“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’!”
Weightless
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like it's some role that she's playing
I tell her, "you remind me of someone else"
But who it is I'm not saying "hear me out," she says
"I'm getting older, I don't need to justify
Myself to you. do you hear me?"
When she walks in a room
Or stepping across the moon
Like she's gravity's only daughter
She's weightless
Weightless
And I say, "you're just confused
Because you talk too much to angels
And they faithfully refuse
To answer questions that are painful"
"But faith has no weight," she says
"Now, doubt, now, there's the burden
You're completely right to think you're grounded
Do you hear me?"
When she walks in a room
It's like she's walking on water
Or stepping across the moon
Like she's gravity's only daughter
She's weightless
Weightless
The song Weightless by Ellis Paul is a beautiful exploration of faith, doubt, and personal identity. The lyrics are told from the perspective of someone who is trying to understand a woman who is struggling to define her faith. She is grappling with questions of identity and purpose, and is feeling lost and confused. The singer notices that she is like someone else he knows, but he can't quite put his finger on who it is.
The woman responds by telling the singer that she is getting older and does not need to justify herself to him or anyone else. She insists that faith has no weight, and that doubt is actually the burden that weighs people down. The singer tries to tell her that she is confused because she talks too much to angels, but she insists that the angels refuse to answer painful questions. Through it all, the woman remains weightless, as if she is walking on water or stepping across the moon, defying the laws of gravity and living without the constraints of doubt.
The song is a powerful commentary on the struggle to find meaning in the world, and the deep desire to be free from the weight of doubt and uncertainty. It speaks to the universal human experience of trying to understand who we are and what our purpose is, and how faith and doubt can both be sources of strength and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
She's trying to define her faith
She's attempting to figure out what her religious beliefs mean to her
Like it's some role that she's playing
She's treating her faith like it's an act or performance rather than a genuine belief system
I tell her, "you remind me of someone else"
The singer sees similarities between this person and someone else they know
But who it is I'm not saying
The artist chooses to keep the identity of the person they're reminded of to themselves
"hear me out," she says
The person she's talking to asks for them to listen to what she's saying
"I'm getting older, I don't need to justify Myself to you. do you hear me?"
She's telling the singer that she's growing up and no longer feels the need to explain herself and her beliefs to them
When she walks in a room
The focus shifts to her demeanor and presence
It's like she's walking on water
She seems to move through the world with ease and grace
Or stepping across the moon
Her movements seem to defy gravity or the limitations of the ordinary world
Like she's gravity's only daughter
Her natural grace makes her seem like she belongs in another realm
She's weightless
There's a sense of lightness around her, both physically and emotionally
And I say, "you're just confused
The artist expresses their opinion that she's not clear on her beliefs and is struggling to understand them
Because you talk too much to angels
The singer believes that she's putting too much emphasis on her faith and spiritual beliefs
And they faithfully refuse
The angels she talks to refuse to give her answers to her questions or doubts
To answer questions that are painful"
She asks tough questions that her spiritual beliefs can't answer
"But faith has no weight," she says
She argues that faith isn't something that can be measured or evaluated using physical attributes
"Now, doubt, now, there's the burden
She thinks that doubt is the true burden, and it's much heavier than having faith
You're completely right to think you're grounded
The singer agrees with the person they're talking to that grounding oneself in reality is important
Do you hear me?"
She asks if the singer understands her message
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ELLIS PAUL PUBLISHING
Written by: ELLIS PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind