Her studio album My Better Self finds Dar at an unequivocally brazen crossroads. Reflecting on American politics, the disillusionment and apathy of youth, and the female experience, Dar makes no apology for her outspoken beliefs.
Her 2008 album, entitled Promised Land. indieduck.com notes that "Williams turns over relationships in all their misunderstood, misconnected glory, and embraces religion, gender and other complications in her very wise songs. Promised Land draws in themes of nature, as well, and on the whole is a pretty piece of work that ends up feeling upbeat despite itself."
Her most recent album, 2012's In The Time Of The Gods, has a theme of Greek mythology running through it. The You Will Ride With Me Tonight Songfacts reports that Williams got the idea whilst driving on an isolated highway, during a trip from New York to Ontario.
Are You Out There
Dar Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one knows the truth there is no future here
And you're the DJ speaks to my insomnia
And laughs at all I have to fear
Laughs at all I have to fear
You always play the madmen poets
Vinyl vision grungy bands
You never know who's still awake
Are you out there, can you hear this?
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis,
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time
Last night we drank in parking lots
And why do we drink? I guess we do it cause
And when I turned your station on
You sounded more familiar than that party was
You were more familiar than that party
It's the first time I stayed up all night
It's getting light I hear the birds
I'm driving home on empty streets
I think I put my shirt on backwards
Are you out there, can you hear this
Jimmy Olson , Johnny Memphis
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time
And what's the future, who will choose it?
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the tables
Indie versus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
Oh
Corporate parents, corporate towns
I know every TV set that has them lit
They preach that I should save the world
They pray that I won't do a better job of it
Pray that I won't do a better job
So tonight I turned your station on just so I'd be understood
Instead another voice said I was just too late
And just no good
Calling Olson, Calling Memphis
I am calling, can you hear this?
I was out here listening all the time
And I will write this down
And then I will not be alone again yeah
I was out here listening
Oh yeah I was out here listening
Oh yeah I am out here listening all the time
In the first verse of "Are You Out There?" by Dar Williams, the singer expresses a sense of alienation from the world around them. They propose the idea that they might be a "miscreation" and suggest that there is "no future here." The "DJ" speaks to their "insomnia," perhaps indicating that they are listening to the radio late at night, unable to sleep. The singer notes that the DJ "laughs at all I have to fear," further reinforcing their sense of isolation and lack of understanding from those around them. The DJ plays "madmen poets" and "vinyl vision grungy bands," indicating a preference for artists who are perhaps a bit more unconventional or fringe. The verse ends with the observation that the DJ never knows "who understands," suggesting that the singer feels like they are alone in understanding or relating to these artists.
The chorus of the song features the singer repeatedly asking "Are you out there? Can you hear this?" They specifically call out to "Jimmy Olsen" and "Johnny Memphis," two characters from popular culture who are perhaps also seeking connection and understanding. The singer notes that they have been "out here listening all the time," despite the "static walls" that surround them. The repetition in the chorus highlights the singer's desire for connection and understanding.
The second verse features the singer drinking with friends in a parking lot, posing a rhetorical question about why people drink. When they turn on the DJ's station, they note that the DJ sounds "more familiar than that party was," again highlighting the singer's sense of disconnection from the people around them. The singer notes that it's the first time they have "stayed up all night," ending with the humorous observation that they put their shirt on backward. The verse ends with a repetition of the chorus, again emphasizing the singer's desire to connect with someone who understands.
"Are You Out There?" addresses themes of isolation, loneliness, and the desire for connection. The singer feels like they don't fit in with the world around them, and they seek understanding from the artists they admire and from those who might be listening to the same radio program. The song highlights the importance of music as a means of connecting people who might otherwise feel alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Perhaps I am a miscreation
Maybe I don't fit in with society's expectations
No one knows the truth there is no future here
The future is uncertain and unclear
And you're the DJ speaks to my insomnia
The music you play helps me cope with my sleeplessness
And laughs at all I have to fear
Music is a source of comfort and helps me overcome my fears
You always play the madmen poets
Your music selection includes unconventional, free-spirited artists
Vinyl vision grungy bands
You play music that has a raw, gritty quality
You never know who's still awake
You don't know who is up listening to the music you play
You never know who understands and
You don't know who relates to the music you play
Are you out there, can you hear this?
