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.
Wood Song
Indigo Girls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My friends and I have had a tough time
Bruising our brains hard up against change
All the old dogs and the magician
Now I see we're in the boat in two by twos
Only the heart that we have for a tool we could use
And the very close quarters are hard to get used to
Love weighs the hull down with its weight
But the wood is tired and the wood is old
And we'll make it fine if the weather holds
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
That's where I need to go
No way construction of this tricky plan
Was built by other than a greater hand
With a love that passes all out understanding
Watching closely over the journey
Yeah but what it takes to cross the great divide
Seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside
Although we get to have some answers when we reach the other side
The prize is always worth the rocky ride
But the wood is tired and the wood is old
And we'll make it fine if the weather holds
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
That's where I need to go
Sometimes I ask to sneak a closer look
Skip to the final chapter of the book
And then maybe steer us clear from some of the pain it took
To get us where we are this far yeah
But the question drowns in it's futility
And even I have got to laugh at me
No one gets to miss the storm of what will be
Just holding on for the ride
The wood is tired and the wood is old
We'll make it fine if the weather holds
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
That's where I need to go
The Wood Song by Indigo Girls is a powerful track that explores change, love, and the journey of life. The first verse discusses a plan that is slowly becoming clear and a group of friends who have had a difficult time adapting to change. The old dogs and magician mentioned in the song represent those who resist change and the past. The lyrics suggest that although it's hard to adapt, it's necessary to move forward. The boat in the verse two represents the journey of life, where one must use their heart as a tool to navigate its ups and downs.
The chorus speaks of the tiredness of the wood, which can represent the fatigue and challenges of life that weigh us down. The weather mentioned in the song could represent challenges we face in our lives. If the weather holds, we may miss out on important lessons and experiences. The third verse discusses how sometimes we wish to skip ahead and avoid pain, but that's not possible. Everyone is subjected to hardships and must endure them to reach their destination.
Overall, The Wood Song is a testimony to the journey of life, its challenges, and the importance of love and perseverance along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
The thin horizon of a plan is almost clear
We have a rough idea of what needs to happen, but there are still a few uncertainties
My friends and I have had a tough time
We are going through a difficult period
Bruising our brains hard up against change
We are struggling to adapt to a new situation
All the old dogs and the magician
Everyone we've looked up to or learned from in the past
Now I see we're in the boat in two by twos
We are all in this together and need to work as a team
Only the heart that we have for a tool we could use
Our emotions and feelings are all we have to guide us
And the very close quarters are hard to get used to
Being in such a tight space with others is challenging
Love weighs the hull down with its weight
Love can be a burden that makes progress difficult
But the wood is tired and the wood is old
We are worn out and need to rest
And we'll make it fine if the weather holds
If nothing goes wrong, we'll be okay
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
If everything goes perfectly, we may not learn anything
That's where I need to go
I need to learn and grow from challenges
No way construction of this tricky plan
This plan is so difficult that it had to come from a higher power
Was built by other than a greater hand
It was created by a higher power
With a love that passes all out understanding
This higher power is motivated by love that we can't fully comprehend
Watching closely over the journey
This higher power is keeping a close eye on us
Yeah but what it takes to cross the great divide
The journey across the great divide is very difficult
Seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside
I'm not sure if I have enough courage to make the journey
Although we get to have some answers when we reach the other side
We will learn and grow from the challenges we face
The prize is always worth the rocky ride
The reward for going through challenges is worth it
Sometimes I ask to sneak a closer look
I wish I could see the future and avoid pain
Skip to the final chapter of the book
I wish I could fast forward to the end and see the outcome
And then maybe steer us clear from some of the pain it took
I wish I could prevent some of the pain we will experience
To get us where we are this far yeah
The pain we've experienced has brought us to where we are now
But the question drowns in it's futility
The question of whether we can avoid pain is pointless
And even I have got to laugh at me
I realize how foolish my wish to avoid pain is
No one gets to miss the storm of what will be
Everyone will face hardship in their life
Just holding on for the ride
We must persevere through the tough times
The wood is tired and the wood is old
We need to rest and take care of ourselves
We'll make it fine if the weather holds
If everything goes smoothly, we'll be okay
But if the weather holds we'll have missed the point
If everything goes perfectly, we may not learn anything
That's where I need to go
I need to learn and grow from challenges
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EMILY ANN SALIERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind