She received much critical acclaim for her 2005 release, Paradise Hotel, which contains songs that strike a chord with listeners in light of recent events. "Requiem" honors Hurricane Katrina and tsunami victims with hopeful pleas to the Virgin Mary, while "Man of God" is a bitter, unapologetic denouncement of President George W. Bush and his administration.
"The actions of this regime do not follow the teachings of Christ, what I call real Christianity," Gilkyson said in August 2005. "I just don't appreciate the religious right acting like I don't love God and my country just because I'm not in their corner. I'm mad and I want other people to be mad about this too."
In 2008, her album Beautiful World came out, again on Red House Records. The songs vary from pop to folk and points in-between, with songs ranging from intimate ballads to rallying cries against the imperialist machine. She recently collaborated on a new album entitled Red Horse with two of her Red House Records label-mates John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky.
In 2011, she came out with Roses at the End of Time. Recorded at her home with the help of her son and co-producer Cisco Ryder, Gilkyson took a longer time in the studio and came out with a more eclectic and personal album. She continues to tour about 150 dates per year in the United States and overseas.
www.elizagilkyson.com
Eliza Jane
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The dogs are barking
The birds are singing
New day dawning
I'm so worried about everything
And thank God I'm breathing
And I still got my wedding ring
Time is fleeting
Oh Eliza, you try so hard
You don't see nothing
Blue horizon and you're expecting rain
Lift your eyes and you just might find
You see something good
Eliza, little Eliza
Oh Eliza, little Eliza Jane
This world's still got half a chance
Still got half a voice that's singing
Still doing a doomsday dance dance
I'm so worried about everything
Spin around a one-way track
Like a ringing around the roses
Allamand left and you can't go back
Do-sie Do, Do-sie do
Eliza, you try so hard
You don't see nothing
Blue horizon and you're expecting rain
Lift your eyes and you just might find
you see something good
Eliza little Eliza
Oh Eliza, little Eliza Jane
Oh Eliza, you try so hard
You don't see nothing
Blue horizon and you're expecting rain
Lift your eyse and you just might find
yous see something good
Eliza, little Eliza
Oh Eliza, little Eliza Jane
I'm so worried about everything
Dogs are barking, birds are singing
I'm so worried about everything
Dogs are barking
I'm so worried about everything
The song "Eliza Jane" by Eliza Gilkyson captures the fear and anxiety that can come with the weight of the world on one's shoulders. The singer wakes up in the morning to the sounds of dogs barking and birds singing, but despite the new day dawning and the fact that she's still alive and has her wedding ring, she can't shake the feeling of worry about everything going on in the world. She speaks to herself, perhaps her younger self, urging "little Eliza" to look beyond the horizon she's expecting rain from and lift her eyes to see something good. The chorus repeats this message of encouragement and the verses paint a picture of feeling trapped and spinning in circles, unable to go back or move forward.
The song's structure and use of metaphor work together to create a sense of being stuck in a cycle of worry and fear. The chorus seems to offer a way out, a glimmer of hope that things could be different. The repetition of Eliza's name in the chorus and the title of the song itself suggest a deeper personal connection to the message of the song. The use of line dancing steps like "Do-sie Do" and "Allamand left" create a sense of being stuck in a pattern or routine that is difficult to escape from.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake up in the morning
I begin my day feeling slightly anxious.
The dogs are barking
The sounds and chaos of the world around me is overwhelming me.
The birds are singing
Despite the chaos, there is still beauty and hope in the world.
New day dawning
Each new day brings new opportunities to find joy and meaning.
I'm so worried about everything
My anxiety and fear is all-consuming and weighs heavily on me.
And thank God I'm breathing
Despite my worry, I am grateful for the simple fact of being alive.
And I still got my wedding ring
Even in the midst of chaos and fear, I have a source of stability and love in my life.
Time is fleeting
The passing of time can heighten feelings of vulnerability and fear.
Oh Eliza, you try so hard
I am working hard to navigate my worries and fears but it is a difficult process.
You don't see nothing
Despite my efforts, I cannot seem to find a way out of my anxiety.
Blue horizon and you're expecting rain
I am bracing myself for the worst, even amidst moments of beauty.
Lift your eyes and you just might find / You see something good
If I can shift my perspective and look for the positive, I may be able to find hope and joy in the world.
Eliza, little Eliza
Not only am I singing about myself, but perhaps addressing a younger version of myself who also struggled with worry and fear.
This world's still got half a chance
Despite chaos and strife, the world still has the possibility for positive change and growth.
Still got half a voice that's singing
There is still hope and beauty in the world, even if it can be difficult to see.
Still doing a doomsday dance dance
I am aware of the potential for disaster, but I am continuing to move forward and dance despite it.
Spin around a one-way track / Like a ringing around the roses / Allamand left and you can't go back / Do-sie Do, Do-sie do
Life can sometimes feel like I am moving in circles with no way out, but I am determined to keep moving forward and finding moments of joy along the way.
Dogs are barking, birds are singing
Even in moments of chaos, there is still beauty to be found in the world.
I'm so worried about everything
My worries and fears continue to plague me despite moments of beauty and joy.
Writer(s): eliza gilkyson
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.