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.
Shes Saving Me
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody lit incense
Somebody lit a cigarette
And passed a bottle around
It was just strawberry season
Backbreaking pickers in the patches
Everythings burning down to ashes
And down to the ground
I don't even think she knows it
It's a strange way to show it as distant as
Last nights dream unravels
She's saving me
I'm a very lost soul
I was born with a hole in my heart
The size of my land locked travels
I try to put it aside
But it's too much bigger than me
There's a big brown hawk in the tree
Lighting and leaving
And there's tea leaves tossing
Heads up pennies in my pocket
Dead star like a rocket
The arc of my grieving
She's saving me
I don't even think she knows it
Its a strange way to show it
As distant as last nights dream unravels
She's saving me
I'm a very lost soul
I was born with a hole in my heart
The size of my land locked travels
The sky pours out biblical rain
Then days so still the beauty gives you pain
The heatwave kills the green
And she remains unseen
But colors up my dreams
With all things blooming
This is not all there is
It's not a kingdom
It's not an angry god
It feels like her
It feels like no fear
It feels like no doubt
It feels like inside out
The ashes stir
She's saving me
I don't even think she knows it
Such a strange way to show it as distant as
Last nights dream unravels
She's saving me
I'm a very lost soul
I was born with a hole in my heart
The size of my land locked travels
The Indigo Girls' song "She's Saving Me" is a piece about finding a savior in someone who may not even realize that they are helping. The song begins with the scene of a group of people sitting near a fire: the mood is somber, with the world around them seemingly in devastation, everything "burning down to ashes / and down to the ground." However, the singer notes that the girl sitting with them, in all her blooming beauty, is saving them. She is the one who brings color to the darkness and helps calm the tumultuous soul of our protagonist. They were born with a hole in their heart, which has left them lost and wandering. But, the girl's mere presence provides solace, even if she does not know it.
The singer goes on to describe a life both complex and mundane, full of birds and pennies and leaves, and yet all of it is made more beautiful by the mysterious girl. She is, as the chorus repeats, "saving me," even when she is completely unaware of the impact she is having. It is all about her presence in their life and how, through her, they are able to make sense of the chaos around them.
Line by Line Meaning
We were sitting round a dying fire
We were huddled around a fire that was barely burning
Somebody lit incense
A person lit a stick of incense
Somebody lit a cigarette
A person lit a cigarette
And passed a bottle around
They passed a bottle of something around for everyone to drink
It was just strawberry season
It was strawberry season at the time
Backbreaking pickers in the patches
Farm workers were struggling to pick the strawberries
Everythings burning down to ashes
Everything was turning to ashes due to the fire
And down to the ground
Everything was falling apart
She's saving me
The woman is helping me through my troubles
I don't even think she knows it
She may not even realize she is helping me
It's a strange way to show it as distant as
It's an unusual way for her to show her support, almost as if she is distant from me
Last nights dream unravels
I remember a dream I had the previous night
I'm a very lost soul
I feel lost and without purpose in life
I was born with a hole in my heart
I feel incomplete and empty inside
The size of my land locked travels
My travels and experiences have not been able to fill this emptiness
I try to put it aside
I try to push aside these feelings
But it's too much bigger than me
But these emotions are too big to ignore
There's a big brown hawk in the tree
There is a large hawk sitting in a nearby tree
Lighting and leaving
The hawk takes off and flies away
And there's tea leaves tossing
Tea leaves are being thrown around, perhaps for a divination ritual
Heads up pennies in my pocket
I have a few pennies in my pocket, heads up for good luck
Dead star like a rocket
A star that has died, possibly in a violent explosion
The arc of my grieving
My mourning follows a trajectory like an arc
The sky pours out biblical rain
The rain is heavy and seemingly never-ending
Then days so still the beauty gives you pain
The following days are so calm and peaceful that it almost hurts to witness
The heatwave kills the green
The intense heat is killing off the vegetation
And she remains unseen
Despite this destruction, the woman helping me remains hidden or unnoticed
But colors up my dreams
She adds brightness and vivacity to my dreams
With all things blooming
With new life and growth springing forth
This is not all there is
There is more to life than what I am currently experiencing
It's not a kingdom
Life is not a utopia or fairy tale kingdom
It's not an angry god
Life is not a punishment or wrath of an angry deity
It feels like her
The feeling of hope and comfort comes from the woman helping me
It feels like no fear
I no longer feel afraid, thanks to her support
It feels like no doubt
I have no doubts or uncertainties anymore
It feels like inside out
I am changing so much, it feels like I am turning inside out
The ashes stir
The ashes from the dying fire are stirred up, possibly as a metaphor for my changing emotions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EMILY ANN SALIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heather Anderson
We were sitting round a dying fire
Somebody lit incense
Somebody lit a cigarette
And passed a bottle around
It was just strawberry season
Backbreaking pickers in the patches
Everythings burning down to ashes
And down to the ground
She's saving me
I don't even think she knows it
It's a strange way to show it as distant as
Last nights dream unravels
She's saving me
I'm a very lost soul
I was born with a hole in my heart
The size of my land locked travels
I try to put it aside
But it's too much bigger than me
There's a big brown hawk in the tree
Lighting and leaving
And there's tea leaves tossing
Heads up pennies in my pocket
Dead star like a rocket
The arc of my grieving
She's saving me
I don't even think she knows it
Its a strange way to show it
As distant as last nights dream unravels
She's saving me
I'm a very lost soul
I was born with a hole in my heart
The size of my land locked travels
The sky pours out biblical rain
Then days so still the beauty gives you pain
The heatwave kills the green
And she remains unseen
But colors up my dreams
With all things blooming
This is not all there is
It's not a kingdom
It's not an angry god
It feels like her
It feels like no fear
It feels like no doubt
It feels like inside out
The ashes stir
She's saving me
I don't even think she knows it
Such a strange way to show it as distant as
Last nights dream unravels
She's saving me
I'm a very lost soul
I was born with a hole in my heart
The size of my land locked travels
Rosa Angelica
Your songs, this song, has tided me over many sad waves in my life. Your song writing is soul searing. Want you both to know your songs are timeless and truly cherished. You are both such a joy, a blessing to listen to..
Rebecca Hagin
Penny says: Me too 💜
Brooke Yarber
Red also agrees
Jill Diamonds
It is like her songs seal off the wounds in your heart❤
LittleLulubee
So beautiful ❤️❤️ I’m a very lost soul. But your music has always saved me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are a gift to the world ❤️❤️
Ladybug Inc.
Your songs have brought my aunt and her twin daughters closer together, and me and my mom closer together. You girls are the backbone of our entire family. Last year, one of my three fish (my only pets at the time) had passed away. That was the day of your girls' concert, so you made me feel so much better. Thank you for all of your beautiful, meaningful songs. Every single one of them is beautiful. You have bound me and my mom together forever, and I thank you for that. You girls have an extreme talent and are the only thing getting me through this quarantine. Thank you, Emily Sailers and Amy Ray <3.
C Hill
These gals have saved me many, many times: when I'm sick, when I'm grieving, when I'm confused, etc. I think they know it though. Thank you Emily!
Alpha Wave
Gulp. Beautiful song. You're both very blessed with extreme talent.
Gigi
What struck me when I first heard them years ago was how articulately written their songs are. You just have to stop and listen to what’s being said…and everything else is just icing. 💐
Tom Storey
"She's Saving Me" is on my Indigo Girls 101 CD that I made for friends as an intro to your music :) Love you both so much! TOM