Ellis Paul (born Paul Plissey, January 14, 1965) is an American singer-song… Read Full Bio ↴Ellis Paul (born Paul Plissey, January 14, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. Born in Aroostook County, Maine, Paul is a key figure in what has become known as the Boston school of songwriting, a literate, provocative and urbanely romantic folk-pop style that helped ignite the folk revival of the 1990s. His folk-pop music songs have appeared in movies and on television, and are said to bridge the gap between the modern folk sound and the populist traditions of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.

“Ellis Paul is one of Boston’s best-ever songwriting exports...” – The Boston Globe. The Day After Everything Changed, the 2010 album from singer- songwriter Ellis Paul, was released on Ellis’ label, Black Wolf Records. Since emerging from the Boston music scene, Paul’s music has been consistently recognized and celebrated worldwide. The new record reinforces this acclaim and is sure to cement his place as one of America’s most talented songwriters.

Recorded in Nashville, the 15-song album was produced by Thad Beaty and Jason Collum and features five songs co-written by Paul’s longtime friend and collaborator, Kristian Bush, founder of the Grammy Award winning band Sugarland. Several of the Sugarland musicians served as Ellis’ backing band for the recording. Throughout 2011, to keep the collaboration alive, Paul will continue to open numerous sold-out arena dates for Sugarland on the current Incredible Machine Tour.

“Ellis has a voice that is so powerful that you know who it is the second he comes through your radio. His music and songs are a new birth in American sound that makes me want to go see concerts again.” -Kristian Bush / Sugarland

“The Day After Everything Changed” is Paul’s first studio album in five years and his 16th release to date. The project was 100% funded by his loyal fan base. The songs on the record reflect Paul’s commitment to storytelling, exemplified in the title track “The Day After Everything Changed.” Described by Paul himself, the songs on the album are about people who are at a crossroads in their life. “I like songs to be cultural events, little ones, that somehow tell me what it feels like to be living here on this planet, in this country, at this time. I want to hear about people’s joys and woes and apply them to my own. You can’t fake real life stories. When you’re faking it --it’s obvious. As long as the writing feels real -- it works in any genre.”

Movie director Peter Farrelly, of the Farrelly Brothers, praises Ellis Paul as “a national treasure”. Ellis’ songs have appeared in the soundtracks for three Farrelly Bothers movies, “Me Myself & Irene” with Jim Carey, “Shallow Hal” with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow, and in February 2011, the Farrelly Brothers latest project, "Hall Pass" starring Owen Wilson and Alyssa Milano will showcase up to 9 musical tracks off of Ellis' latest album The Day After Everything Changed as the score of this hit movie. This is Ellis’ third Hollywood blockbuster credit.

With “The Day After Everything Changed” we're struck more by the fact that Paul is still playing at the top of his game to such an extraordinary degree. It is, as always, the quality not the quantity but in this case we're rewarded with both. / Direct Current

Ellis celebrated his 20th anniversary of being a touring musician on July 2010 when the Mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino, declared July 9th 2010 “Ellis Paul Day” to honor one of Boston’s leading musical exports. Ellis will be anointing his 2 decades of song during his “20th Anniversary Tour” throughout 2011. Over the past two decades Paul has garnered numerous honors including 14 Boston Music Awards, second only to Aerosmith. He has performed with countless acclaimed musicians, including Patty Griffin, John Mayer, Ani Difranco, John Prine, Sugarland, and at the request of Woody’s daughter Nora Guthrie and after several trips to the Woody Guthrie archives, Ellis even has a co-write with Woody, their song “God’s Promise”.

Woody Guthrie’s daughter Nora says of Ellis, “A singer songwriter is only as good as the times he reflects. Wise, tender, brilliant and biting, Ellis is one of our best human compasses, marking in melodies and poems where we’ve been and where we might go if we so choose to. Personally Ellis, I’m goin’ where you’re goin’!”

Home
Ellis Paul Lyrics

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That night the walls were speaking
The pipes inside them creaking
Told a secret that was rising in the hall
And you lay beside me sleeping
With the dreams that you were keeping
The smoke was in the stairwell outside the wall

We had moved in just November

The first night, remember
We lit a candle, laid a mattress on the floor
And we toasted to our savings
To adulthood, to behaving, to this house with drafty windows, creaking doors

Home, is the woman 'cross the table
Home, is dreaming in my sheets
Home, home
This house is just an address, you're my home

So we stood like statues staring
The sirens came in blaring
The Johnson's brought us coffee for the cold
And somewhere I heard some singing
It was my radio alarm clock ringing
With a wake-up call singing to my soul

Home, is the woman 'cross the table
Home, is dreaming in my sheets
Home, home
This house is just an address, you're my home

I can't believe I'm thanking Jesus
As I watch my roof come down
But I can put back all the pieces
As long as you're around

Home, sits across the table
Home, is dreaming in my sheets
Home, home,
This house is just an address, you lift me from all sadness
This house is just an address, you're my home

You are my home
You're my home, you're my home, you are my home

Overall Meaning

Ellis Paul's song "Home" tells a story of a couple's first night in their new house. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia, capturing the feeling of warmth and comfort that comes from being with someone you love. The walls and pipes of the house come alive, as though telling the couple secrets about their new home. Despite the creaking doors and drafty windows, the couple is grateful for their new place and to be starting their life together.

The song takes a turn when the house catches fire, and the couple must evacuate. They are greeted by their neighbors, who bring them coffee and offer their support. Even in the face of tragedy, the couple finds solace in each other. The song concludes with the realization that home is not just a physical place but a feeling of comfort, security, and love that comes from being with the person you cherish.

Line by Line Meaning

That night the walls were speaking
The atmosphere that night was unusual and tense

The pipes inside them creaking
The pipes were making creaking sounds which added to the unusual tension that was present

Told a secret that was rising in the hall
The noises seemed to be telling some secret that was building up in the hallway

And you lay beside me sleeping
You were asleep next to me

With the dreams that you were keeping
You were having dreams that you were holding onto

The smoke was in the stairwell outside the wall
There was smoke outside in the stairwell

We had moved in just November
We had just moved in during the month of November

The first night, remember
We remember the first night in this house

We lit a candle, laid a mattress on the floor
We lit a candle and slept on a mattress on the floor

And we toasted to our savings
We celebrated our savings

To adulthood, to behaving, to this house with drafty windows, creaking doors
We toasted to our adulthood and to this house with its drafty windows and creaking doors

So we stood like statues staring
We stood still and stared

The sirens came in blaring
The sirens were loudly blaring

The Johnson's brought us coffee for the cold
The Johnsons brought us coffee to warm us up

And somewhere I heard some singing
I heard singing somewhere

It was my radio alarm clock ringing
It was my radio alarm clock playing music

With a wake-up call singing to my soul
The music was like a wake-up call that spoke to my soul

I can't believe I'm thanking Jesus
I am surprised that I am thanking Jesus

As I watch my roof come down
I am watching my roof collapse

But I can put back all the pieces
I can put everything back together

As long as you're around
As long as you are with me

Home, is the woman 'cross the table
You are my home, the person across the table

Home, is dreaming in my sheets
My home is where I dream, in my bed