She is the daughter of Fred Carter, Jr. She is known for performing barefoot, saying that it helps her relax enough to sing.
Award-winning singer/songwriter/performer Deana Carter unveils The Chain, her fifth studio record October 9th on Vanguard Records.
Each of the 12 songs on The Chain has a special importance to Deana, who personally chose material that had a great impact on her early life. She took the same care in recruiting collaborators for the project, assembling a group of musicians who influenced her as an artist -- none more greatly than her father, legendary session player Fred Carter, Jr, who performs throughout the album. “Ever since I knew that music was going to be my life’s path, I’ve wanted to pay tribute to my dad and to the artists who were so good to me and my family. The camaraderie between them, and the way they took our family and made it part of their families, was so unique that I wanted to recapture it for a little while,” states Deana.
The Chain features duets with Deana and some of country music’s royalty: Kris Kristofferson (Help Me Make It Through The Night), Dolly Parton (Love Is Like A Butterfly), Jessi Colter (I’m Not Lisa), Willie Nelson (On The Road Again), George Jones (He Thinks I Still Care) and John Anderson (Swingin’). The CD also includes two of music’s rising stars, Shooter Jennings on “Good Hearted Woman”, the song made famous by his father, the great Waylon Jennings, and Harper Simon on “The Boxer,” a nod to his dad, Paul Simon who plays guitar on this track. The Chain also features stunning solo recordings of Deana performing such classics as “Lay Lady Lay”, “The Weight”, “Crying” and “Old Man”.
Produced and arranged by Deana Carter, The Chain is a musical feast and celebration of one’s past and influences.
A multi-platinum recording artist, Deana Carter burst into the music scene with the blockbuster album Did I Shave My Legs for This? (1996) that produced four No. 1 hit singles. Her additional releases included Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, Father Christmas, I’m Just A Girl, Greatest Hits and The Story Of My Life. She has performed on countless television shows and network specials and yielded a Golden Globe and Grammy nomination for the song Once Upon A December from the animated film Anastasia.
Deana is based in Los Angeles where she resides with her son, Gray Hayes. She is a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation.
Story of My LIfe
Deana Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
so I could paste the pieces of last night
I try not to regret it
sifting through the laughter and the lies
I guess that's just the story of my life
I was born in a 60's winter
a saint and a sinner
wrestling with what's wrong and what's right
I guess that's just the story of my life
When they roll me down the last long highway
you wont find me putting up a fight
if I could have things my way
they'd all be there just soaking up the light
In Deana Carter's song "Story of My Life," the artist reflects on her past experiences with a sense of acceptance and even resignation. The lyrics reflect a desire to sort through the memories of the previous night, despite the haze of confusion that clouds her thoughts. She acknowledges her mistakes without explicitly condemning them, recognizing that they are simply a part of her story. The opening verse speaks to the common struggle of trying to piece together the events of a previous evening and come to terms with any poor decisions made. Carter's tone is introspective and reflective, acknowledging that she doesn't always make the best choices, but that she is willing to face the consequences of those choices.
The second verse takes a broader view, reflecting on the circumstances that brought her into the world. She was born to a young mother and a father who struggled with his own demons. The line "a saint and a sinner / wrestling with what's wrong and what's right" captures the internal struggle of someone trying to balance conflicting values and impulses. This could be interpreted as a nod to the nature vs. nurture debate, implying that her upbringing played a role in shaping who she is today. Ultimately, the line "I guess that's just the story of my life" serves as a refrain, linking the two verses and emphasizing the idea that every experience, positive or negative, is a part of the larger story.
Overall, "Story of My Life" is a song about accepting one's past and recognizing that every moment, every choice, every person encountered along the way has contributed to the person we are today.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I was a little more clear headed
I desire to be more focused and rational
so I could paste the pieces of last night
to mend together the fragments of the previous night
I try not to regret it
attempting to avoid feelings of guilt or remorse
sifting through the laughter and the lies
sorting through both joyous and deceitful experiences
I guess that's just the story of my life
accepting the continuous cycle of events in my personal journey
I was born in a 60's winter
entered into the world during a winter period in the 1960s
my mom was young and my dad had an appetite
my mother was in her youth and my father had strong desires
a saint and a sinner
my parents had both virtuous and sinful qualities
wrestling with what's wrong and what's right
struggling to differentiate between moral and immoral actions
When they roll me down the last long highway
when my life journey is coming to an end
you wont find me putting up a fight
I will not resist the eventual conclusion of my existence
if I could have things my way
if it were up to me
they'd all be there just soaking up the light
all of my loved ones would be present, enjoying the splendor of life
Contributed by Scarlett B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.