Where McKeown cites The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as an influence on her music, the Philadelphia Weekly recently described McKeown's music, saying:
"More singer-songwriters should follow the lead of Erin McKeown, the kooky songbird who's proved both playful and daring throughout her career. With a lilting delivery and chameleonic instrumentation, she even slipped into French for "Coucou", a gem off her unlikely standards album Sing You Sinners. But with McKeown, is anything really unlikely?"
McKeown's latest record, Hundreds of Lions, was released under Righteous Babe Records on October 13, 2009. Additionally, "CabinFever", a series of web concerts recorded in 2009 are available at McKeown's website.
McKeown began her career in the folk scene. She released her first album, Monday Morning Cold, on her own label (TVP Records), travelling throughout New England while still a student at Brown University in order to promote the record. Although she had begun studying ornithology, she graduated from Brown with a degree in ethnomusicology.
Earlier works include the roots and folk-orientated Distillation (2000), mainly pop and swing-orientated Grand (2003), We Will Become Like Birds (rock and pop, 2005) and the jazz and swing-orientated Sing You Sinners (2006, USA: 2007)
Considering she's praised for vivid and entertaining live shows, Erin McKeown released several live records such as an EP featuring live performances on KCRW Radio in 2006 and live recordings from Sirius FM by the end of 2009.
They Say It's Spring
Erin McKeown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of moods and myths and illusionary schemes
Though now I'm much more grown up
I fear that I must own up
To the fact that I'm in doubt of
What the modern cynics shout of
They say it's spring, this feeling light as a feather
Came with the weather too
They say it's May, that's made me daft as a daisy
It's May they say, that's made the whole world this crazy
Heavenly hazy hue
I'm a lark on a wing
I'm the spark of a firefly's fling
Yet to me this must be
Something more than a seasonal thing
Could it be spring, those bells that I can hear ringing?
It may be spring, but when the robins stop singing
You're what I'm clinging to
Though they say it's spring
It's you
If poets sing that when a heart's sympathetic
It may be spring, then poets' plights are pathetic
But I'm poetic too
They say it's spring, for lovers there's where the lure is
That evil thing, for which September the cure is
This, they are sure, is true
Though I know that it's so
That my fancy may turn in the spring
With the right one in sight
One can find a perpetual thing
Did I need spring to bring the ring that you bought me?
Though it was spring, that wondrous day that you caught me
Darling I thought we knew
That it wasn't spring
‘Twas you
Erin McKeown’s “They Say It’s Spring” is a song that explores the singer’s uncertainty about the season of spring and its associations with new beginnings, rebirth, and growth. The song starts with the singer describing her past, living in a world of dreams and myths, and then transitions to the present where she acknowledges her uncertainty about spring. She questions the modern cynics who dismiss the idea of spring as a season of renewal and doubts its magical quality. However, in the chorus, she expresses her feeling of weightlessness and the sense of magic that she shares with her lover, which she believes may have come with the arrival of spring. While she acknowledges the possibility of spring’s influence on the relationship, the singer believes that her connection with her partner is something unique and more permanent than a seasonal fling. She concludes that it was her partner who brought the magic and happiness, not the season of spring.
The song captures the complex emotions that people may experience during the season of spring. While many may feel a sense of hope and renewal during spring, for some, it may be a time of doubt and uncertainty. The song’s lyrics convey a sense of longing for something more significant than seasonal change or fleeting love.
Some possible interpretations of the song are that the singer is questioning the cliché of spring as a romantic season, the transience of seasonal flings, and the tendency to give too much importance to the season in shaping people’s feelings and experiences. By contrasting the idea of spring with her love for her partner, the singer emphasizes the uniqueness and depth of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young, I lived in a world of dreams
As a child, my imagination was untethered, and I believed in many things that others couldn't see.
Of moods and myths and illusionary schemes
My fantasies took on many forms and I saw the world through a colorful, imaginative lens.
Though now I'm much more grown up
Now as an adult, I've gained more wisdom and experience, but with that comes new uncertainties.
I fear that I must own up
It's important for me to be honest with myself about what I do and don't understand.
To the fact that I'm in doubt of
I'm unsure of what to believe as I'm bombarded by the skepticism of others.
What the modern cynics shout of
I'm hearing a lot of negative opinions around me that challenge my own optimism.
They say it's spring, this feeling light as a feather
People claim that there is a special energy in the air during spring, and it feels almost weightless.
They say this thing, this magic we share together
This mysterious phenomenon is something that we all experience and can connect over.
Came with the weather too
People believe that this inexplicable feeling coincides with the change in climate during springtime.
They say it's May, that's made me daft as a daisy
The month of May in particular is said to have an intoxicating effect, making even the most level-headed feel giddy like a flower.
It's May they say, that's made the whole world this crazy
There is a widespread belief that May has the power to drive people a little insane with its intoxicating energy.
Heavenly hazy hue
The world seems to take on a mystical, dreamlike quality during this time, as if it is cloaked in a veil of magic.
I'm a lark on a wing
I feel carefree and unencumbered, like a bird taking flight into the open sky.
I'm the spark of a firefly's fling
I am the light that illuminates the night, a small but vibrant force to be reckoned with.
Yet to me this must be
Still, I can't help but feel that there is something deeper and more meaningful at play.
Something more than a seasonal thing
What I'm experiencing goes beyond the fleeting changes of nature, it's something that resonates all year round.
Could it be spring, those bells that I can hear ringing?
Perhaps it's true, and there really is something that stirs inside during this season, like a chime that beckons to my heart.
It may be spring, but when the robins stop singing
However, if the music of spring were to suddenly stop, I would still have the one I love to hold onto.
You're what I'm clinging to
In the end, it's not spring or any other external force that truly matters to me, it's the person I cherish most.
Though they say it's spring
Even though many believe that the season is the cause of these feelings, I know better.
It's you
It's my love for you that makes my heart feel light as a feather, not springtime or any other external thing.
If poets sing that when a heart's sympathetic
Some say that the real magic of spring is the way it brings people together, encouraging empathy and connection.
It may be spring, then poets' plights are pathetic
But if that were the case, and my feelings were just a result of the season, perhaps my devotion to love would seem trivial and insignificant.
But I'm poetic too
Yet I know that my heart sings its own song, and that love is a powerful force regardless of the season.
They say it's spring, for lovers there's where the lure is
There is an undeniable pull to find romance during this time, as if it is a natural function of the season itself.
That evil thing, for which September the cure is
But for some, love can be a fickle and dangerous thing, and they believe that the fall season will cure them of its ill effects.
This, they are sure, is true
Regardless of any doubts, many hold steadfast beliefs about the power of spring, love, and the magical union of the two.
Though I know that it's so
Despite all of these opinions, I trust in my own heart and know what is true for me.
That my fancy may turn in the spring
I am aware that the whims of the heart can be fleeting and unpredictable, and that even spring cannot hold love steady.
With the right one in sight
But I have faith that with the right person by my side, my love will endure beyond any season or natural force.
One can find a perpetual thing
True love transcends time and the changing seasons, it is an infinite force unto itself.
Did I need spring to bring the ring that you bought me?
I know that love is not just a product of the season, but that it can also drive people to grand gestures and meaningful moments.
Though it was spring, that wondrous day that you caught me
When we first fell in love, it was indeed during springtime, but I know that it wasn't the season that made our bond so strong.
Darling I thought we knew
Our love isn't just a seasonal fling, but a deep and lasting connection that endures beyond springtime or any other season.
That it wasn't spring
Spring may have brought us together originally, but our love is not dependent on the seasons or any other external factor.
‘Twas you
Our love is a result of us as individuals, the choices we make, and the devotion we share. It is as enduring and infinite as the stars in the sky.
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.