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.
Thin Line
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Find beauty in a birds
I set the stage and the scenery
Rehearsing every word
Yeah but when I tried to make it more
Well it was always less
And it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
And pleasing somebody else
Oh yeah
All right
With my confidence on fire
I set to fixin' up my roles
My separation of desires
Just left me deeper down in the hole
Yeah when I tried to make it more
Well it was always less
And it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
And pleasing somebody else
Yeah and when I tried to make it more
Well it was always less
It's a thin line between pleasing yourself
And pleasing somebody else
Now I'm tryin to get back
To what I know that I should be
Hoping to God that I was just
A temporary absentee
Yeah when I tried to make it more
Well it was always less
It's a thin line between pleasing yourself
And pleasing somebody else
Yeah when I tried to make it more
Well it was always less
And it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
And pleasing somebody else
Somebody else oh yeah
Oh yeah
All right
In "Thin Line," Indigo Girls explore the complexities of personal fulfillment versus societal expectations, particularly within the context of artistic expression. The singer initially felt inspired by the beauty of birds, perhaps as a symbol of natural and unbridled creativity. However, as she attempted to translate this inspiration into a tangible artistic product, whether through music, writing, or some other medium, she struggled to strike a balance between asserting her own voice and catering to others' expectations.
The singer's frustration is compounded by her lack of clarity around her own desires and priorities. She speaks of fixing up her roles and separating her desires, indicating that she is attempting to compartmentalize various aspects of herself in order to fit into prescribed boxes. However, this approach only leaves her feeling more lost and unhappy. The repeated refrain of "it's a thin line between pleasing yourself and pleasing somebody else" underscores the central tension of the song, as the singer recognizes that artistic creation and personal fulfillment are inherently intertwined but also constantly at odds.
The song ultimately ends on a note of hope, as the singer expresses a desire to return to her true self, even if she has temporarily strayed. This ending suggests that while the struggle between individual and collective desires may be ongoing and difficult, it is possible to find a way to balance both.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought the time was passed when I could
I believed that I had moved past the point where I could
Find beauty in a birds
Appreciate the beauty of a bird.
I set the stage and the scenery
I prepared everything around me, including the environment.
Rehearsing every word
Practicing every single word beforehand.
Yeah but when I tried to make it more
It was at that moment when I attempted to enhance it.
Well it was always less
It, however, never turned out the way I envisioned it.
And it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
It's difficult to differentiate between doing something to satisfy yourself and someone else.
And pleasing somebody else
Doing something to make somebody else happy.
Oh yeah
Indeed
All right
I'm ready
With my confidence on fire
Feeling extremely confident
I set to fixin' up my roles
I started to work on the different parts of myself.
My separation of desires
Keeping my wants and needs separate from everyone else's.
Just left me deeper down in the hole
Created bigger problems for me.
Now I'm tryin to get back
Now I'm attempting to go back.
To what I know that I should be
To who I'm supposed to be.
Hoping to God that I was just
Wishing to God that I was just
A temporary absentee
Away for just a short while.
Somebody else oh yeah
For someone else.
And it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
It's difficult to differentiate between doing something to satisfy yourself and someone else.
And pleasing somebody else
Doing something to make somebody else happy.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kelli Bloise
Thank you for posting this! Great song!
Danielle Windsor
I thought the time was passed when I could
find beauty in a verse
I set the stage and the scenery
rehearsing every word
yeah but when i tried to make it more
well it was always less
and it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
and pleasing somebody else
oh yeah
oh yeah
all right
with my confidence on fire
i set to fixin' up my roles
my separation of desires
just led me deeper down in the hole
yeah when i tried to make it more
well it was always less
and it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
and pleasing somebody else
yeah and when i tried to make it more
well it was always less
it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
and pleasing somebody else
now i'm tryin to get back
to what i know that i should be
hoping to god that i, that I was just
a temporary absentee
yeah when i tried to make it more
well it was always less
it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
and pleasing somebody else
yeah when i tried to make it more
well it was always less
and it's a thin line between pleasing yourself
and pleasing somebody else
somebody else oh yeah
oh yeah
all right
Catherine Scarvey
One of their best Songs
winnifred torrence
Simple and profound