Eva Cassidy was the third of four children born to Hugh and Barbara Cassidy. From an early age, she displayed artistic and musical talent. When she was nine years old, her father taught her to play the guitar, and she began to play and sing at family gatherings.
While a student at Bowie High School, she did sing with a local band, called Stonehenge, and received considerable praise.
At the age of eighteen, Cassidy began her professional career, singing and playing guitar in a Washington, D.C., area band, called Easy Street. This band performed in a variety of styles, at weddings, corporate parties, and pubs.
During the summer of 1983, Cassidy sang and played guitar, six days per week, at Wild World, in Maryland. Her brother Dan was also a member of this working band.
Throughout the 1980s, Cassidy worked with a number of other bands, including the soul and Motown-oriented band The Honeybees, and the techno-pop band Characters Without Names, later called Method Actor.
During this period, Cassidy also worked as a propagator at a plant nursery and as a furniture painter in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1986, she met (bassist and recording engineer) Chris Biondo, who encouraged her and helped her find work as a backup singer for various acts. In 1990, Biondo and Cassidy hired the so-called "Eva Cassidy Band", composed of Chris Biondo, Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes and Raice McLeod, and she began to perform frequently in the Washington area.
In 1992, Biondo played a tape of Cassidy's voice for Chuck Brown. Best known as the "Godfather of Go-go", Brown is also a jazz and blues vocalist. This led to the first commercial recording of Cassidy, the duet album with Chuck Brown, The Other Side; which featured performances of classic songs such as "Fever", Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and Cassidy's signature tune "Over the Rainbow". The album was released and distributed by Liaison Records, the label that also released Brown's Go-go albums. The duet CD attracted the attention of various record companies, but the offers all required Cassidy to pigeonhole herself within a single style (e.g., pop or jazz), something she adamantly refused to do.[citation needed]
In 1993 Eva Cassidy was first honored by the Washington area music community when she was awarded two Wammie awards for "Female Vocalist Roots/Traditional R&B" and "Vocalist Jazz/Traditional." The next year she was chosen to perform for the awards ceremony.
In January 1996, Cassidy recorded the album Live at Blues Alley, about which The Washington Post later commented that "she could sing anything and make it sound like the only music that mattered". [1] Cassidy was unhappy with her singing on the album, because she had a bad cold on the night of the recording; she began recording a studio album which was eventually released as Eva by Heart posthumously in 1997.
During a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley CD in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals. The pain persisted, and, a few weeks later, Cassidy was diagnosed with melanoma. By the time of her diagnosis, the cancer had spread throughout her body. Cassidy's health rapidly deteriorated, and her final performance was in September 1996. At the performance, she had used a walker to reach the stage, sang "What a Wonderful World" in front of an audience of friends, and was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital.[citation needed]
Eva Cassidy died on November 2, 1996, at the age of 33. She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Area Music Association.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Eva Cassidy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all
I'm on your side oh when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
Oh when darkness comes
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh if you need a friend
Well I'm standing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
The song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Eva Cassidy is a comforting message about being there for a friend in need. The opening lines speak directly to those who are feeling small or weary. The singer promises to console them, which is exemplified by the line “When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all”. Then, the singer metaphorically compares themselves to a bridge over troubled water, which is a powerful image. Essentially, they are saying that just like a bridge keeps a person safe from the dangers of a roiling river, they will protect their friend from whatever storms they may face in life. Moreover, the promise is unconditional as expressed in the lines “I’m on your side when times get rough” and “I’ll take your part”. The singer makes it clear that they will always be there for their friend when others may not. Finally, the repeated lines of “Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down” reveal the depth of the singer’s commitment to their friend. It’s a true testament of loyalty and devotion to a friendship that can weather even the toughest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're weary feeling small
When you're exhausted and insignificant
When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all
I'll wipe away the tears in your eyes
I'm on your side oh when times get rough
I'm here to support you when things get difficult
And friends just can't be found
And you can't find any friends to help you
Like a bridge over troubled water
I'm your support system in difficult times
I will lay me down
I will sacrifice my own comfort for yours
When you're down and out
When you're struggling and feel defeated
When you're on the street
When you're homeless and abandoned
When evening falls so hard
When everything seems dark and hopeless
I will comfort you
I'll provide you with solace and support
I'll take your part
I'll defend and support you
Oh when darkness comes
When everything seems bleak and hopeless
And friends just can't be found
And you can't find any friends to help you
Like a bridge over troubled water
I'm your support system in difficult times
I will lay me down
I will sacrifice my own comfort for yours
Sail on silver girl
Go ahead and pursue your dreams
Sail on by
Keep moving forward
Your time has come to shine
It's your turn to succeed and be recognized
All your dreams are on their way
Your ambitions are coming to fruition
See how they shine
See how your dreams radiate brilliance and hope
Oh if you need a friend
If you need someone to lean on
Well I'm standing right behind
I'm here to support you and offer my help
Like a bridge over troubled water
I'm your support system in difficult times
I will lay me down
I will sacrifice my own comfort for yours
Like a bridge over troubled water
I'm your support system in difficult times
I will lay me down
I will sacrifice my own comfort for yours
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bwelc00
I went to high school with her. Really didn't know her that well. I knew her father. He was a sculptor, cellist, and in his time one of the strongest men in the world. But I know people that were close to her and nobody has anything bad to say about her. She was an exceedingly kind person.
Serenity
I get the impression that she was kind of unassuming… meaning not a big personality.
Katherine McKiverigan
So nice to hear that, and so sad.
Mia Ell
she's touched millions of people with her talent, you are blessed to have known her. I cry often listening to her. It's not just a beautiful voice, it's the emotion she imparts. Almost impossible to explain.
mike thompson
Just a gift from God
Patty Neff
😮Her voice is like none other🎶
Lew Web
For me she is the best female singer of all time. I know there are soul queens and R&B stars, even going back to blues era with Etta, but Eva is haunting .. it’s beautiful and haunting. Best voice I’ve ever heard
Simon Carswell
It's worth remembering that Eva had a slight cold when this was recorded, and was reluctant for it to be released because she thought she wasn't sounding her best. So this is Eva's voice not at 100%. And it's still incredible!
alan conrad
outside of Linda Ronstadt of course lol
intothegarden
yes. she touches my heart and my body is filled with healing chills. RIP Sweet Angel Eva