Summer's career began in 1983 when she was cast as the voice of niece Penny on the original cartoon version of Inspector Gadget. Her unique, throaty voice was instantly recognizable to casting agents (as well as viewers even today), who began frequently casting her in animated programs. Many of these were part of cult franchises, like The Care Bears Movie and Ewoks. Audiences finally had a chance to put Summer's voice to a face when she was cast as the afrocentric Winifred "Freddie" Brooks in the Cosby Show spin-off A Different World. She remained a regular cast member of the show from 1988 through its end in 1993.
In all, Summer has voiced over 70 animated characters between 1983 and 2006, many of them African-American girls. Summer has also ventured into the realm of music. In 1990, she sang background vocals on two tracks for fellow A Different World cast member Jasmine Guy's self titled LP. In 1993 she released an album (as lead singer) with her band Subject to Change. The album was not officially released by Capitol Records because of creative differences; the records that were produced were distributed promotionally and are considered a rarity. The band, with an aggressive political message and rock-soul fusion sound, remained popular as a co-headlining act with other performers.
In 1999 Summer released the solo album Street Faërie produced by and featuring guest artist (and friend) Lenny Kravitz; The album was not hugely successful. Summer toured as Kravitz's opening act, but her label dropped her and a planned spot with Lilith Fair was cancelled. The label continued to promote it, however, sending out a four-track sampler to radio and issuing remix singles of the track "Revelation Sunshine" in Europe, with a special single specifically for Austria.
Smooth My Heart
Cree Summer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see chaos heading straight for me
Give me the dark night, let the sun ignore me
'Cause everything's alright even what ain't good for me
I'll smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
It's a good journey, I'm in no hurry
Not looking for handouts, don't need no glory
Leave my conditions, keep my edges blurry
I got nothing to hold to, I can't stay gracefully
I'll smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Make my silence softer
Take the thrill of my anger
May I sleep through the heat
And wake up a stranger
I'll smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
In the song, "Smooth My Heart", Cree Summer sings about the journey of life that she is on and how she is determined to take it at her own pace without any pressure. She acknowledges that there might be chaos ahead of her but has accepted it and is not intimidated by it. She's content in finding her own way and not seeking any external validation, "not looking for handouts, don't need no glory". She's comfortable with her own being, her "edges blurry" and her "conditions" left behind.
The chorus of the song emphasizes Cree’s message of wanting to work out the difficulties of the world at her own pace, through self-reflection and introspection. “I'll smooth my heart down, long enough, for the world to come around" implies the idea of taking a moment to pause, breathe, and refrain from being too reactive to the world around her. She wants to approach obstacles thoughtfully and deliberately, and in doing so, make the world a gentler place by starting with herself. Cree further explores this idea in the last stanza, where she speaks about wanting to soften her silence, control her emotions, and react less impulsively, so she can wake up as a new person, ready to brave on the world ahead.
Overall, the song's message is, that life may be difficult and chaotic around her, but she can find peace in accepting who she is and taking the time to work through her emotions before reacting to the world around her.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a good journey, I'm in no hurry
This journey I'm on is a positive one, and I'm not in a rush to get to the end.
I can see chaos heading straight for me
I am aware that there is chaos ahead and I am prepared for it.
Give me the dark night, let the sun ignore me
I am okay with being in the dark and being ignored by the good things in life.
'Cause everything's alright even what ain't good for me
I understand that not everything in life is good for me, but I am okay with it anyway.
I'll smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
Smooth my heart down, long enough
For the world to come around
I will calm myself down and wait patiently for everything to work itself out.
Not looking for handouts, don't need no glory
I don't want any special treatment or recognition for what I do.
Leave my conditions, keep my edges blurry
I don't want to be defined by any specific conditions or edges of my personality.
I got nothing to hold to, I can't stay gracefully
I don't have anything anchoring me down, and I can't stay in one place gracefully.
Make my silence softer
I want my quiet moments to be soothing and calming.
Take the thrill of my anger
I don't want to get too worked up about anything that's happening around me.
May I sleep through the heat
I want to rest peacefully and not be affected by any surrounding chaos.
And wake up a stranger
I am open to new experiences and changes to my life.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , FAMA MUSIC
Written by: CREE SUMMER FRANCKS, D R HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind