He was born in Ontario, Canada, near Huntsville in the Muskoka region, north of Toronto. To pursue his musical career, he later moved to Toronto.
His first album, 1999's "For Him and the Girls" earned him comparisons to the likes of Tom Waits, Rheostatics and Harry Nilsson.
"(Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves", released in 2001, became Workman's breakthrough record both in Canada and Europe, spawning the hit singles "Striptease" and "Jealous of Your Cigarette".
Workman has also produced records for a number of other artists, including Serena Ryder, John Southworth, Tegan and Sara, Sarah Slean, The Cash Brothers, and Great Big Sea.
For photographs and additional information see Hawksley's official website, www.HawksleyWorkman.com.
Safe And Sound
Hawksley Workman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll wake you up when the next one comes around.
Your eyes are closed, like you truly believe
You're safe and sound with me
No looking back, no turning into salt.
The city was crumbling but, baby, we're not to fault.
When things got too rough, I promised you we'd leave.
You're safe and sound with me,
Just like you always will, just like you always will be.
The wipers clear the windshield of the rain.
My shirt sleeve dries your eyes the very same.
We fit together like the ignition and the key.
You're safe and sound with me.
You're safe and sound with me,
Just like you always will, just like you always will be.
You're safe and sound with me,
Just like you always will, just like you always will be.
The glove box light shines bright enough to see.
You read the map like you were reading poetry.
And it just might take you forever to see,
That you're safe and sound with me.
The song "Safe and Sound" by Hawksley Workman is a track that depicts the love story of two lovers traveling together, running away from a chaotic city. The opening lines convey that the singer's lover is asleep, and he vows to wake her up when they reach the next small town. He reassures her that she is safe and sound with him, even in the midst of uncertainty. The line 'No looking back, no turning into salt' is a reference to the Biblical story of Lot's wife who turned into salt when she looked back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In contrast, the singer urges his lover to look forward and not to dwell on the past. He also promises that no matter what happens, they are leaving the chaos behind.
The chorus repeats the words 'you're safe and sound with me.' This refrain not only serves as a reminder that the lover is safe with the singer, but also alludes to the lover's need for security and assurance in a tumultuous world. The second verse describes the act of the singer wiping away the rain from the windshield, and his lover's tears with his sleeve. This is a metaphor for the singer acting as a shield, keeping his lover safe from the storm both literally and figuratively. He also describes how they fit together like the ignition and the key, symbolising how they work together seamlessly to navigate their way through life's challenges.
Overall, 'Safe and Sound' is an endearing track that captures the sense of security and comfort that can be found in a loving relationship, even in the most uncertain of times.
Line by Line Meaning
You slept through the last small town,
You were so tired that you couldn't even stay awake for a passing small town.
I'll wake you up when the next one comes around.
I'll let you know when the next small town comes, so you know where we are.
Your eyes are closed, like you truly believe
You're sleeping so deeply that it seems like you trust me completely.
You're safe and sound with me
You're well taken care of and you can trust me, you're completely secure with me.
No looking back, no turning into salt.
We won't look back at our past, we will not let it weigh us down.
The city was crumbling but, baby, we're not to fault.
We're not responsible for the chaos and destruction of the city, but we're leaving it behind.
When things got too rough, I promised you we'd leave.
I promised to take you away when the tough times of the city became unbearable.
The wipers clear the windshield of the rain.
The wipers are cleaning the raindrops from the windshield of the car.
My shirt sleeve dries your eyes the very same.
I use my shirt sleeve to wipe away your tears.
We fit together like the ignition and the key.
We are perfect for each other, we complement and complete each other like the ignition and the key of a car.
Just like you always will, just like you always will be.
No matter what happens or where we are, you'll always be safe and sound with me.
The glove box light shines bright enough to see.
The glove box light is bright enough to see the map and other things.
You read the map like you were reading poetry.
You understand and read the map with such ease and precision, it's like you're reading poetry.
And it just might take you forever to see,
It might take time for you to realize and appreciate how safe and secure you are with me.
That you're safe and sound with me.
That you're protected and secure with me, and I will always take care of you.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: RYAN MATTHEW CORRIGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind