In the late 1980s Brickell was the lead singer with the (now renamed) folk-rock group Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, whose 1988 debut album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars was a critical and commercial success. The band's follow-up album, Ghost of a Dog (1990), fared less well. As a solo artist, Brickell released Picture Perfect Morning (1994) and Volcano (2003). In 2006 she reunited with some of the original members of the New Bohemians and they released the Stranger Things album.
Brickell had a role as a folk singer in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July. Her version of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is featured on the film's soundtrack. Many computer users know her from the "Good Times" video which was included as part of the multimedia samples on the Windows 95 installation CD-ROM.
Brickell married songwriter Paul Simon in 1992. They have three children.
I'd Be Surprised
Edie Brickell Lyrics
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Like I want to.
There may come a day when you wake up.
When you wake and find me gone, later on.
I'd be surprised if you do.
Long were the days when I was without you.
What did I do.
Hanging out with everybody on the second floor.
And the night would go so slow.
There may come a day, when you wake up.
When you wake and find me gone, later on.
I'd be surprised if you do
Interpretation:
The lyrics of 'I'd Be Surprised' by Edie Brickell suggest that the singer is not always in love with her partner in the way that she wants to be. She hints at the possibility that one day, she might leave him even though she is unsure if he would be surprised by her departure. The singer then reflects on her past when she was without her partner, hanging out with friends on the second floor and searching for more in life. She reminiscences about how these nights felt long and slow, but that she now has someone who brings meaning to her life. Despite this, she wonders whether her partner would be surprised if she ever left him.
The song seems to suggest that love is a difficult emotion to sustain over time, and that people can grow distant even after being together for a while. The singer acknowledges these uncertainties but still recognizes the value of their partner in their life. The lyrics are poignant and thought-provoking, exploring deep insecurities and fears about commitment and long-term relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You know that I don't always love you.
I admit that my love for you is not consistent.
Like I want to.
Even though I am not always loving you, I still desire to do so.
There may come a day when you wake up.
It is possible that someday you will wake up without me by your side.
When you wake and find me gone, later on.
If that day comes, you will realize that I have left at some point later on.
I'd be surprised if you do.
But I doubt that you will find me gone because I still love you enough to try and make things work.
Long were the days when I was without you.
I remember the time before I met you, and it was a long time ago.
What did I do.
I wonder how I spent my time before I had you in my life.
Hanging out with everybody on the second floor.
I used to spend my time with other people on the second floor of buildings.
Smokin', jokin' at the party ever wanting more.
I used to engage in smoking and joking around at parties, always desiring something more.
And the night would go so slow.
Those nights seemed to last forever, as if time was standing still.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network
Written by: EDIE BRICKELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind