On her MAXJAZZ debut, Don't Take Your Time, Erin performed her personal take on tunes from the Great American Songbook, pop classics, and her first original song, "Don't Take Your Time." On her new album Over and Over, she adds more original songs and arrangements, further developing her own unique sensibility.
The Erin Bode Group have performed nationwide at venues such as Blues Alley in Washington D.C., Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia, and at Sweet Rhythm in New York. They have also been in Europe twice, touring in Italy.
They have also opened for legendary Supremes' singer, Mary Wilson; for Michael Buble at St. Louis' newest premiere venue The Pageant; with Macy Gray on the steps of the Gateway Arch; and for Jamie Cullum at the Sheldon Concert Hall.
In late 2006, they traveled to South Africa to work with the Themba Girls' School Choir. Most recently, Erin performed with Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion at the Fabulous Fox.
With The Radio On
Erin Bode Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The place where he and I would meet
It's on my way, oh no!
I think I'm gonna have to walk a different way
He's out of reach
The boy that I'm supposed to meet
I won't give in, oh no
So I fall asleep with the radio on
Sleep with one eye open, 'cause I know I won't be strong
And I fall asleep with the radio on
It's all I know
The precious time I have alone
I won't give in, oh no
But every time I close my eyes I think of him
So I fall asleep with the radio on
Sleep with one eye open, 'cause I know I won't be strong
And I fall asleep with the radio on
So I fall asleep with the radio on
Sleep with one eye open, 'cause I know I won't be strong
And I fall asleep with the radio on, oh
The opening lines of Erin Bode's "With The Radio On" speak of a location that holds memories for the singer – the place where she used to meet the boy she's supposed to see. She now has to find a different way to avoid it altogether. Although the boy is out of reach, she can't help but think about him every time she closes her eyes. In an attempt to distract herself, she turns on the radio and falls asleep with it on, even though she knows it won't make her any stronger.
These lyrics capture the sense of longing and frustration that comes with unrequited love. The singer knows what she has to do to move on, but still can't resist the pull of memories and emotions that keep bringing her back. Falling asleep with one eye open shows the lack of ease and rest that comes with trying to distract oneself from these persistent thoughts. The radio serves as a coping mechanism, a way to keep the mind busy, but ultimately it can't replace what the singer truly wants.
Overall, "With The Radio On" is a poignant portrayal of the difficulties that come with trying to let go of someone, even when it's for our own good. The lyrics convey the familiar cycle of trying to resist thoughts of an ex but failing, and how we sometimes turn to distractions to feel okay, but ultimately, they don't heal the heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
It's on my street
The place where I used to meet the boy I'm longing for is close by
The place where he and I would meet
The spot where my crush and I would rendezvous
It's on my way, oh no!
The location is along my usual path, which makes it hard for me to avoid it
I think I'm gonna have to walk a different way
I may have to take a detour to resist the temptation of seeing him again
He's out of reach
My desired partner is not easily accessible
The boy that I'm supposed to meet
The guy I'm supposed to be with, as destiny dictates
I won't give in, oh no
I won't let my strong desire for him dictate my actions
But every time I close my eyes I think of him
He's constantly on my mind, even when I try to forget him
So I fall asleep with the radio on
To distract myself, I use the radio to fall asleep
Sleep with one eye open, 'cause I know I won't be strong
I stay alert at night, knowing I may not resist the temptation to contact him
And I fall asleep with the radio on
I use music to lull myself to sleep because it helps me forget him
It's all I know
My current situation of being alone and longing for him is all I'm familiar with
The precious time I have alone
The time I spend alone is important to me, and I don't want to lose it by giving in to my feelings for him
And I fall asleep with the radio on, oh
I end up falling asleep to the soothing sound of music, even with him on my mind
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.