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.
Prince of Darkness
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
I don't know when I noticed life was life at my expense
The words of my heart lined up like prisoners on a fence
The dreams came in like needy children tugging at my sleeve
But there was a time I asked my father for a dollar
And he gave it a ten dollar raise
And when I needed my mother and I called her
She stayed with me for days
Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain
Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someones got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
But I tried to make this place my place
I asked for providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
Yeah but Ill tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(by grace, my sight grows stronger)
And I do not feel the romance I will not be
(and I will not be a pawn for the prince of darkness any longer)
Maybe there's no haven in this world for tender age
My heart beat like the wings of wild birds in a cage
My greatest hope my greatest cause to grieve
And my heart flew from its cage and it bled upon my sleeve
Oh the cries of passion were like wounds that needed healing
I couldn't hear them for the thunder
I was half the naked distance between hell and heavens ceiling
And he almost pulled me under
Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain
Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someones got his finger on the button in some room
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
But I tried to make this place my place
I asked for providence to smile upon me with his sweet face
But Ill tell you
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
(by grace, my sight grows stronger)
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
(grows stronger)
By grace
(my place is of the sun)
My sight
(and this place is of the dark)
Is growing stronger
(I do not feel the romance)
I will not be a pawn
(I will not be)
For the prince of darkness any longer
Indigo Girls' song "Prince of Darkness" is a powerful and introspective piece about life's struggles and the search for hope in a seemingly hopeless world. The lyrics compare the darkness of the world to the light of the sun and how the singer's place is of the sun while this place is of the dark. The singer is unable to feel the romance and doesn't catch the spark, indicating a sense of detachment and disillusionment with the world. The singer reflects on how life seems to be at their expense, and how the dreams that come to them feel like needy children tugging at their sleeve, requesting to be tended to.
The lyrics also touch on the singer's relationship with their parents, how they were once supported by them but now feel left alone to face the challenges of life. The singer observes how the world seems to be on the brink of destruction, with someone desperate on the telephone, someone doing cocaine on the bathroom floor, and someone with their finger on the button in some room. Despite all of this, the singer tries to make their place in the world amidst the darkness, hoping for Providence to smile upon them. Yet, the singer ultimately declares that "I will not be a pawn for the Prince of Darkness any longer.", indicating the desire for agency over their own life and thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark
I belong to a brighter world, but I'm in a darker place now
And I do not feel the romance I do not catch the spark
I don't feel love or connection here
I don't know when I noticed life was life at my expense
I realized I was giving more than I was getting from life
The words of my heart lined up like prisoners on a fence
My emotions were trapped and confined like prisoners
The dreams came in like needy children tugging at my sleeve
My aspirations were like children begging for attention
I said I have no way of feeding you, so leave
I couldn't fulfill those dreams, so I had to give up on them
But there was a time I asked my father for a dollar
There was a time I needed help from my father
And he gave it a ten dollar raise
And he was generous enough to give me even more
And when I needed my mother and I called her
And when I needed my mother's support
She stayed with me for days
She was there for me when I needed her the most
Now someones on the telephone, desperate in his pain
There's someone suffering and seeking help over the phone
Someones on the bathroom floor doing her cocaine
Someone's using drugs to cope with their pain
Someones got his finger on the button in some room
Someone's in a position to make a dangerous decision
No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom
I believe we're self-destructive and can't avoid our fate
Maybe there's no haven in this world for tender age
Maybe the world is not kind to the innocent and vulnerable
My heart beat like the wings of wild birds in a cage
My heart felt trapped and confined, like a caged bird
My greatest hope my greatest cause to grieve
My biggest aspirations are also the ones that hurt me the most
And my heart flew from its cage and it bled upon my sleeve
I let my emotions free, and they hurt me and those around me
Oh the cries of passion were like wounds that needed healing
My intense emotions were painful and needed to be addressed
I couldn't hear them for the thunder
I was distracted and couldn't pay attention to my own feelings
I was half the naked distance between hell and heavens ceiling
I was in a vulnerable position, between despair and hope
And he almost pulled me under
I almost gave in to despair and gave up on everything
By grace, my sight grows stronger
With time, I'm gaining clarity and perspective
And I do not feel the romance I will not be
I'm not looking for love or connection anymore
And I will not be a pawn for the prince of darkness any longer
I won't let my darker impulses control me
But Ill tell you
I have to be honest
(grows stronger)
I'm feeling stronger, more resilient
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Amy Elizabeth Ray, Emily Ann Saliers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind