Combining elements of jazz, pop and funk, this New York City-based group creates a singular sound with memorable melodies and unique, sophisticated harmonies. Fronted by the clear sultry voice of singer songwriter Elizabeth Ziman, they are attracting a buzz from the music press.
Ziman wrote her first song at age six, banging out melodies on an old upright in a Greenwich Village laundry room. A born romantic, Ziman transformed the music of Debussy, molding it to the driving rhythms of the washer and dryer. With Debussy and Bach on her left and the Beatles just to her right, Elizabeth quickly developed a sound all her own. Her “Baroque” pop songs have frequently been compared to those of Rufus Wainright, Fiona Apple and Laura Nyro. Elizabeth received the ASCAP Leiber and Stoller award in 2001 for her song “Like Water is to Sand”. From two years, she toured across the U.S. with soul queen Patti Austin, who kicked off her tour at Lincoln Center in 2003. Ziman has also performed with Enya, singing with her on Regis and Kelly as well as the CBS Morning Show. Comprised of Elizabeth Ziman (vocals, keys), Danny Molad (drums), and Peter Lalish (guitar), Elizabeth and the Catapult came into existence in 2004.
Ziman has performed extensively in New York City and Boston (The Knitting Factory, The Living Room, Rockwood Music Hall, The Cutting Room, The Middle East, T.T. The Bears). They completed their S-T EP and promoted the album on ‘soundcheck’ with John Shaefer(WNYC) in April. They have opened for national headliners like Jessie Harris, Kirk Kirkwood (of Meat Puppets fame), The Wood Brothers (featuring Chris Wood of Medeski, Martin, and Wood), and Amanda Palmer. They were spotlighted in the fall issue of Northeast Performer and the featured Billboard Underground Artist in October 2006.
Open Book
Elizabeth & The Catapult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh darling don’t you know I mean it?
No more fixing to unfold
No more stories left untold
No decorations, no more secrets
I’m an open book
Clear and white as a morning skyline
No pretty words
No compromise
So come on baby won't you read me?
Darling won’t you take a second look
Yeah I promise to be good
Won’t you take a second look?
Inside this open book
I’m an empty page
I’m a tale without an ending
I have yet to write the lines
They are yours and they are mine
So let’s take comfort in believing
And I’m an open heart
My wounds will heal throughout the seasons
I won’t give up a single hope
The day is ours and that’s all I know
So let’s get ready to receive it
Darling won’t you take a second look
Yeah I promise to be good
Won’t you take a second look?
Inside this open book
The lyrics of "Open Book" by Elizabeth & The Catapult are a beautiful reflection of vulnerability and honesty. The first stanza sets the tone for the entire song, as the singer declares themselves to be an open book. They urge their partner to read them, promising no more secrets or hidden stories. What they are offering is a blank slate, unburdened by decorations or pretty words. All they have left to give is themselves, exactly as they are.
The second stanza is just as poignant as the first. The singer describes themselves as an empty page, a story without an ending. But instead of being a source of sadness, they express hope in not yet having written the lines of their life. They believe that their story will be one shared with their partner, and that this shared story will bring them comfort. The final stanza offers a glimpse into the singer's heart, which they describe as open and ready to receive what life offers. They have hope and refuse to give up that hope, no matter what the seasons may bring.
One of the interesting things about this song is that Elizabeth Ziman, the lead singer and songwriter of Elizabeth & The Catapult, studied classical composition at Berklee College of Music. This background may explain the song's beautiful musical arrangement, which features piano and strings. "Open Book" was also featured on several TV shows, including "One Tree Hill" and "So You Think You Can Dance."
Line by Line Meaning
I’m an open book
I am a person who is transparent and honest about my thoughts and feelings.
Oh darling don’t you know I mean it?
I sincerely and truly mean that I am open and honest.
No more fixing to unfold
I have nothing left to reveal or uncover, I am open and transparent.
No more stories left untold
I have shared all of my experiences, both good and bad, without hiding any details.
No decorations, no more secrets
I have nothing to hide or embellish, and I have no secrets left.
Clear and white as a morning skyline
I am transparent and pure, like the clear sky at dawn.
I’ve got no candy coated lines
I don't use sweet or deceptive words to make myself look better or deceive others.
No pretty words
I don't use flowery or attractive language to embellish or sugarcoat my message.
No compromise
I tell it straight without being influenced or changed by others.
So come on baby won't you read me?
I invite you to get to know me by reading my thoughts and feelings like an open book.
I’m an empty page
I am a person yet to experience new things, and my life story has yet to be written.
I’m a tale without an ending
I am a story that is still being written, and the ending is yet to be determined.
They are yours and they are mine
I am open to sharing my life with others, and together we will co-author our experiences.
My wounds will heal throughout the seasons
I am resilient, and my emotional wounds will eventually heal, no matter how long it takes.
I won’t give up a single hope
I am optimistic and refuse to let go of my dreams, no matter how difficult or challenging they may be.
The day is ours and that’s all I know
I have hope for the future and trust that everything will work out in the end, despite the uncertainties of life.
Darling won’t you take a second look
I invite you to examine me further, and get to know me on a deeper level.
Yeah I promise to be good
I pledge to continue being open and transparent, and to maintain my integrity in all situations.
Inside this open book
If you take the time to read me, you'll discover everything you need to know about who I am, what I stand for, and what I aspire to be.
Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.