Garrison Starr is a singer-songwriter who originally hails from Hernando, M… Read Full Bio ↴Garrison Starr is a singer-songwriter who originally hails from Hernando, Mississippi; a suburb of Memphis, TN. She was born on April 29, 1975.

Her first album "Pinwheels" was recorded shortly after her high school graduation. During a 1 1/2 year stint as a student at Ole Miss, Starr met and forged a friendship with fellow artist and producer Neilson Hubbard. To this day, Starr and Hubbard frequently collaborate. Her second release, the 7 track EP "Stupid Girl" references her experiences there which were not always pleasant.

Garrison was signed to Geffen Records who released her first major label album "18 Over Me" in 1997. "18 Over Me" includes the song "Superhero" which is her most well known song to date, it has appeared on several compilations including "Live at World Cafe" and CMJ magazine's sampler. Garrison re-recorded "Superhero" for her 3rd major release 2005's "Airstreams & Satellites". It also includes a faster version of "Molly" which originally appeared on the "Stupid Girl" EP. On both versions producer Neilson Hubbard sings back-up vocals. "18 Over Me" is currently out of print and can only be purchased used. Garrison occasionally has copies at her live performances, but currently Geffen owns the rights to it so she cannot re-release it.

On the moderate success of "18 Over Me" Garrison was invited to play on the highly successful all female festival tour Lilith Fair created by Sarah McLachlan. Starr left the deep south for Los Angeles in the mid 1990s. There was a huge gap between the release of "18 Over Me" (1997) and "Songs From Take-Off To Landing" (2004) because Garrison (along with many other artists) was dropped from the Geffen roster. Garrison recorded several demos of songs that would eventually become part of "Take-Off" those were never officially released and in the years between those recordings & the release of "Take-Off" the songs evolved and changed significantly. Between these releases Garrison released "24/7" an EP of live & acoustic versions of songs from "18 Over Me" as well as a cover of the Rolling Stone's "Taxman" and a previously unreleased song "Simple Theme". Also during this time Garrison released "Something To Hold You Over" for devoted fans who were asking for new recordings.

In Los Angeles she gained inspiration for two albums, "Songs From Take-Off To Landing" (which was finally released in February 2004) and "Airstreams and Satellites" (October 2005). "Airstreams" includes a hidden track in which Garrison makes her first definitive reference to being a lesbian. She has toured with the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Steve Earle, Melissa Ferrick and Mary Chapin-Carpenter.

In 2005, Starr returned to the south, more specifically, Nashville, Tenn., where she completed her most recent album, "The Sound of You and Me" (March 2006). Released by Vanguard Records it includes a fellow Vanguard artist Mindy Smith on background vocals for track "Kansas City, KS".

Starr's song "Superhero" was featured during ABC-TVs coverage of the Women's World Cup Soccer in 1999. More recently, Starr's "Beautiful in Los Angeles" was the featured song on the season one finale of MTVs original program "The Hills" (2006).

Starr is currently working on her next album, a greatest hits cd for which she asked fans to vote for their top 10 favorite songs. In early 2007 she released a statement that she is recording the songs that received the most votes and that the cd will be available at her Los Angeles shows in late January 2007. Garrison put that cd online for purchase on her official website www.garrisonstarr.com in March 2007.

Garrison's new album "The Girl That Killed September" will be released on October 18, 2007 on Media Creature. Available Online for $10 (CD) and $7.50 (DOWNLOAD) LISTEN | WATCH EPK http://www.mediacreature.com/playerpage/gstarr/blastplyr-lcns.html

Don't Believe in Me
Garrison Starr Lyrics

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stuck in purgatory but it feels a lot like hell
on the second story of a dirty old motel
am I running from my dreams, Jesus or myself

nowhere in this whole wide world that's ever felt like home
people tell me I should pray to a god I've never known
and the tv just reminds me that I still feel so alone

open up the sky and let me out
I wanna stare you in the face and ask you how
am I supposed to wait a lifetime to finally be set free
when I believe in something that don't believe in me

I hear people saying that my heart is full of sin
tell me what makes my sins different than them
they wanna wash me in the river but there's nothing left to wash away
what's the point of praying if there's nothing left to say

open up the sky and let me out
I wanna stare you in the face and ask you how
am I supposed to wait a lifetime to finally be set free
when I believe in something that don't believe in me

am I supposed to wait a lifetime to finally be set free

when I believe in something that don't believe in me
when I believe in something that don't believe in me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Garrison Starr's song "Don't Believe in Me" paint a vivid picture of a narrator feeling trapped in a state of emotional turmoil and questioning their beliefs and sense of self. The opening lines, "stuck in purgatory but it feels a lot like hell, on the second story of a dirty old motel," set the scene for the internal struggle the singer is experiencing. They are in a state of limbo, unsure of whether they are running from their dreams, their faith in Jesus, or from their own self.

The singer expresses a deep sense of displacement and loneliness, claiming that nowhere in the world has ever felt like home. They are grappling with their faith and identity, feeling disconnected from the idea of praying to a god they have never known. The mention of feeling alone while the TV blares in the background highlights their inner turmoil and the lack of solace they find in external distractions.

The plea to "open up the sky and let me out" can be interpreted as a cry for clarity, a desire to confront the uncertainties and doubts that weigh heavily on their mind. The singer questions the validity of waiting a lifetime to find freedom when they feel abandoned by something they believe in. This inner conflict between faith and doubt is further emphasized in the repeated refrain, "when I believe in something that don't believe in me," encapsulating the discord between the singer's beliefs and their sense of being unseen or unheard by that belief system.

As the singer reflects on accusations of sin and the futile nature of seeking cleansing in a river that cannot wash away their perceived transgressions, they confront the pointlessness of prayer when there seems to be nothing left to say. The repeated questioning of their place in the world and the validity of their beliefs culminates in a poignant realization that they may never find the freedom they seek if the foundation of their faith does not reciprocate that belief in them. The song's closing lines echo this sentiment, driving home the stark reality of feeling unseen and unfulfilled in their spiritual journey.

Line by Line Meaning

stuck in purgatory but it feels a lot like hell
Feeling stuck in a place of uncertainty and doubt, but the pain is just as intense as if it were hell.

on the second story of a dirty old motel
Physically and metaphorically located in a grim and uncomfortable environment.

am I running from my dreams, Jesus or myself
Questioning whether the struggle is with chasing aspirations, faith, or personal identity.

nowhere in this whole wide world that's ever felt like home
Never truly feeling a sense of belonging or comfort anywhere in the world.

people tell me I should pray to a god I've never known
Being advised to seek guidance from a higher power that is unfamiliar.

and the tv just reminds me that I still feel so alone
The backdrop of television only amplifying the sense of isolation and loneliness.

open up the sky and let me out
Expressing a desire for liberation and release from internal struggles.

I wanna stare you in the face and ask you how
Yearning to confront challenges directly and seek understanding.

am I supposed to wait a lifetime to finally be set free
Questioning the length of time it will take to find inner peace and freedom.

when I believe in something that don't believe in me
Expressing the frustration of having faith in a notion or higher power that does not reciprocate that belief in oneself.

I hear people saying that my heart is full of sin
Receiving judgment and criticism for perceived wrongdoings and flaws.

tell me what makes my sins different than them
Questioning the double standards in society regarding judgment and forgiveness for sins.

they wanna wash me in the river but there's nothing left to wash away
Facing attempts at purification or redemption, despite feeling that there is no redemption necessary.

what's the point of praying if there's nothing left to say
Wondering about the purpose of prayer when words seem inadequate or unnecessary.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Garrison Starr, K.S. Rhoads, Katie Pruitt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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