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.
Damo
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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Come to hear their boxer sing
To tell the stories of their streets
To quell their suffering
They say let me go another round
And never take it laying down
'Cause in my heart I know
I'm strong enough to grow
Damo sing another song
For all the sons of fisticuffs
For the daughters of the truncheon
Damo sing a song of love
What do I know of Ireland
Except what made it here
Through the ports, into the hills
A whistle and a jig
They worked the fields, they worked the rails
And sang the songs of slaves
To keep the chains from binding on
To keep their bodies brave
Damo sing another song
For all the sons of toil and tug
For the daughters of the weary road
Damo sing a song of love
So gather round and bear this ground
While your brothers sweat and swing
Or hold each other for their life
In their love and in their rage
Sing of tribes and ties that bind
And sing yourself anew
Yeah the Dog of war, Lamb of God
The spirit is in you
Damo sing another song
For all the sons of fisticuffs
For the daughters of the truncheon
Damo sing a song of love
Damo sing another song
For all the sons of toil and tug
For the daughters of the weary road
Damo sing a song of love
The lyrics of "Damo" by Indigo Girls are a tribute to the strength and resilience of the Irish working-class community, particularly its boxers and police officers. The boys of Dublin's Donaghmede gather to hear their local boxer sing and tell the stories of their streets. They are tough and determined, refusing to take anything lying down. The chorus calls for Damo to sing another song, a song of love for all the sons of fisticuffs and the daughters of the truncheon. The song acknowledges the pain and struggle of this community, but also the bonds that hold them together.
The second verse explores the history of Ireland and the struggles of its people. It acknowledges the role of music in keeping spirits up and fostering a sense of community. The third verse emphasizes the importance of brotherhood and support, both in the boxing ring and in life. It calls on people to come together and support one another in their struggles.
The overall message of "Damo" is one of hope and strength in the face of adversity. It celebrates the working-class community and pays tribute to its enduring spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the boys of Dublin's Donaghmede
The men from Donaghmede in Dublin
Come to hear their boxer sing
Come to hear a boxer perform music
To tell the stories of their streets
To chronicle the occurrences of their neighborhood
To quell their suffering
To provide solace to them during their difficult times
They say let me go another round
The people want to persist in their efforts despite the struggles and hardships they face
And never take it laying down
And never give up or succumb to the difficulties thrown their way
'Cause in my heart I know
Because they believe in their strength and character
I'm strong enough to grow
They are capable of growing and developing their personalities further
Damo sing another song
They request the musician Damo to sing another song for them
For all the sons of fisticuffs
For all the young men who box
For the daughters of the truncheon
For the girls who have been on the receiving end of complaints from the police
Damo sing a song of love
They ask Damo to sing a song about love
What do I know of Ireland
They express their lack of knowledge about Ireland, except for the snippets that have been shared with them
Except what made it here
Only what they have personally received or witnessed with their own eyes
Through the ports, into the hills
From the ports, up into the mountains
A whistle and a jig
Their music and dancing
They worked the fields, they worked the rails
They worked on farms and on the railways
And sang the songs of slaves
And sang songs about slavery
To keep the chains from binding on
To resist being held captive
To keep their bodies brave
To exert courage and bravery even in the most difficult of circumstances
So gather round and bear this ground
Therefore they suggest listening to this song
While your brothers sweat and swing
While their comrades toil away, working arduously
Or hold each other for their life
Or even when they cling onto each other when their life is on the line
In their love and in their rage
In their moments of passion and wrath
Sing of tribes and ties that bind
Sing of their shared ancestry and the ties that connect them
And sing yourself anew
And sing to help one feel alive and revitalized
Yeah the Dog of war, Lamb of God
Reference to the aggressive fight and the gentle Christ-like demeanor
The spirit is in you
The spirit of life and perseverance lives within them
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind