With appearances playing with various groups on “All Things Considered”, “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show,” folk and roll songstress Patterson finished her first solo album of original songs November 20th, 2012 via Greater Than Collective. Described by Patterson in an interview as “raw,” All Princes, I is greatly influenced by Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks and Feists’s Metals. American Songwriter called it “a warm, organic-sounding album that splits the difference between indie pop, folk-rock and coffeehouse jazz”.
Patterson is a founding member of the band Paper Bird, and has performed with them in venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. She lives in Denver in a castle.
Guadalupe
Esmé Patterson Lyrics
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The eye wraps itself in the hurricane, Guadalupe
And I hear her say that
Help ain't far, it's in your heart
Mmmm
It's in your heart
Oooooh
It's in your heart
Sugar wraps itself up in the cane, Guadalupe
The lightning wraps itself up in the rain, Guadalupe
Yeah, I hear her say that
Peace ain't far, it's in your heart
Mmmm
It's in your heart
Oooooh
Oh, it's in your heart
Mmmm
The needle wraps itself up in the hay, Guadalupe
Just like guilt wraps itself up in the blame, Guadalupe
Oh, I hear her say that
Love ain't far, it's in your heart
Mmmm
It's in your heart
Oooooh
Oh, it's in your heart
Mmmm
The arrow wraps itself up in the aim, Guadalupe
Just like the soul wraps itself up in a name,
like Guadalupe
And I hear her say that
Heaven ain't far, it's in your heart
Mmmm
It's in your heart
Oooooh
It's in your heart
Mmmm
It's in your heart
Oooooh
It's in your heart
Oooooh
It's in your heart
Mmmm
Oh, it's in your heart
In Esmé Patterson's song Guadalupe, she uses powerful and vivid imagery to convey the message that our innate ability to find hope, peace, love, and heaven is within us. The first verse talks about how the night wraps itself up in the day and the eye wraps itself in the hurricane, introducing the theme of wrapping and hiding. She then mentions Guadalupe, who is a symbolic representation of Mother Mary and the Virgin of Guadalupe, a major cultural and religious icon in Mexico. Guadalupe tells her that help is not far, it's in her heart, emphasizing the idea that we have the power to help ourselves and others from the inside-out.
In the second verse, Patterson continues with the theme of wrapping and hiding, using sugar wrapping itself up in the cane and lightning wrapping itself up in the rain. Guadalupe then tells her that peace is in her heart, reiterating the previous message of finding peace within oneself. In the third verse, she uses the metaphor of the needle wrapping itself up in the hay and guilt wrapping itself up in the blame. Guadalupe then tells her that love is in her heart, emphasizing the importance of self-love and how it can spread to others. Finally, in the last verse, she uses the metaphor of the arrow wrapping itself up in the aim and the soul wrapping itself up in a name like Guadalupe. Guadalupe then tells her that heaven is in her heart, suggesting that we have the power to create heaven within ourselves and around us.
Overall, "Guadalupe" is a beautiful and meaningful song that encourages listeners to find hope and positivity within themselves, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Night wraps itself up in the day, Guadalupe
The darkness of night is inevitably followed by the light of day, just as Guadalupe is a constant presence in the singer's life.
The eye wraps itself in the hurricane, Guadalupe
The hurricane, seen as a metaphor for chaos and destruction, reminds the singer that she can shelter from a storm by finding a focal point, or Guadalupe.
And I hear her say that Help ain't far, it's in your heart
The singer hears Guadalupe's voice and believes that the answer to her problems is within herself; she only needs to believe in herself to find it.
Sugar wraps itself up in the cane, Guadalupe
Just as sugar is an essential part of the process that leads to the creation of cane, Guadalupe is present in all aspects of the singer's life, even those that seem unrelated.
The lightning wraps itself up in the rain, Guadalupe
As lightning needs rain to be born, the singer sees Guadalupe as an essential part of any change; everything is connected, and she is always present.
Peace ain't far, it's in your heart
The singer believes that the key to peace is not found in external sources, but within oneself.
The needle wraps itself up in the hay, Guadalupe
The needle, a symbol of pain, is balanced by the idea that Guadalupe is present in any structure, and thus in every aspect of the singer's life, including the painful ones.
Just like guilt wraps itself up in the blame, Guadalupe
Guilt is linked to blame and resentment, but the singer knows that Guadalupe is present even in these negative feelings, showing that everything can be transformed and that love can always be found.
Love ain't far, it's in your heart
The singer believes that the most powerful force in the world isn't found in external sources, but within oneself.
The arrow wraps itself up in the aim, Guadalupe
The arrow can only be aimed by finding a focal point, or Guadalupe.
Just like the soul wraps itself up in a name, like Guadalupe
The idea of a name is a symbolic expression of the totality of oneself, and Guadalupe, as a representation of all aspects of life, is at the center of the singer's soul.
Heaven ain't far, it's in your heart
The singer believes that the concept of heaven, or the ultimate state of being, isn't distant or unattainable, but within oneself.
Oh, it's in your heart
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes that everything one needs to find meaning in life and happiness is already within oneself, waiting to be discovered.
Contributed by Adam S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.