His song Dark and Deep was selected for inclusion on Songs Inspired By Literature, Chapter One, a benefit CD to raise money for adult literacy campaigns. Other artists on that CD include Suzanne Vega, Aimee Mann, Grace Slick and Bruce Springsteen.
David has performed on the main stage of the internationally known Kerrville Folk Festival, and he was featured as the headline act at the 2004 Auckland Folk Festival. While there he was awarded lifetime membership in the Guitar Association of New Zealand, only the third international performer to be given that honor in the history of the organization.
David is the co-founder and director of Proyecto para las Escuelas Guatemaltecas, a non-profit organization that funds projects to improve schools in Guatemala. For more info, check the web site: www.pegpartners.org.
In the last year LaMotte has published a children's book based on his award-winning children's song S.S. Bathtub, a live concert DVD and a retrospective collection of Peace and Justice songs from his previous records, as well as his latest CD, Change, a collaborative project with cellist Stephanie Winters.
Stranger
David LaMotte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All these little lines on my face
Anyone can see I'm no stranger to this place
Half a bottle empty on the dresser
Half a suitcase full of my clothes
Clock beside the bed says it's long past time to go
Waiting for the answering machine
Asking if I'm home, I don't remember what that means
Put my only key on the table
Take my jacket off of the chair
Anyone can see I'm a stranger everywhere
David LaMotte's song Stranger is a melancholic and reflective piece that examines the idea of feeling like a stranger in a familiar place. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is lost in their own thoughts, staring at the lines on the ceiling and on their face, which serve as reminders of how much time has passed. The mention of the half-empty bottle and half-full suitcase suggests a sense of transience - of not quite belonging anywhere and constantly being on the move. The clock, which indicates that it's time to go, highlights the character's restlessness and inability to settle down.
The ringing telephone in the kitchen serves as a metaphor for the character's disconnection from the world around them. They don't know who might be calling or why, and they don't even remember what it means to be "home." This could suggest that the character has been away from home for so long that they've lost their sense of belonging there. They put their only key on the table and take off their jacket, indicating that they've made the decision to leave - not just the physical space, but the mental space in which they feel like a stranger everywhere.
Overall, the song's lyrics convey a sense of loneliness, isolation, and disillusionment. The character seems to be grappling with feelings of displacement and dislocation, struggling to find their place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
All those little lines on the ceiling
The singer notices the marks on the ceiling, which indicate the passage of time and may mirror the lines on their own face.
All these little lines on my face
The singer notes the wrinkles and creases on their face, representing a lifetime of experiences and challenges.
Anyone can see I'm no stranger to this place
Despite being marked by time and hardship, the singer feels at home in this place and knows it well.
Half a bottle empty on the dresser
The artist has consumed a substantial amount of alcohol, perhaps as a coping mechanism or to numb their pain.
Half a suitcase full of my clothes
The artist has only packed what they need, indicating a transient lifestyle or the desire for a fresh start.
Clock beside the bed says it's long past time to go
The singer is aware that they need to move on from this place or situation, but is struggling to muster the motivation or courage.
Telephone is ringing in the kitchen
The outside world is trying to make contact, but the singer is hesitant to answer or engage with others.
Waiting for the answering machine
The artist would rather screen their calls and avoid human interaction in favor of isolation and solitude.
Asking if I'm home, I don't remember what that means
The artist may be feeling lost, disconnected from themselves or their past, and unsure of their place in the world.
Put my only key on the table
The artist is relinquishing control, letting go of one of the few things they have left in this space.
Take my jacket off of the chair
The singer is preparing to leave, shedding the outer layer that has protected them from the cold and harsh realities of life.
Anyone can see I'm a stranger everywhere
The artist feels like an outsider, disconnected from the people and places around them, and uncertain about where they belong.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David LaMotte
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind