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

Put Your Weapon Down
Garrison Starr Lyrics

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Your heart is not open
I just want to hold you
How can I get close?

I hear all the words unspoken
How can I get close?
When you won't let go

I could be your shoulder
Cold only gets colder
Will you ever come around?

I could be your ally, fighting on the front lines
If you could put your weapon down
Put your weapon down

You scars are on the surface
I just want to hold you
Now you're so exposed

I hear all the words unspoken
I can't fix what's broken
If you won't let it show

I could be your shoulder
Cold only gets colder
Will you ever come around?

I could be your ally, fighting on the front lines
You could put your weapon down
Put your weapon down
Put your weapon down

I take down all your walls
I break all of your falls
You're the one who has to try
So lean into me tonight
Come home

Put your weapon down
My love, put your weapon down

I could be your shoulder
The cold only gets colder
You put your weapon down

I could be your ally, fighting on the front lines
Will you put your weapon down?

Overall Meaning

The song "Put Your Weapon Down" by Garrison Starr is a plea to a loved one who is struggling to open up and be vulnerable. The lyrics "Your heart is not open, I just want to hold you, how can I get close?" suggest that the singer is yearning for genuine emotional connection with the person who is guarded and unwilling to let their guard down. The lyrics "I hear all the words unspoken, how can I get close? When you won't let go" suggest that the singer is aware of the thoughts and feelings the other person is not expressive about, but they feel trapped and unable to show those emotions. The singer offers support and comfort in lines like "I could be your shoulder, cold only gets colder" and "I could be your ally, fighting on the front lines" asking them to put down their weapons, meaning their defenses, and open up to genuine intimacy.

The chorus "Put your weapon down" is a powerful metaphor that represents not just the other person's defenses but also their willingness to let go of these defenses and create an honest and safe space for love to flourish. The lyrics "I take down all your walls, I break all of your falls, You're the one who has to try, So lean into me tonight, Come home" show the singer's dedication to making things work as they urge the other person to make an effort and return their love.

Overall, "Put Your Weapon Down" is a song about wanting to be close and vulnerable with another person, but struggling with the walls and barriers that often come in the way. The song evokes a sense of hope and understanding, asking the listener to put down their weapons and give love a chance to heal them.

Line by Line Meaning

Your heart is not open
You're closed off emotionally

I just want to hold you
I want to comfort you

How can I get close?
I want to get to know you better

I hear all the words unspoken
I sense that you have things to say but won't voice them

When you won't let go
You're holding back from opening up

I could be your shoulder
I could offer you support and comfort

Cold only gets colder
Being emotionally closed off only leads to more distance

Will you ever come around?
Will you ever become more open and vulnerable?

I could be your ally, fighting on the front lines
I could be your partner in life's challenges

If you could put your weapon down
If you could let go of your emotional defenses

Your scars are on the surface
Your emotional pain is visible to me