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.
History of us
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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Captured in stained glass, young lives long since passed
Statues of lovers every place
I went all across the continent to relieve this restless love
I walked through the ruins, icons of glory
Smashed by the bombs from above
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Stretched our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us.
Jeu de Paume's full of faces knowing peace, knowing strife
Leisure and toil, still it's canvas and oil
There's just no medium for life
In the midst of the rubble I felt a sense of rebirth
In a dusty cathedral the living God called
And I prayed for my life here in earth
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretched our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us.
There are mountains in Switzerland, brilliant cold as they stand
From my hotel room, watching the half-moon
Bleeding its light like a lamb
And the town is illuminated, its tiny figures are fast asleep
And it dawns on me the time is upon me
To return to the flock I must keep.
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Stretched our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Until time makes history of us.
The lyrics of "History of Us" by Indigo Girls paint a picture of a person who has traveled the world in an attempt to forget a lost love. The singer seeks solace in visiting Paris and seeing stained glass depictions of lovers who have long since passed. They travel across Europe and visit ruins that have been damaged by war, feeling a sense of rebirth amid the rubble. Throughout their travels, the singer reflects on the fleeting nature of life and love, noting that time will eventually make history of us all.
The chorus of the song serves as a reminder to live in the present and to cherish the moments we have with those we love. The passion and pain of a relationship is likened to a play, and the singer acknowledges the necessity of stretching their youth until they are merely ashes and dust. Ultimately, the song is a meditation on the impermanence of life and the importance of finding meaning and purpose in the fleeting moments we are given.
Line by Line Meaning
I went all the way to Paris to forget your face
I traveled far to escape the painful reminder of you
Captured in stained glass, young lives long since passed
Visual reminders of love lost and forgotten
Statues of lovers every place
Throughout the city, tributes to love that once thrived
I went all across the continent to relieve this restless love
Unable to find peace in one place, I searched everywhere for solace
I walked through the ruins, icons of glory
Exploring the broken symbols of beauty and achievement that were destroyed by war
Smashed by the bombs from above
The destruction inflicted upon these once grand structures was caused by devastating bombings
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Live and love fully in the present, for time is fleeting
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Fully engage in the emotional ups and downs that come with love
Stretched our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Push ourselves to experience all we can in our young years, for life is fleeting
Until time makes history of us.
Our lives will eventually be reduced to a footnote in history
Jeu de Paume's full of faces knowing peace, knowing strife
Museums are filled with faces of those who experienced both peace and difficulty in their lives
Leisure and toil, still it's canvas and oil
Artists attempt to capture both the good and bad in life in their works
There's just no medium for life
There is no physical medium that can fully represent the complexities of life
In the midst of the rubble I felt a sense of rebirth
Even amidst destruction and despair, it is possible to feel a new sense of hope and renewal
In a dusty cathedral the living God called
Amidst the ruins of an old church, there was a feeling of spiritual connection and renewal
And I prayed for my life here in earth
Contemplating one's own mortality and the need to fully embrace life while alive
There are mountains in Switzerland, brilliant cold as they stand
Beautiful, imposing natural landscapes that stand in contrast to human-created structures
From my hotel room, watching the half-moon
Taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of nature while in a temporary human construct
Bleeding its light like a lamb
The soft, gentle light of the half-moon in sharp contrast to the harsh realities of life
And the town is illuminated, its tiny figures are fast asleep
The sleepy town below is contrasted with the majesty of the natural world above
And it dawns on me the time is upon me
A sudden realization of the passage of time and the need to move on from this moment
To return to the flock I must keep.
Despite brief moments of escape, one must always return to the responsibilities and realities of life
So we must love while these moments are still called today
Reinforcing the importance of living in the present and cherishing every moment
Take part in the pain of this passion play
Embrace both the good and bad aspects of love and life
Stretched our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust
Live life to the fullest while we are young and able, for life is fleeting
Until time makes history of us.
Our lives will eventually become a part of history, but we can make the most of the time we have now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY, EMILY ANN SALIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind