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
Once I Had A Home
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I still have the key
I take it everywhere I go
To prove that all I've said is so
And all the world can see
The walls were painted blue
The front door carved by hand
And strangers, all were welcomed in
When they walked upon my land
Pray for us all
And the nameless, the fallen,
The faceless forgotten
Once I had a home
Olive trees once grew
Where mounds of rubble stand
A man can feel himself a king
When water flows from well and spring
And peaceful is the land
Pray for us all...
The stars shine down on bone and skin
On wire and walls that hold us in
On roads that can't lead home again
Pray for us all...
Eliza Gilkyson's song 'Once I Had A Home' is a message about loss, displacement, and the need to remember one's roots. She laments about having lost her home, family, and land; however, she still holds onto the key because it symbolizes a sense of belonging and identity. The key represents her home which has become a memory rather than a tangible entity. She carries this memory with her, and she shows it to the world to prove that she is still who she says she is.
The walls of her home were painted blue, and the front door was carved by hand. These details speak to the love and care that she and her kin put into creating this home. Everyone was welcome to her home, regardless of whether they were related or strangers. Gilkyson emphasizes the importance of community and charity, showing that everyone was treated with equity under her roof.
The second stanza talks about the current state of her land, which is now filled with mounds of rubble. There are no longer any olive trees, and the water that once flowed peacefully from the well and spring is no longer there. She pines for her old home and the peace that it brought her. The chorus 'pray for us all' highlights the importance of offering solace and comfort to everyone, especially those who have lost their homes.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had a home
I used to have a place where I was loved and felt belonged
I still have the key
I have the physical key which represents the memories and experiences from my past home that I carry with me
I take it everywhere I go
I hold on to my past and cherish the memories wherever I am
To prove that all I've said is so
To show that the experiences and memories from my past home are real and valid
And all the world can see
I want others to recognize and understand the significance of my past home
The walls were painted blue
The walls of my past home were colored blue
The front door carved by hand
My past home had a front door that was crafted by hand, with care and attention
And generations of my kin
My family and ancestors lived in my past home for many generations
And strangers, all were welcomed in
People we didn't know were treated with kindness and hospitality when they visited our home
When they walked upon my land
Even strangers were respected and welcomed when they came to our property
Pray for us all
Please remember and think of all of us
And the nameless, the fallen,
Think of and pray for those who have been forgotten or lost
The faceless forgotten
Those who have been overlooked or unacknowledged in society need our care and attention
Olive trees once grew
There used to be trees in my past home, specifically olive trees
Where mounds of rubble stand
Now, all that is left of my past home is broken down and destroyed
A man can feel himself a king
Having access to basic resources and comforts, such as water, make someone feel wealthy and powerful
When water flows from well and spring
The simple pleasure of having access to fresh water can make someone feel rich
And peaceful is the land
When life is calm and safe, it is much easier to appreciate the simple things
The stars shine down on bone and skin
No matter who we are or where we live, we all share a connection under the same stars and sky
On wire and walls that hold us in
Despite being separated by physical boundaries and divisions, we are all in this together
On roads that can't lead home again
Sometimes it's difficult to return to what was once familiar and comfortable
Pray for us all...
We all need help and support from each other, especially during difficult times
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.