Their first release in 1985 was a seven-inch single named "Crazy Game", with the B-side "Everybody's Waiting (for Someone to Come Home)". That same year, the Indigo Girls released a six-track Extended play album named "Indigo Girls", and in 1987 released their first full-length album, Strange Fire, recorded at John Keane Studio in Athens, Georgia, and including "Crazy Game". With this release, they secured the services of Russell Carter, who remains their manager to the present; they had first approached him when the EP album was released, but he told them their songs were "immature" and they were not likely to get a record deal.
They were signed to Epic Records in 1989 and won the Grammy for best contemporary folk album later that year (for their self titled release) Some of their hit songs include "Galileo," "Closer to Fine," and "Shame on You."
Aside from being musicians, Ray and Saliers are activists, constantly supporting causes like gun control, women's rights, Native American rights, environmental protection, the abolition of the death penalty, and as lesbians themselves, LGBT rights. They constantly devote their time and money to such causes, often playing benefit concerts.
Ray and Saliers both have side projects. Ray owns and founded Daemon Records, an independent label based in Decatur. She also has a career as a solo artist, and has released two albums thus far. Saliers is the part owner of Watershed, a restaurant and wine bar in Decatur.
Together, the Indigo Girls are constantly touring. Their new album, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, was released March 24, 2009.
Center Stage
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Numbness from a sceptors wound.
Toss and Turn, I spin and learn,
"Catch yourself before you burn."
A joker's dance before the king,
Jangling beads, a silver ring.
Close your eyes and bare the sound,
Jumping up, falling down.
Falling, falling, falling, falling down.
Look yourself in the eye before you drown.
Royal rebels discover you.
Trust? you turn there is no truth.
And circle, circle, why are you scared?
Why a smile instead of tears?
I'm gulping smoke to fade away.
Figures floating down to lay.
Meet the joker and the thief,
The king and queen but, no relief.
Falling, Falling, Falling, Falling down.
Look yourself in the eye before you drown.
"the king is in the Falling, Falling, Falling, Falling down.
Counting house, Look yourself in the eye before you drown.
Counting out his
Money"
"the queen is in Falling, Falling, Falling, Falling down.
Her parlour, eating Look yourself in the eye before you drown.
Bread and honey"
"Mary had a little lamb"
I cross myself before I die
The leaping man, he asks me, "why?"
"well your rhythm is off" I reply,
"Now you must dance the dance
That you imply!"
"Your actions will follow you full circle round,
Your actions will follow you full circle round,
Your actions will follow you full circle round,
Your actions will follow you full circle round,
The higher the leap, I said
The lyrics of Indigo Girls' song "Center Stage" depict a person caught up in the ups and downs of life, trying to find balance and meaning in the midst of chaos. The first verse uses the metaphor of a jester performing for a king to convey the idea that life can feel like a performance and that we must be careful not to get lost in our roles. The lines "Catch yourself before you burn" suggest that one must be mindful of their actions and avoid self-destruction.
The second verse touches on themes of trust and betrayal: "Royal rebels discover you. Trust? you turn there is no truth." It seems to point to the idea that even those who seem to be on our side can turn against us, and that truth can be hard to come by. The following lines "And circle, circle, why are you scared? Why a smile instead of tears?" are a reminder that it's okay to feel vulnerable and that putting on a brave face doesn't always help.
The final verse brings the song to a close with a series of cryptic lines: "I cross myself before I die / The leaping man, he asks me, 'why?' / 'well your rhythm is off' I reply / 'Now you must dance the dance / That you imply!'" These lines suggest that a higher power or greater force is at work and that we are all part of a larger dance, whether we realize it or not.
Line by Line Meaning
Laughing in a crown of jewels,
Finding humor in the superficiality of wealth and status.
Numbness from a sceptors wound.
Being emotionally detached or hurt by the consequences of power and control.
Toss and Turn, I spin and learn,
Struggling to find balance and meaning through the ups and downs of life.
"Catch yourself before you burn."
Warning to recognize one's own limitations and how to cope with them.
A joker's dance before the king,
Presenting oneself comedically to appeal to authority figures.
Jangling beads, a silver ring.
Adornment and material objects don't define one's worth or purpose.
Close your eyes and bare the sound,
Encouragement to accept oneself and the world around as it is.
Jumping up, falling down.
Life is full of challenges that need to be overcome through perseverance and resilience.
"the king is in the Counting house, Counting out his Money"
Illustrating themes of greed, privilege and the obsession with money.
"the queen is in Her parlour, eating Bread and honey"
Illustrating themes of apathy and indulgence through the metaphor of a queen eating extravagantly in her chamber.
"Mary had a little lamb"
A nonsensical and meaningless line to jar the listener back to the reality of the song's underlying message.
I cross myself before I die
Summoning up the strength and faith needed to face the unknown or perilous aspects of one's life.
The leaping man, he asks me, "why?"
Being questioned about one's motivations or intentions.
"well your rhythm is off" I reply,
A self-reflection acknowledging mistakes or faults.
"Now you must dance the dance That you imply!"
A challenge to act authentically and with purpose.
"Your actions will follow you full circle round,
The consequences of one's behaviors and choices will catch up with them eventually.
"The higher the leap, I said"
The greater the risk, the greater the reward, but also the more severe the possible consequences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY, EMILY ANN SALIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind