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.
Secure Yourself
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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Through the thunder I could hear you scream,
Solid to the air I breathe,
Open-eyed and fast asleep.
Falling softly as the rain,
No footsteps ringing in your ears.
Ragged down worn to the skin
Warrior raging, have no fear.
Secure yourself to heaven.
Hold on tight, the night has come
Fasten up your earthly burdens,
You have just begun.
Kneeling down with broken prayers,
Hearts and bones from days of youth,
Restless with an angel's wing,
I dig a grave to bury you.
No feet to fall,
You need no ground,
Allowed to glide right through the sun,
Released from circles guarded tight,
Now we all are chosen ones.
Secure yourself to heaven.
Hold on tight, the night has come
Fasten up your earthly burdens,
You have just begun.
The lyrics to "Secure Yourself" by Indigo Girls are a powerful and evocative testament to the human experience. The opening lines describe a moment of intense vulnerability, with the singer witnessing someone they care about bleeding and screaming through a storm. Despite this chaos, the singer remains grounded, rooted in their own body as they bear witness to the tumult around them. The imagery of rain falling softly and footsteps ringing in ears is both calming and ominous, creating a sense of atmosphere and tension in the song.
As the song progresses, the singer continues to explore themes of mortality and spiritual transformation. The lines "kneeling down with broken prayers" and "hearts and bones from days of youth" paint a picture of a person who has endured hardship and struggle, casting their hopes and fears towards an unknown higher power. The image of digging a grave to bury someone is both literal and metaphorical, a reflection on the ways that we let go of people and experiences that we have outgrown. The final lines of the song are uplifting, offering a sense of release and transcendence as the singer describes the chosen ones who are freed from circles that have bound them tight.
Overall, "Secure Yourself" is a hauntingly beautiful song that delves into complex themes of mortality, spirituality, and resilience. The lyrics are deeply introspective and thought-provoking, exploring the ways that we navigate loss and change in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
In the ink of an eye I saw you bleed,
I saw you bleed instantaneously and it was over in a blink of an eye.
Through the thunder I could hear you scream,
Amidst the loud thunder, I could hear you screaming for help.
Solid to the air I breathe,
I feel grounded and present in the moment.
Open-eyed and fast asleep.
I am fully aware and conscious even when in a state of sleep.
Falling softly as the rain,
Falling gently like the raindrops.
No footsteps ringing in your ears.
A world with no footsteps or rushing made peace and quiet.
Ragged down worn to the skin
Tattered through and through, with nothing left to give.
Warrior raging, have no fear.
Fierce, brave and powerful like a warrior, with no fear.
Secure yourself to heaven.
Find safety in higher powers above.
Hold on tight, the night has come
Be strong and endure through the difficult times ahead.
Fasten up your earthly burdens,
Let go of unnecessary baggage holding you back.
You have just begun.
You are only at the start of your journey and there is a long way to go.
Kneeling down with broken prayers,
Praying desperately in a vulnerable state.
Hearts and bones from days of youth,
Affected from the past experiences and wounds of youth.
Restless with an angel's wing,
Feeling a sense of unrest even with the presence of a guardian angel.
I dig a grave to bury you.
Letting go of the past and creating closure through symbolic acts.
No feet to fall,
A world with nothing to trip on or hold you back.
You need no ground,
You don't need any support or validation from the physical world.
Allowed to glide right through the sun,
Free to soar and rise above any limitations.
Released from circles guarded tight,
Breaking free from the confines of strict and guarded social circles.
Now we all are chosen ones.
We all have the power to choose our paths and destinies.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY, EMILY ANN SALIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind