Craig Cardiff (born 9 July 1976 in Waterloo, Ontario) is a Canadian folk si… Read Full Bio ↴Craig Cardiff (born 9 July 1976 in Waterloo, Ontario) is a Canadian folk singer who is known for his soft voice and digital vocal and guitar loops and for the connections he makes with his fans. In 2012, he 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". His first release was in 1997.

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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Open Window
Craig Cardiff Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, what is this feeling that I'm feeling
That makes me feel so small
That makes me feel like you don't
You don't need, you don't need me at all

Oh, and who am I to you?
Just a collection of expressions
Just an old and angry sentiment

Washed away, washed away with time

I said, "I'm washed away
Yeah, I'm washed away in your time"

Oh, and where do you keep your ghosts?
Wrapped up in all your dresses
Secret and smoky pretensions

That say that I need
That I need you

That I need
That I need you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Craig Cardiff's song "Open Window" capture a sense of emotional insecurity and vulnerability within a relationship. The opening lines convey a feeling of insignificance and a fear of being unwanted. The singer questions their own value and wonders if they are truly needed by the person they are addressing. This sense of smallness is further emphasized by the repeated phrase "you don't need me at all," highlighting a fear of being replaceable or unimportant.

The second verse delves deeper into the singer's perspective, expressing a sense of being devalued or dismissed. They wonder if they are merely seen as a collection of superficial expressions or as an outdated and angry sentiment, the significance of which has been washed away with time. This suggests a feeling of being disregarded or forgotten by the person they are addressing, which intensifies their sense of worthlessness.

The final lines of the song introduce the metaphor of "ghosts" and dresses, metaphorically representing the person's past experiences, secrets, and false personas. The singer questions where these hidden aspects of the person's life are stored, perhaps implying that their partner keeps them hidden away or keeps them separate from their relationship. The repetition of the phrase "that I need you" emphasizes the singer's longing for connection and validation, indicating that they desire to be needed by the person they are addressing.

Overall, "Open Window" delves into themes of insecurity, self-doubt, and the desire for emotional validation within a relationship. Through poignant and introspective lyrics, Craig Cardiff captures the complex emotions and struggles that can arise in intimate connections.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, what is this feeling that I'm feeling
I am experiencing an indescribable emotion

That makes me feel so small
It diminishes my sense of importance

That makes me feel like you don't
It gives me the impression that you do not

You don't need, you don't need me at all
You do not require my presence or support

Oh, and who am I to you?
I question my significance to you

Just a collection of expressions
Merely a compilation of words and gestures

Just an old and angry sentiment
Just a dated and resentful feeling

Washed away, washed away with time
Gradually faded and forgotten over time

I said, "I'm washed away
I expressed that I have been erased

Yeah, I'm washed away in your time"
Indeed, I have been forgotten in your existence

Oh, and where do you keep your ghosts?
I wonder where you hide your haunting memories