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.
Don't Think Twice It's Alright
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you don't know by now
It ain't no use to sit and wonder why babe
It don't matter anyhow
When the rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm traveling on
And don't think twice, it's alright
Ain't no use in turning on your light babe
It's a light I've never known
There ain't no use in turning on your light baby
I'm on the dark side of the road
I wish there was something you could do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talking anyway
And don't think twice, it's alright
Ain't no use in calling out my name now
Like you've never done before
Ain't no use in calling out my name now
I can't hear you anymore
Thinking and wondering all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child, I'm told
I gave her my heart, she wanted my soul
And don't think twice, it's alright
I'm going down that long lonesome road babe
Where I'm bound I can't tell
But goodbye is too good a word babe
So I'll just say fare thee well
I ain't saying you treated me unkind
Coulda done better but I don't mind
You just kinda wasted my precious time
And don't think twice, it's alright
And don't think twice, it's alright
In "Don't Think Twice It's Alright," Indigo Girls and Joan Baez sing of a person leaving a former lover and expressing that it's better for them to hit the road than stay in a loveless relationship. The singer lets their lover know that they don't have to waste their time trying to convince them to stay because they already tried to make it work. They spent more time apart than together and fostered no deep communication, leaving little left to save. So, when the rooster crows at the break of dawn and they leave, the lover shouldn't be too surprised. The singer doesn't want to fight or be argued with, and they clarify that they aren't mad; it's just not want they wanted anymore.
Later on, the singer extends their message, emphasizing that trying to change their mind won't matter. They have chosen to leave and are already down the road. The lover calling out their name won't matter because the singer won't hear them anymore, and leaving is much better than being treated unkindly. The person leaving speaks of a goodbye that is too good a word, so instead, they'll just say farewell. It is a final farewell because the relationship has been lost, the love has faded, and the time spent in it will never come back.
Overall, the song portrays the decision of leaving a relationship that has lost its love, communication, and connection, guiding the listener to understand that it is okay to move on if something isn't working out, and it's okay to say goodbye.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it ain't no use to sit and wonder why babe
There's no point in wondering why things happened the way they did
If you don't know by now
If, by this point, you still don't understand
It ain't no use to sit and wonder why babe
There's no point in wondering why things happened the way they did
It don't matter anyhow
It doesn't really matter now anyway
When the rooster crows at the break of dawn
At the dawn of a new day
Look out your window and I'll be gone
I'll be long gone before you realize it
You're the reason I'm traveling on
You're the reason I had to leave
And don't think twice, it's alright
Don't worry about it, everything's okay
Ain't no use in turning on your light babe
There's no point in trying to help me through the darkness
It's a light I've never known
I'm not used to receiving help in this way
There ain't no use in turning on your light baby
Trying to help me is pointless
I'm on the dark side of the road
I'm going through a tough time
I wish there was something you could do or say
I wish there was a way you could change my mind
To try and make me change my mind and stay
To convince me to stay
We never did too much talking anyway
We didn't communicate much anyway
And don't think twice, it's alright
Don't worry about it, everything's okay
Ain't no use in calling out my name now
There's no point in trying to get my attention
Like you've never done before
As if you expect me to respond differently
Ain't no use in calling out my name now
There's no point in trying to get my attention
I can't hear you anymore
I'm not listening anymore
Thinking and wondering all the way down the road
Going through a lot of thoughts and emotions while traveling
I once loved a woman, a child, I'm told
Someone I loved deeply, who was still naive and immature
I gave her my heart, she wanted my soul
I gave her everything I had, but it wasn't enough
And don't think twice, it's alright
Don't worry about it, everything's okay
I'm going down that long lonesome road babe
I'm going through a tough time by myself
Where I'm bound I can't tell
I don't know where I'm going
But goodbye is too good a word babe
Saying goodbye is too final and too painful
So I'll just say fare thee well
I'll just say goodbye for now
I ain't saying you treated me unkind
I'm not saying you were mean to me
Coulda done better but I don't mind
You could have done better, but it doesn't bother me
You just kinda wasted my precious time
You just took up a lot of my time without giving much back
And don't think twice, it's alright
Don't worry about it, everything's okay
And don't think twice, it's alright
Don't worry about it, everything's okay
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnfoulkrod4835
I'm 67 been playing guitar for years, but their rendition is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes.
@stephaniespuria8708
Yup!
Me too
@ehuff8000
One of the best breakup songs. Lifts you up every time, and puts a smile on your face. Brandi was the perfect, perfect addition to it.
@annemooney9001
the indigo girls have been putting a smile (and the occasional tear) on my face for 20 years. their harmonies are untouchable, and emily is a master on the guitar, AND they always share the stage with upcoming artists, like brandi carlile. she is awesome!
@only_colorado8876
For me, it's been 30 years. God bless them!!!! Forever Indigo!!
@WiiGame2000
"they always share the stage with upcoming artists" ... like R.E.M. and Hothouse Flowers (and possibly others) did for the Girls
@amosfraser
Anne Mooney I have a guy friend who actually taught himself to play guitar (after learning the very basics of chords) by listening intently to the Indigo girls and mimicking what he heard. And yes, I agree that their harmonies are tops!!!
@michellewilkes5801
? Brandi Carly? Thanks for posting I mean never knew she was I can't wait 2 research her thanks for posting I never knew who she was excited to learn and I've always loves loves loves The untouchables indigo girls ♥️
@pacificnorthwester
They are very good, but Emily is no where near a master on guitar.
@chrolli247
I love them! The best rendition of a Dylan song ever!!!