An up and coming artist out of Melbourne, Emma's album ‘The Anchor And The Albatross’ is lyrically beautiful and vocally impressive, she has taken her time to emerge with a body of work written over 15 years. Her songs are made for this time, "being like elegies to the deep voice of our own yearnings, fears, sadness‘ and joys". "Emma delights in the opposite of anthems, hers is the world of the emotional detail in life" which she delicately weaves into poetic and melodic gestures to try to describe her own response to being alive.
Having been compared to Ricki Lee Jones, Marianne Faithful and Eva Cassidy, her authentic sound and intuitive style makes for another refreshing addition to the ever growing emergence of musical gems that keep coming out of Melbourne. With an open performing style Emma’s music takes an audience on an intimate ride through an enchanting and fragile world with help from a talented lineup of Melbourne muso’s.
Being hard to categorise, Emma’s music offers an audience the promise of an engaged performance of a unique brand of Indie Folk.
Emma's musical road started in 1992 as the lead singer in Indie-pop band 'Xerox Kitten' followed by the formation of popular Indigo Girlsesque folk duo act 'Tryst' (1995). Other collaborations have followed including more recently a jazz recording with the Baartz Freeman Sextet 12 Salutations (2005) and regular work as a backing vocalist for various singer/songwriters around Melbourne. She has performed with some of Melbourne’s favourite musicians including Clare Bowditch and Carl Pannuzzo.
Begin Again
Emma Tonkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He didn't like it when I wore high heels
But I do
Turn the lock and put my headphones on
He always said he didn't get this song
But I do, I do
Walked in expecting you'd be late
I walk to you
You pull my chair out and help me in
And you don't know how nice that is
But I do
And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
You said you never met one girl
Who had as many James Taylor records as you
But I do
We tell stories and you don't know why
I'm coming off a little shy
But I do
But you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up
But you start to talk about the movies that your family
Watches
Every single Christmas and I want to talk about that
And for the first time what's past is past
'Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
The song "Begin Again" by Emma Tonkin is a song about starting over after a failed relationship. The song starts off with the singer taking a deep breath and admiring herself in the mirror, despite the fact that her former lover didn't approve of the way she dressed. She then goes to meet someone new, expecting them to be late, but to her surprise, they arrive early and help her with her chair. The singer starts to think back to her previous relationship and realizes that the new person in her life is completely different in every way.
The chorus of the song is about the singer's fear of love and how she spent the last eight months thinking that love only leads to heartbreak. However, on a Wednesday in a café, she watches it begin again. The new person in her life makes her realize that not all love is the same and that she can start again with someone new. The song ends with the singer walking to her car and realizing that she wants to talk about something new, not dwell on the past.
"Begin Again" is a song that speaks to many people who have gone through a breakup and are struggling to move on. The song offers a hopeful message that it is possible to find love again and start over.
Line by Line Meaning
Took a deep breath in the mirror
I took a moment to compose myself in front of the mirror
He didn't like it when I wore high heels
My significant other disapproves of my fashion choices
But I do
I embrace my personal preferences despite the disapproval of others
Turn the lock and put my headphones on
I put in my earphones to block out external distractions
He always said he didn't get this song
My significant other never understood my taste in music
But I do, I do
I connect with the song despite my partner's lack of appreciation
Walked in expecting you'd be late
I arrived at our meeting place anticipating your tardiness
But you got here early and you stand and wave
You surprised me by getting here earlier than expected and greeted me with a wave
I walk to you
I approach you with excitement
You pull my chair out and help me in
You show me a small act of kindness by pulling my chair out for me
And you don't know how nice that is
Your gesture goes beyond what I expect and I appreciate it greatly
But I do
I recognize and acknowledge your kind action
And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
You display your childlike joy and I love seeing it
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
Your appreciation of my humor is new to me as my previous partner didn't find me funny
I've been spending the last eight months
I've spent the past eight months
Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end
I've been disillusioned by the negative aspects of love
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
But on a particular Wednesday in a cafe, I witnessed the start of something new
You said you never met one girl
You expressed to me that you've never met a girl
Who had as many James Taylor records as you
Who shares your passion for James Taylor's music as much as I do
We tell stories and you don't know why
We share stories that I find difficult to share with others
I'm coming off a little shy
I'm feeling a bit reserved
But I do
But despite my shyness, I still engage in conversation
And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up
As we walked to my car, I almost mentioned my previous partner
But you start to talk about the movies that your family
But you divert the conversation to your family's Christmas movie tradition
Watches every single Christmas and I want to talk about that
I find our discussion about your family's Christmas movie tradition to be more interesting and engaging than talking about my ex
And for the first time what's past is past
For the first time, I'm able to let go of my past and focus on the present
'Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
Your laugh brings me joy and reminds me of the innocence and happiness of childhood
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
It's surprising to me that you find me funny because my previous partner didn't appreciate my humor
But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again
But on that particular Wednesday in the cafe, I witnessed the start of something new
Contributed by Isabella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.