As a teenager, Barker was known to sing heavy metal and soul covers at high-school assemblies. She first entered the British music scene via the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2002, where she appeared with Rob Jackson, Boo Hewerdine’s guitarist. The success of this performance led them to form a band called the-low-country, in which Barker was the songwriter and front person. They released two albums (the first being in 2003), played numerous alt-country venues and festivals, and enjoyed several plays on John Peel’s show.
2005 saw the birth of Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo, consisting of Barker and the all-female trio of Anna Jenkins, Jo Silverston and Gill Sandell who collectively provide backing harmony vocals and who respectively play violin, cello and musical saw, and accordion, piano and flute.
The band’s second studio album, Despite The Snow, was recorded in live sessions in a 16th century barn in Norfolk. Self-released in November 2008 on Emily’s own label Everyone Sang, the album again garnered much praise.
February 2011 saw the release of Almanac. Dear River followed in 2013.
* Official site
All love knows
Emily Barker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your words bend my heart
I let you in and you came closer
Now I'm learning all love knows
I've got photos and letters
That I've stared at now for so long
It's got to the point where I can't see you
(Instrumental)
There's a tapestry of stars above
And you're the brightest by far
I let you in and you came closer
Now I'm learning all love knows
(Middle 8)
Lover this long distance is soon to be shorter
Oh, lover this time difference is soon to reach and end
(Instrumental)
I went down to the ocean
And blew a kiss out across the sea
The wind bends the poplars
And I'm learning all love knows
And I'm learning all love knows
All love knows
All love knows
All love knows
The lyrics of Emily Barker's song "All Love Knows" convey the powerful emotions experienced in a long-distance relationship. The song is a heartfelt tribute to love and longing for someone who is not physically present, and the lyrics beautifully capture the essence of the emotions involved in such an experience.
The song starts with the wind bending the poplars, a metaphor that sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The wind represents the unpredictable nature of love, and how it can sometimes be both gentle and fierce, just like the wind that bends the trees. Next, the lyrics talk about how the person's words have the power to bend the singer's heart, indicating that the person is essential to her emotional well-being. She then goes on to talk about how she has been looking at photos and letters for so long that she cannot see the person anymore. This line is particularly poignant since it conveys the pain of the separation.
The second verse of the song talks about the connection between the singer and the person she is separated from. The tapestry of stars above represents the universe, and the person is the brightest star by far. The metaphor is a beautiful way to express how important the person is to the singer. The middle eight of the song talks about how the long-distance relationship will soon be shorter, and the time difference will soon come to an end, giving hope to the listener. The song ends with the singer going down to the ocean and blowing a kiss across the sea, indicating that even though they are separated by distance, they are still close in spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind bends the poplars
The wind's physical force bends the poplar trees in the same way that the power of emotions can bend a person's heart.
Your words bend my heart
Just as the wind moves trees, your words have the power to move and affect me on an emotional level.
I let you in and you came closer
I allowed you into my life and you gradually gained deeper access to my heart and mind.
Now I'm learning all love knows
As I experience this relationship and navigate the emotions that come along with it, I'm gaining a deeper understanding of what love truly entails.
I've got photos and letters
I have tangible reminders of our relationship that I've been looking at for a while now.
That I've stared at now for so long
These items have been a consistent presence in my life, serving as a reminder of our past experiences and relationship.
It's got to the point where I can't see you
I'm so preoccupied with these reminders of you that they've started to obscure and distort my memories of the real you.
There's a tapestry of stars above
The universe is vast and beautiful, represented by the metaphor of a tapestry of stars.
And you're the brightest by far
In the midst of all of this beauty, you shine the brightest and represent something special and unique to me.
Lover this long distance is soon to be shorter
Addressing a lover, the distance between them is soon to be overcome, indicating the anticipation of the end of the physical distance between them.
Oh, lover this time difference is soon to reach and end
Again addressing a lover, the time difference between them (presumably due to being in different time zones) is soon to be resolved.
I went down to the ocean
The persona describes going to the ocean, indicating a desire to connect with something vast and powerful.
And blew a kiss out across the sea
In a display of affection, the persona sends a kiss, as representative of their emotions, across the expanse of the ocean.
And I'm learning all love knows
Through these experiences, the persona is gaining further insight into the nature and complexity of love.
All love knows
The chorus repeats to reinforce the main theme of the song, that through the ups and downs and various experiences of love, one gains a deeper understanding of what love actually is.
Writer(s): Emily Barker
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RichardAPWoods
I listen to this so often I needed a fix of the lady at work. What an utter joy she is. Live again soon I really hope. Such plangency! Heart breaking.
@Sichtung
All my love for Your voice
@EmilyBarker
thank you!