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
Anywhere Away
Emily Barker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And anywhere away is where I wanna be
I watch the clouds change, the skies are wild with rain
I wouldn′t leave you here if only you would stay
I hold onto nothing now, you were everything to me
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
I live on the path between somewhere and somebody
The wind, the wind it blows, it moves us down the road
The land it changes still you're all I see
I broke waves against the shore, I broke bottles at your door
I would leave you here if only you would stay
I hold onto nothing now, you were everything to me
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
I live on the path between somewhere and somebody
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
I hold onto nothing now, you were everything to me
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
I live on the path between somewhere and somebody
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
The lyrics to Emily Barker's song "Anywhere Away" convey a sense of longing to escape from someone or something, to be anywhere else but where the singer currently is. The first verse sets the tone for the song's theme, with the singer expressing that their idea of nowhere is different from that of the person they're talking to. For the singer, being anywhere away from their current situation is where they want to be. The second verse further emphasizes this point, with the singer describing how they hold onto nothing now and that anywhere away is where they want to be. The imagery of clouds changing and wild skies with rain further reinforce the idea that change is necessary for the singer.
The chorus of the song is repeated throughout the track, underlining the desire to be somewhere else. The verses then describe the physical travails of moving from one place to another, with the wind moving them down the road and the land changing around them, but the singer remains focused on the person they're leaving behind, despite everything they've done to try and move on.
Overall, the song explores themes of wanting to escape from the present, the power of attachments, and the struggle to move on from emotional attachments that can hold people back. Barker's hauntingly beautiful voice, coupled with the melancholy melody, creates a captivating and emotional listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Nowhere to you, is anywhere to me
My perception of places is vastly different from yours, and what may not seem noteworthy to you holds a lot of significance to me
And anywhere away is where I wanna be
I am yearning for escape, no matter where I am, as long as it takes me away from my current circumstances
I watch the clouds change, the skies are wild with rain
I am an observer of natural phenomena such as changing weather conditions, which can be chaotic and unpredictable
I wouldn′t leave you here if only you would stay
I care about you deeply and would not choose to abandon you if I didn't feel the need to flee from everything else
I hold onto nothing now, you were everything to me
I have relinquished my attachment to material possessions or materialistic aims - you are the only thing that had value to me
I live on the path between somewhere and somebody
I exist in limbo, between being somewhere specific and being with someone specific - neither is attainable or constant
The wind, the wind it blows, it moves us down the road
We, as people, are guided by forces outside of ourselves - in this case, wind is a metaphor for fate, which draws us towards our next destination
The land it changes still you're all I see
Even though my physical surroundings may be shifting or unknown, my mind's eye is always fixed on thoughts of you
I broke waves against the shore, I broke bottles at your door
I have acted out in frustration and emotional distress - I may have lashed out physically, but it's all just a sign of me being unable to properly express my feelings
Anywhere away is where I wanna be
I cannot stress enough that I want to leave everything behind and seek refuge in an unfamiliar, far-off place
Writer(s): Emily Barker
Contributed by Kayla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sonicfoxxmusic4281
In case you need a lyric for a HECTOR 2 Emily....................truly touched by the film and your lovely soundtrack....so much so that in the scene when Hector tells the girl running the shelter about his wife and daughter, it took me to tears and these words flowed out of me. Be careful with the BRIDGE. If you see anything in this lyric...go for it.
"" UNTIL I'M BACK UPON MY FEET AGAIN ""
Verse 1
Nowhere,
To go,
But streets of,
Cold and rain.
PRE-CHORUS.
Though, allow me,
To explain,
This is my life,
And where,
I've come to be.
CHORUS.
AND YES, I MAY SEEM HOMELESS,
AND, OHH, I'D RATHER ROAM LESS,
THOUGH, IF THIS IS WHERE FATE HAS TAKEN ME,
THEN SO BE IT, SO BE IT,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
FOR ALL TO SEE,
UNTIL I'M BACK UPON MY FEET AGAIN.
Verse 2
Some cry,
For me,
But i,
Fly, so free,
PRE-CHORUS.
Though, allow me,
To explain,
This is my life,
And where,
I've come to be.
CHORUS.
AND YES, I MAY SEEM HOMELESS,
AND, OHH, I'D RATHER ROAM LESS,
THOUGH, IF THIS IS WHERE FATE HAS TAKEN ME,
THEN SO BE IT, SO BE IT,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
FOR ALL TO SEE,
UNTIL I'M BACK UPON MY FEET AGAIN.
Verse 3.
No place,
To hide,
Heart filled,
With pride,
PRE-CHORUS.
Though, allow me,
To explain,
This is my life,
And where,
I've come to be.
CHORUS.
AND YES, I MAY SEEM HOMELESS,
AND, OHH, I'D RATHER ROAM LESS,
THOUGH, IF THIS IS WHERE FATE HAS TAKEN ME,
THEN SO BE IT, SO BE IT,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
FOR ALL TO SEE,
UNTIL I'M BACK UPON MY FEET AGAIN.
BRIDGE.
LIFE IS OFTEN TOUGH,
AND IT'S NOT SOFT BUT ROUGH,
THOUGH, A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER'S LOVE,
CARRIES ME, EACH AND EVERY DAY...TO THEM, IN THE END.
PRE-CHORUS here again with one change.
AND, instead of THOUGH
PRE-CHORUS.
AND... allow me,
To explain,
This is my life,
And where,
I've come to be.
CHORUS.
AND YES, I MAY SEEM HOMELESS,
AND, OHH, I'D RATHER ROAM LESS,
THOUGH, IF THIS IS WHERE FATE HAS TAKEN ME,
THEN SO BE IT, SO BE IT,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
HERE'S WHERE I WILL BE,
FOR ALL TO SEE,
UNTIL I'M BACK UPON MY FEET AGAIN.
FINITO.
SONIC FOXX MUSIC(Copyright 2018).
@rostomchekhar7423
a very calm and beutiful music a heavenly voice thank u emily you are and always will be among my favorite female singers . warm salutation from Algeria
@hermansplit2119
This voice...heartbreaking!
@EmilyBarker
Thank you / sorry :)
@steviewalk
Another masterpiece. Emotive lyrics. Enchanting melody. Hauntingly beautiful voice. A true star who deserves recognition as an icon of her generation.
@EmilyBarker
Very kind words. Thank you Stevie.
@sonicfoxxmusic4281
ONE FINE DAY THE WORLD WILL AWAKEN AND FIND IT'S WAY TO THIS MASTERFUL PIECE OF BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK.....i, for one, can't wait for that day.
Still rootin' for you Emily.
@carlgreene538
I love this lady's gorgeous voice,her songs and her hairstyle!
@merirowe382
Touching and beautiful
Such a sweet voice! ❤
@carleu
Beautiful, soft and my soul flies way... no thoughts.. blue sky, smell of summer... Thank you...
@Xantec
thank you BBC Radio 2 for playing this today.