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.
Love of the Common People
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's water in the milk from the hole in the roof
where the rain came in
but what can you do
well you got tears from your little sister
crying cause she doesn't have a dress without a patch
for the party to go
living in the love of the common people
smiles from the heart of the family man
daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
as she can
oh yeah
and it's a good thing you don't have bus fare
it would fall through the whole in your pocket
and you'd lose it in the snow on the ground
you better walk to town and find a job
oh and you try to keep your hands warm
the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
and it chills you to the bone
you'd better go home where it's warm
you can live in the love of the common people
smiles from the heart of the family man
daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
as she can
oh yeah
living on a dream ain't easy no
but the closer the knit the tighter the fit
and the chills stay away
we like to keep them in stride for family pride
faith is your foundation
got a whole lot of love and a long conversation
but don't forget to pray oh no
it's keeping us strong where we belong
living in the love of the common people
smiles from the heart of the family man
daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
living in the love of the common people
(you know that faith is your foundation)
smiles from the heart of the family man
(whole lot of love and a long conversation)
daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
(don't forget to pray it's keeping us strong)
mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
(where we belong)
living in the love of the common people
(oh living on a dream ain't easy)
smiles from the heart of the family man
(but the closer the knit the tighter the fit)
daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
(we like to keep them in stride)
mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
(for family pride)
as she can
Love of the Common People is a song that depicts the struggles of poverty as a common theme among families. The first stanza sets the tone for the song by describing the deplorable living conditions of a family. A family where people live on free food tickets and the milk is contaminated. Despite that, they continue to soldier on, and the vocalist highlights the strong bond between the members of the family. The tears of the sister, who cannot afford a dress for a party, represent a symbol of hope as the song conveys that things will get better. The family represents the love and care that every person deserves, and that is what keeps them going.
The second and third stanzas are about the work it takes to survive. The singer does not even have bus fare, so he has to walk to town to find a job. Even during winter, despite wearing shoes with holes laced with snow, he still remains hopeful as he understands that persevering will allow him to experience the love and kindness of the community.
In conclusion, the song is about the love that people give to each other even amidst living in poverty. The love shared among family and the sense of community in the face of adversity. The song is a reminder of those who struggle and the way they get through the struggles they face.
Line by Line Meaning
living on free food tickets
They are surviving on food stamps and do not have a lot of money.
there's water in the milk from the hole in the roof
The home is in a state of disrepair and there is a hole in the roof that is letting water into their living space.
where the rain came in
This line is referencing the hole in the roof from the previous line and how it is letting rain into their home.
but what can you do
Despite their situation, there is little they can do to improve their living conditions.
well you got tears from your little sister
The artist's younger sister is crying and upset because she doesn't have a nice dress to wear to a party.
crying cause she doesn't have a dress without a patch
The sister is crying because her dress has patches on it and she feels embarrassed to wear it to the party.
for the party to go
The sister wants to go to the party but is feeling upset because she doesn't have a nice enough dress to wear.
oh but you know that she's gonna get by
Despite not having a nice dress, the artist knows that her sister will still enjoy the party and have a good time.
smiles from the heart of the family man
A reference to the father of the family who smiles and loves his family despite their struggles.
daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
The father will do what he can to provide for his family and give them something to look forward to or feel hopeful about.
mama's gonna love you just as much as she can
Despite their hardships, the mother loves her children unconditionally and does what she can to care for them.
it would fall through the hole in your pocket
The artist doesn't have any money and if they did, it would likely fall out through the hole in their pocket.
and you'd lose it in the snow on the ground
If the singer had money, they would likely lose it in the snow because they don't have a secure place to keep it.
you better walk to town and find a job
The singer needs to find a job and start working to improve their situation.
the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
The singer's shoes are in poor condition and there is a hole in them, allowing snow to get inside.
and it chills you to the bone
The artist is very cold due to their poor clothing and living conditions.
you'd better go home where it's warm
The artist needs to return home where it is warmer and they can seek shelter from the cold.
living in the love of the common people
Despite their situation, the singer is surrounded by the love and support of those around them and that is what keeps them going.
living on a dream ain't easy no
Living life without much money or resources can be difficult and living on hoped-for dreams is not enough to sustain a person through hard times.
but the closer the knit the tighter the fit
The closer a family is and the more they rely on each other for support, the stronger they become.
we like to keep them in stride for family pride
The family tries to find motivation and strength in their mutual pride for one another and their shared experiences.
faith is your foundation
The family leans on their faith and beliefs to help them through tough times.
got a whole lot of love and a long conversation
The family has a deep love for each other and they communicate frequently and openly, which helps them to persevere despite their hardships.
but don't forget to pray oh no
Despite their struggles, it is important for the family to remember to pray and seek guidance from their faith in order to keep going.
it's keeping us strong where we belong
Their faith in each other and in their higher power is what keeps them together and helps them to remain strong where they are.
where we belong
The family belongs together, supporting one another, no matter where they are or what they are facing.
Contributed by Zoe J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kanayd
Love this song :)