Though born in New York, Peter's was raised in Boulder, Colorado, and then moved to Nashville in the late 1980s. There, she found work as a songwriter, composing hits for Martina McBride, Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, George Strait, Anne Murray, as well as for Neil Diamond and co-writing songs with Bryan Adams. She has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Song, in 1995 and 1996, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 2003.
Peters has released a string of studio albums of her own. The title track of her 1996 debut album The Secret of Life was later recorded by Faith Hill in 1999.
In the case of her new album, 'Blackbirds,' "juice" is certainly understatement. Recorded in Nashville, the album features a who's who of modern American roots music: Jerry Douglas, Jason Isbell, Jimmy LaFave, Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey, Suzy Bogguss and more. But it's not the guests that make 'Blackbirds' the most poignant and moving album of Peters' storied career; it’s the impeccable craftsmanship, her ability to capture the kind of complex, conflicting, and overwhelming emotional moments we might otherwise try to hide and instead shine a light of truth and understanding onto them.
'Blackbirds' is, in many ways, an album that is unafraid to face down mortality. But rather than dwell on the pain of loss, the music finds a new appreciation for the life we're given.
If anyone can open up that conversation, it's Peters. Inducted into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, she has long been one of Music City's most beloved and respected artists, known never to shy away from darkness and struggle in her writing. Martina McBride's recording of her stirring "Independence Day," a song that deals with domestic abuse, was nominated for a Grammy and took home Song of the Year honors at the CMAs, and her work has been performed by everyone from Etta James and Neil Diamond to George Strait and Trisha Yearwood. "If Peters never delivers another tune as achingly beautiful as 'On A Bus To St. Cloud,'" People Magazine wrote, "she has already earned herself a spot among country's upper echelon of contemporary composers."
'Blackbirds' follows Peters' 2012 album 'Hello Cruel World,' which NPR called "the album of her career" and Uncut said "establishes her as the natural successor to Lucinda Williams." If anything, though, 'Blackbirds' truly establishes Peters as a one-of-a-kind singer and songwriter, one in possession of a fearless and endlessly creative voice.
Camille
Gretchen Peters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And slunk off to hide in the clouds
Now it's broken bottles, gravel and glass
Keepin' you company now
In the heat of the moment he cried out your name
But the moment it didn't last long
Ten minutes later he's driving away
And you don't want to cry, and you don't want to think
And you tell yourself it ain't no big deal
And you feel like a fool, and you feel like a drink
And you drink so you don't have to feel
But you still do, don't you Camille
All your affairs are like last night's mascara
Darkening the lines round your eyes
Seems like these days you're just pickin' up strays
You laugh and say you're no prize
And the sins of the fathers they're not meant for daughters
But somehow you felt you're to blame
And the ghost in your head and the men in your bed
They all look like they're one and the same
And you don't want to cry, and you don't want to think
And you tell yourself it ain't no big deal
And you feel like a fool, and you feel like a drink
And you drink so you don't have to feel
But you still do, don't you Camille
Yeah, you still do, don't you Camille
The lyrics of "Camille" by Gretchen Peters describe the pain and loneliness experienced by a woman named Camille who engages in multiple affairs and is plagued by feelings of guilt and self-blame. The first verse paints a picture of a desolate parking lot strewn with broken bottles and glass after a fight between the moon and a parking lot light. This visual serves as a metaphor for Camille's own brokenness and her sense of being lost in the darkness following her many failed relationships.
The following verses detail Camille's tendency to pick up "strays," or men who do not fulfill her emotionally and often leave her feeling empty and alone. The lyrics suggest that Camille is trapped in a cycle of seeking validation through these affairs, despite knowing that they will ultimately lead to more pain and disappointment. Peters also touches on the impact of Camille's upbringing on her behavior, noting that she feels responsible for the sins of her fathers and carries around a ghost in her head that contributes to her feelings of self-blame.
Throughout the song, Peters emphasizes Camille's attempts to numb her pain through drinking and avoidance, despite the fact that she knows she cannot truly escape her emotions. The repetition of the line "you still do, don't you Camille" showcases the cyclical nature of her struggles and the difficulty she faces in breaking free from them.
Overall, "Camille" is a poignant and heartbreaking portrayal of a woman who is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction and loneliness, despite her attempts to fill the void through fleeting and ultimately unfulfilling relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
The moon had a fight with the parking lot light
The moon and the light from the parking lot were in sharp contrast as they both tried to compete for visibility.
And slunk off to hide in the clouds
The moon retreated behind the clouds, leaving the dim parking lot light shining.
Now it's broken bottles, gravel and glass
The environment around you is littered with broken glass bottles and gravel, probably indicating that you are in a rough part of the town.
Keepin' you company now
You feel lonely because the broken bottles, gravel and glass are the only things around you, keeping you company.
In the heat of the moment he cried out your name
He called out your name during the moment of passion.
But the moment it didn't last long
The moment of passion did not last long before he left.
Ten minutes later he's driving away
Ten minutes later he was driving away, leaving you behind feeling abandoned.
While you're putting your pantyhose on
You were still preparing yourself after the moment of passion by putting on your pantyhose.
And you don't want to cry, and you don't want to think
You do not want to show any emotions or think about the situation.
And you tell yourself it ain't no big deal
You convince yourself that the situation is not a significant issue.
And you feel like a fool, and you feel like a drink
You feel foolish and embarrassed, so you want to drink to forget and numb the emotions.
And you drink so you don't have to feel
You use alcohol to escape the negative emotions you are feeling.
But you still do, don't you Camille
Despite your efforts, you still feel the negative emotions and cannot escape them completely.
All your affairs are like last night's mascara
Your relationships are temporary and do not last long, just like last night's makeup that you have already removed.
Darkening the lines round your eyes
These temporary relationships leave you feeling worn out, making the circles around your eyes darker.
Seems like these days you're just pickin' up strays
You seem to be attracting the wrong kinds of people lately, those who are reckless and desperate.
You laugh and say you're no prize
You try to make light of the situation by saying that you are not particularly valuable or desirable.
And the sins of the fathers they're not meant for daughters
You feel responsible for something that you have inherited from your father, something that has affected your relationships.
But somehow you felt you're to blame
You blame yourself for something that was beyond your control.
And the ghost in your head and the men in your bed
The things that haunt you in your mind are connected to the men you have been with.
They all look like they're one and the same
The men you have been with seem to blend together because they share the same negative qualities.
Yeah, you still do, don't you Camille
Despite your efforts to escape the negative emotions, you still feel them deep inside.
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
msukulele
Beautiful voice, soulful delivery and masterful placement of lyrics. There is at least one line in every song of Gretchen's that I know is mine. Genius
roy gunter
Damn it Gretchen all your songs are a short story, one that I can read driving down the highway drinking coffee, that is someone's else description that I stole but I don't remember who from, and they hit like right hook to the side of the head. Why can you do that and I can't, I guess it is just talent, and a lot of hard work. This is as good as "The Matador" and that is an amazing song of course all your stuff is..
Daz Is Back
Beautifull music , amazing voice thankyou for being !!
Ben
Awesome song :-)