Eliza Gilkyson (born in Los Angeles, California, in 1950) is an American fo… Read Full Bio ↴Eliza Gilkyson (born in Los Angeles, California, in 1950) is an American folk musician based in Austin, Texas. She has been recording and performing her unique blend of folk, country, and other genres since the late 1970s. She is the daughter of the late Terry Gilkyson, an accomplished songwriter noted for music he composed for Disney. She is the sister of Tony Gilkyson, who played with the Los Angeles-based bands Lone Justice and X. She has collaborated with both during the course of her career.

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

Looking for a Place
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Winding down to the end of the line
And the falling of the curtain
I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine
Of that one truth I’m certain
I will give you roses fair
For every secret you did share
For all your words that flowed like wine
Roses at the end of time

Tonight I bless the hands of fate
That brought you to my doorway
Weary, worn and worth the wait
So willing to explore me
One rose for every vow you kept
One for every tear you wept
For all the moments you were kind
Roses at the end of time

One rose for every dream you dared
One for every wrong repaired
For all that bound your heart to mine

Roses at the end of time
Roses.

Overall Meaning

Eliza Gilkyson's song, Looking for a Place, is a poignant reflection on the journey of life, the passing of time and the importance of love and relationships. The first verse speaks of reaching the end of the line, the end of the road, the final moments of life. The idea of the curtain falling suggests the end of a performance, of a life lived, and the certainty that the two people in the song will be together until the very end. The second verse speaks of gratitude, for the chance encounter that brought them together and the love that grew between them. This love is symbolized by the roses, given for every secret shared, every vow kept, every tear shed, every dream dared, and every wrong repaired. The final line, "roses at the end of time," is a beautiful and poignant image of love and beauty in the face of mortality.

The song's lyrics are deeply symbolic and open to interpretation. The roses may represent love or memories, the end of time may represent death or the end of a relationship, and the falling curtain may represent closure or finality. Overall, the song speaks to the importance of cherishing the people we love, and the beauty and value they bring to our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Winding down to the end of the line
Approaching the end of life's journey

And the falling of the curtain
The closing of life's final scene

I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine
Our love will last for eternity

Of that one truth I’m certain
Without a doubt, I know our love is real

I will give you roses fair
I will show my love and appreciation for you

For every secret you did share
For opening up and trusting me with your innermost thoughts

For all your words that flowed like wine
Your beautiful words that enriched my life

Roses at the end of time
An expression of my love for you, even at life's end

Tonight I bless the hands of fate
I am grateful for the chance to love you

That brought you to my doorway
For bringing you into my life

Weary, worn and worth the wait
Despite the hardships, you were worth waiting for