Is anyone listening and can they relate to what I'm saying?
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis,
Examples of radio personalities who could be listening
I was out here listening all the time
I've been listening to the music and hoping to connect with someone
And though the static walls surround me
Even though I feel isolated and alone
You were out there and you found me
Someone else who connects with this music helped me feel less alone
Last night we drank in parking lots
Recalling a moment of youthful rebellion and carefree hanging out
And why do we drink? I guess we do it cause
Reflecting on the reasons behind rebellious behavior
And when I turned your station on
Listening to music as a form of escape and consolation
You sounded more familiar than that party was
Feeling a greater connection to the music than to social events
It's the first time I stayed up all night
A moment of insomnia that was uniquely memorable
It's getting light I hear the birds
Becoming aware of the morning after an all-nighter
I'm driving home on empty streets
Making your way home after a night of wandering
I think I put my shirt on backwards
Realizing in retrospect that you didn't quite have it together
And what's the future, who will choose it?
Contemplating the future and who has control over it
Politics of love and music
The intersection between politics, love, and music as powerful avenues for change
Underdogs who turn the tables
People who are underestimated who go on to succeed
Indie versus major labels
The struggle between independent artists and big record labels
There's so much to see through
Sorting through the many issues and challenges of the music industry
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
Noting the contrast between generational experiences
Corporate parents, corporate towns
The influence of big corporations on culture and society
I know every TV set that has them lit
Seeing the same messages and programming on every television
They preach that I should save the world
The media tells young people that they should aim to change the world
They pray that I won't do a better job of it
But when young people rise up to make change, the establishment resists it
So tonight I turned your station on just so I'd be understood
Finding solace and connection in the music
Instead another voice said I was just too late
Feeling rejected and hopeless
Calling Olson, Calling Memphis
Reaching out for human connection and understanding
I am calling, can you hear this?
Asking if there is anyone out there listening who understands
And I will write this down
Documenting this experience and feeling
And then I will not be alone again yeah
Feeling less isolated and more hopeful
I was out here listening
Trying to connect with other people through music
Oh yeah I was out here listening
I've been waiting for someone to hear me
Oh yeah I am out here listening all the time
Music is a constant source of comfort and connection for me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAR WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Craig Hill
She's singing specifically about my all time favorite radio station of all time, WRSI which was out of Greenfield, Ma in the same town where she lived for awhile since that part of Ma has a bunch of colleges and had a great music scene at the time. Went out of business sometime in the mid 90's. Johnny Memphis and Jimmy Olson were 2 of my favorite dj's of that station which she sings about. I believe that after the station was sold it went into oblivion, but then got reconstituted. You can stream the new WRSI, it's just not the same as it was before it was reconstructed, but still worth a listen since they still play alternative music. They list their 3 different frequencies on the stream so if you're in NW Ma, SW NH, SW VT you can pick it up on radio as well as stream. Ironically, the only radio station that I ever heard this song on was ….WRSI back in the early to mid 90's.
memoryhero
Interesting tidbits! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.
Hugh Manne
Saw Dar in Berkeley, California, at the Freight and Salvage a couple years ago, performing her album Mortal City in its entirety. What a treat.
BeeUndercover
This was the song that introduced me to Dar's music so many years ago! :)
I finally had the chance to a small, intimate concert of hers in Amsterdam recently, what a treat! ^_^
pegster6
BeeUndercover, this introduced me to her as well. And it was like she was singing about me! So many of us pre-digital music had our lives first changed by radio - I definitely did. Such a fantastic song, and what a gorgeous voice. Melodic, precise, incredibly flexible. Definitely envious that you experienced a small concert of hers recently!
Scott Kirby
Me, too. I had never heard her before a friend played this song for me. Awesome!
Kathy Bencsik
Just saw her again at Sellersville Theatre !! She is as wonderful as ever!!
jedsa05
I was in the audience for this performance!!! Dar was amazing!
Christine Carter
I absolutely love this I haven't seen her do this one live however she was amazing!!! Fan 10 years and I just love her
tbird5892
Seeing Dar next week in Port Washington NY. This will be either my 7th or 8th time seeing Dar and she is an absolute joy each and every time. Can’t wait