Ferron (born Debbie Foisy on June 2, 1952) is a Canadian folk singer/songwr… Read Full Bio ↴Ferron (born Debbie Foisy on June 2, 1952) is a Canadian folk singer/songwriter and poet. In addition to being one of Canada's most famous folk musicians, she is one of the most influential writers and performers of women's music, and an important influence on later musicians such as Ani DiFranco and the Indigo Girls.
Ferron is featured in the documentary on women's music, Radical Harmonies 2002.
Ferron's rough-hewn voicing, chewy phrasing, and poetic songwriting has brought many favorable comparisons, including Kitty Wells, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen (cf. Stephen Holden 1994). One wit aptly summed up Ferron's legendary status by calling her "the Johnny Cash of lesbian folksinging" (Bett Williams 2000).
She learned to play guitar at age 11, and left home at 15. Ferron attended Total Ed, an alternative high school in Vancouver, graduating in 1973 (Thomas 2002). She made her professional debut in 1974, playing the song "Who Loses" at a benefit for the Women's Press Gang. She subsequently established her own record label, Lucy Records, and released her debut album in 1977. The album, Testimony, was her first professionally produced record, and brought her much interest in the United States, particularly in the women's music community.
Her 1984 album Shadows on a Dime received a four-star review (highest rating) from Rolling Stone magazine. Awarded a Canada Arts Council grant to further develop her musicianship, she took several years off from touring, returning in 1990 with Phantom Center. The album featured backing vocals by a then unheard of Tori Amos, and consequently is highly sought after by collectors. It was re-released with a duet with The Indigo Girls on the first track.
Between 1992 and 1994, Ferron released three albums on her own Cherrywood Station label. Driver was then picked up by Earthbeat! Records, and was highly acclaimed by critics as a masterwork and nominated for a Juno Award in 1995. Warner Bros. Records signed Ferron which gave her great freedom in the studio to produce Still Riot with db Benedictson. She received an Outmusic Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Gay & Lesbian American Music Awards in 1996.
As a benefit for the Institute for Musical Arts (IMA), Ferron released Inside Out (1999), covering well-known tunes from the 1950s-1970s. She published a handmade book, THe (h)UNGeR POeMs, while she was teaching classes at IMA. She gathered some of her earlier, then out-of-print recordings to create Impressionistic (2000), a retrospective double album with a 24-page, autobiographical booklet.
Ferron continues to tour and teach master classes in writing, and in 2004 she returned to the very island where some of her earliest recorded songs were written to create Turning Into Beautiful produced by db Benedictson.
Ferron is featured in the documentary on women's music, Radical Harmonies 2002.
Ferron's rough-hewn voicing, chewy phrasing, and poetic songwriting has brought many favorable comparisons, including Kitty Wells, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen (cf. Stephen Holden 1994). One wit aptly summed up Ferron's legendary status by calling her "the Johnny Cash of lesbian folksinging" (Bett Williams 2000).
She learned to play guitar at age 11, and left home at 15. Ferron attended Total Ed, an alternative high school in Vancouver, graduating in 1973 (Thomas 2002). She made her professional debut in 1974, playing the song "Who Loses" at a benefit for the Women's Press Gang. She subsequently established her own record label, Lucy Records, and released her debut album in 1977. The album, Testimony, was her first professionally produced record, and brought her much interest in the United States, particularly in the women's music community.
Her 1984 album Shadows on a Dime received a four-star review (highest rating) from Rolling Stone magazine. Awarded a Canada Arts Council grant to further develop her musicianship, she took several years off from touring, returning in 1990 with Phantom Center. The album featured backing vocals by a then unheard of Tori Amos, and consequently is highly sought after by collectors. It was re-released with a duet with The Indigo Girls on the first track.
Between 1992 and 1994, Ferron released three albums on her own Cherrywood Station label. Driver was then picked up by Earthbeat! Records, and was highly acclaimed by critics as a masterwork and nominated for a Juno Award in 1995. Warner Bros. Records signed Ferron which gave her great freedom in the studio to produce Still Riot with db Benedictson. She received an Outmusic Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Gay & Lesbian American Music Awards in 1996.
As a benefit for the Institute for Musical Arts (IMA), Ferron released Inside Out (1999), covering well-known tunes from the 1950s-1970s. She published a handmade book, THe (h)UNGeR POeMs, while she was teaching classes at IMA. She gathered some of her earlier, then out-of-print recordings to create Impressionistic (2000), a retrospective double album with a 24-page, autobiographical booklet.
Ferron continues to tour and teach master classes in writing, and in 2004 she returned to the very island where some of her earliest recorded songs were written to create Turning Into Beautiful produced by db Benedictson.
I Never Was to Africa
Ferron Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ferron:
Ain't Life a Brook I watch you reading a book I get to thinking our…
Alice Says Yes First comes the kiss Then comes the hands too hot to…
Almost Kissed I waken to a morning mist The sun burns through an…
Call Me After Sally came, it's like we fell apart No more hands…
Close To You Why do birds suddenly appear? Every time you are near Just l…
Dazzle the Beast Now it's christmas on the cape and I'm a tag-a-long…
Dear Marly The strap that holds the cart in rein Has been let…
Different Drum You and I travel to the beat of a different…
Easy with Love Be easy with love Be easy with heartache Alone on your road …
Higher Wisdom Was it in your higher wisdom That you turned your light…
I Am Hungry I am hungry how are you? You say that every lie…
I Feel Fine Baby's good to me, you know She's happy as can be,…
Indian Dreams young hearts stay true stay smart see through the storie…
Inside Track I don't think about distant places When I've got my own…
It Won't Take Long They said some men would be warriors And some men would…
It Won't Take Long They said some men would be warriors and some men…
Knot 53 You may need to think it's you he's frowning through But…
Love Loves Me Ey One for the ladies Luca Ferron Hola baby Ik ben vervelend…
Lover How gentle is the rain, that falls softly on the…
Misty Mountain Up the misty mountain Wildflowers bind the ground Down by th…
More Than That Hello, my friends I feel so happy to be back To feel…
My Girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside…
Needles and Pins I saw her today, I saw her face, it was…
O Baby Oh, Baby, where you been to look so drawn? I've been…
Our Purpose Here It's a quiet street in someone's town On stranger's feet I…
Primitive Future Every person has their story, the one they vamp And revamp …
Proud Crowd Pride Cried I can't call you from this place To hear you say…
Rosalee Rosalee You tried too hard again Your stride stumble you dow…
Satin Blouse Here's your satin blouse And poem then It was a long-shot …
Shady Gate When I was young the mom next door Would have tea…
Signals and Messages The night before the day we meet I make my walk…
Slender Wet Branches Slender wet branches and mist on the skyline I'm trying to…
Stand Up there's love in the corners and love down the straight high…
Sunken City Sunken City To be what you are is one thing To be…
Takes a Little Time Sadie's mama was a tanker always bowling her Down to the…
Testimony There's godlike And warlike And strong Like only some show A…
The Cart The strap that holds the cart in rein Has been let…
The Chosen Ones I'd think of all those people with their love and…
Venus As Appearances She told me about a silver lake tucked tight Behind a…
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted As I walk this land with broken dreams I have visions…
Who Loses Old river winding Water run high If there's gold for the fin…
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