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.
Soon Be To Nothing
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saw a heavy load
With a sagging heart
And a break apart
Voices in me
Stood as thick as thieves
With no sympathy
For the beggars art
'bout a million times
Effortlessly
(effortlessly)
Now I grip the wheel
Fear is what I feel
At the slow unraveling of
(slow unraveling of)
Me
(me)
(ah)
(ah)
But you tell me it's temporary
(tell me it's temporary)
It's a matter of time
(it's a matter of time)
By god
Don't you think I know it's in my mind
(in my mind)
And it's right over left
(right over left)
And healing the then
(healing the then)
I'll soon be to nothing
But I don't know when
Well the way I flee
(daylight)
On my crooked feet
Barn happy horse
(fading)
On a one-track course
Then I self despise
(daylight)
Cryin' out my eyes
'cause the happy trail
(fading)
Led me to remorse,
But the road is long
(but the road is long)
And the song is gone
I blow empty
In my cicada shell
If I saw my choice
(if I saw my choice)
I might find my voice
But I don't know when
(don't know when)
And I just can't tell
(just can't tell)
(ah)
(ah)
You tell me it's temporary
(tell me it's temporary)
It's a matter of time
(it's a matter of time)
By god
Don't you think I know it's in my mind
(in my mind)
It's right over left
(right over left)
And healing the then
(and healing the then)
I'll soon be to nothing
But I don't know when
Deep behind my face
Is a safer place
But old gears are hitched tight
To the gate
It's a daily grind
Waiting to unwind
Till I hear that click
That unlocks my fate
(ah)
(ah)
Yeah
But you tell me it's temporary
(but tell me it's temporary)
And it's a matter of time
(and it's a matter of time)
By god
Don't you think I know it's in my mind
It's right over left
(it's right over left)
And healing the then
(and healing the then)
I'll soon be to nothing
(i'll soon be to nothing)
But I don't know when
I'll soon be to nothing
(i'll soon be to nothing)
But I don't know when
I'll soon be to nothing
But I don't know when
(but I don't know when)
Indigo Girls’ “Soon Be To Nothing” is a stirring ballad about the struggle for self-acceptance and self-awareness. The song is about a character who is traveling on a familiar road, Kelly Mountain Road, and in the process of the journey, through introspection, comes to realize that their whole world is coming apart. As they revisit old haunts and memories, their doubts and anxieties multiply, building up into an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, one that the singer is struggling to overcome. The lyrics describe the feeling of being lost and lonely, of being misguided and misunderstood, and of being confronted with one's limitations.
The first verse tells of how the singer is overwhelmed by inner voices that are as unhelpful as they can be. These voices offer no sympathy and no guidance, but simply judge the singer every step of the way. The second verse describes the singer's effort to flee, fleeing their past and their problems, yet inevitably ending up feeling lost and hopeless. The final verse describes the daily grind of waiting for something to change, for the situation to improve, but not knowing when that will happen.
Line by Line Meaning
Kelly mountain road
Starting point of the journey
Saw a heavy load
Heavy burden carried by the singer
With a sagging heart
Feeling discouraged and downhearted
And a break apart
On the verge of breaking down
Voices in me
Internal thoughts and feelings
Stood as thick as thieves
Strongly held beliefs and emotions
With no sympathy
Lack of compassion or understanding
For the beggars art
No appreciation for the struggles of other people
I have passed these pines
Familiarity with the surroundings
'bout a million times
Many repetitions of the same experience
Effortlessly
Without difficulty or exertion
Now I grip the wheel
Taking control of the situation
Fear is what I feel
Anxiety and apprehension
At the slow unraveling of
The gradual coming apart of something
(slow unraveling of)
Reinforcement of the previous line
Me
Self and identity of the artist
(ah)
Interjection expressing emotion
(ah)
Repetition of interjection
But you tell me it's temporary
Assurance that the situation is not permanent
(tell me it's temporary)
Reiteration of previous line
It's a matter of time
Belief that things will change eventually
(it's a matter of time)
Echoing the previous line
By god
Emphatic expression
Don't you think I know it's in my mind
Acknowledgment of the self-imposed nature of the problem
(in my mind)
Reinforcement of the previous line
And it's right over left
Reference to a physical action that is simple and repetitive
(right over left)
Reiteration of previous line
And healing the then
Looking back and finding ways to heal and overcome
(and healing the then)
Reiteration of previous line
I'll soon be to nothing
Anticipation of a reduced or nonexistent state
But I don't know when
Uncertainty about the timing of the change
Well the way I flee
A tendency to run away from problems
(daylight)
Possible reference to a brighter future
On my crooked feet
Unsteady and unsure footing
Barn happy horse
Reference to a false sense of happiness
(fading)
A sign of something coming to an end
On a one-track course
Limited options or lack of flexibility
Then I self despise
Feeling disgusted with oneself
(daylight)
Reference to the earlier brighter future
Cryin' out my eyes
Expressing sadness and despair
'cause the happy trail
Realization that the pursuit of happiness leads to misery
(fading)
Reinforcement of earlier point
Led me to remorse,
Feeling regret or guilt
But the road is long
Realization that there is still a long way to go
(but the road is long)
Stressing the length of the journey
And the song is gone
Lack of a positive outlook
I blow empty
Feeling empty and drained
In my cicada shell
Feeling trapped and unchanging
If I saw my choice
If I had the freedom to choose
(if I saw my choice)
Reiteration of earlier point
I might find my voice
A possibility to express oneself
But I don't know when
Uncertainty about the timing of the possibility
(don't know when)
Reinforcement of earlier point
(ah)
Interjection expressing strong emotion
(ah)
Reiteration of previous interjection
(but tell me it's temporary)
Repeat of earlier line
(and it's a matter of time)
Repeat of earlier line
(it's right over left)
Repeat of earlier line
(and healing the then)
Repeat of earlier line
(i'll soon be to nothing)
Repeat of earlier line
(but I don't know when)
Repeat of earlier line
Deep behind my face
A hidden, internal place
Is a safer place
A place of comfort and security
But old gears are hitched tight
Being stuck or held back by past habits or beliefs
To the gate
The entrance to a different place or state
It's a daily grind
The routine of life
Waiting to unwind
Hoping for a break from the routine
Till I hear that click
Anticipation of a specific, decisive moment
That unlocks my fate
A turning point in destiny
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY, EMILY ANN SALIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind