday
The event took place at my sister's house, and was recent.
This is Monday and we're making pies
Despite having a busy family life, I'm back to work making pies on a Monday.
Thursday nights
I have a standing appointment on Thursday nights.
I go and type
I volunteer at the church by typing or doing admin work.
Down at the church
The volunteer work takes place at a nearby church.
With Father Mike
I work alongside Father Mike, who is pleasant to be around.
It gets me out
Volunteering gets me out of the house and into the community.
And he ain't hard to like
Father Mike is easy to get along with and makes the work enjoyable.
Jesus stares at me
There is a picture of Jesus on the wall watching me while I volunteer.
In my chair
I sit in my usual chair while typing at the church.
With his big blue eyes
The picture of Jesus has striking blue eyes.
And his honey brown hair
Jesus' hair is described as a warm, honey brown color.
And he's looking at me
The picture of Jesus seems to be staring right at me.
Way up there
The picture of Jesus is high up on the wall, almost out of reach.
Did I show you this picture of my sweetheart
I also have a picture of my significant other that I like to show off.
Taken of us before the war
The photo is old, and reminds me of happier times before a difficult period in our lives.
Of the Greek and his Italian girl
My significant other and I come from different backgrounds and cultures.
We tied our ribbons to the fire escape
We left a memento on a fire escape as a sign of our love.
They were taken by the birds
The ribbons were seen and taken by birds.
Who flew home to the country
The birds flew far away, taking our ribbon with them.
As the bombs rained on the world
The world was in turmoil at the time, and our small act of love was overshadowed by larger, darker events.
5am
It's early in the morning, before the sun has come up.
Here I am
I'm up and ready to go to TableTalk again.
You could cry or die
Life can be tough, but there are always options besides giving up.
Or just make pies all day
I choose to find fulfillment and contentment in simple things, like baking pies.
Making pies
I'm continually making pies throughout the song, which represents my work ethic and daily life.
Pies
The repeated utterance of 'pies' underscores the importance and centrality of my work.
Contributed by Sophie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.