Emily Wells (born 20 November 1981 in Amarillo, Texas) is an American multi… Read Full Bio ↴Emily Wells (born 20 November 1981 in Amarillo, Texas) is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer whose genres encompass alternative, experimental, and classical.

Wells creates music by blending her many influences. She is a classically-trained violinist with a penchant for hip hop production. Live, Wells creates a lush layer of "symphonies" by looping and live sampling everything from her violin and voice, to her many toys and electronics. She performs both solo, and as a trio with drummer Sam Halterman and bassist Joey Reina, who also appear on her records.

Wells was born in Amarillo, TX and now resides in and tours from Los Angeles, CA. She is, however, moving back to NYC after her upcoming tour.

Symphony 9 & The Sunshine
Emily Wells Lyrics

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Woke up in the mornin' and I rung the bell, it's a long way across a wishing
well. Throw my pennies in one by one. They come up shinin' like it's just begun.
They come up wishin' on the light of the sun. They come up knowin' that I got no
gun, well, I'd fire off a round if I had it in me, but I know someday'll be a
sunshine memory…. Walkin' around in a kindergarten haze. Oh my, what a happy
game. Tell 'um that you love 'um till the end of your days. Tell 'um that you
need 'um in a bad way. Oh how happy is the look on your face, when you know
somebody and you want 'um to stay. Memory is an old highway. If you drive too

long you might lose your way…. Sunshine. Never had it so good, in my childhood.

(Bright Sunday mornin')

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Emily Wells' song "Symphony 9 & The Sunshine" explore themes of nostalgia, childhood memories, and the passage of time. The first verse describes throwing pennies into a wishing well, an act traditionally associated with making wishes or hoping for good fortune. The imagery of the pennies coming up shining suggests that these wishes may have been fulfilled, or perhaps that the act of wishing itself is enough to bring light and positivity into one's life. However, the lyric "they come up knowin' that I got no gun" also hints at a darker undercurrent, suggesting that the singer may feel powerless or defenseless in some way.

The second verse paints a picture of joyful innocence and carefree happiness, with the singer describing a "kindergarten haze" and the blissful feeling of being surrounded by people who love and need you. However, the line "Memory is an old highway" suggests that these happy moments are fleeting, and that the passage of time can lead us down unexpected paths. The chorus emphasizes the idea of sunshine as a symbol of happiness and contentment, and the final line "Never had it so good, in my childhood" speaks to the universal experience of longing for the simplicity and joy of childhood.

Line by Line Meaning

Woke up in the mornin' and I rung the bell, it's a long way across a wishing well.
I woke up and started my day with hope but I know it will be a long and difficult journey just like making a wish in a wishing well.

Throw my pennies in one by one. They come up shinin' like it's just begun.
I keep hoping and investing in my dreams one by one, and every time it feels like I am starting anew with endless possibilities.

They come up wishin' on the light of the sun. They come up knowin' that I got no gun, well, I'd fire off a round if I had it in me, but I know someday'll be a sunshine memory….
My dreams are fueled by the hope of a bright future but I know I can't force it, I can't fight for it, it will come in due time, just like a sunny day we remember with fondness.

Walkin' around in a kindergarten haze. Oh my, what a happy game. Tell 'um that you love 'um till the end of your days.
I remember the bliss of childhood when everything was simple just like a happy game. Back then, expressing your love for someone was just as easy as a game too.

Tell 'um that you need 'um in a bad way. Oh how happy is the look on your face when you know somebody and you want 'um to stay.
When you truly want someone to stay with you, the feeling is so precious and pure, that your face lights up with joy.

Memory is an old highway. If you drive too long you might lose your way….
The path to nostalgia is not always a straight one, it can be twisted and anything can happen. It's easy to lose yourself in memories and forget where you're headed.

Sunshine. Never had it so good in my childhood. (Bright Sunday mornin')
I remember the sunny days of my childhood with joy because it was a simpler time when I had everything I needed and life was good.

Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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