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.
You Left It Up To Me
Indigo Girls Lyrics
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I cursed myself, with empty hands.
Strong enough to watch you walk,
But not enough to understand.
With spiteful eyes you burn for my grace.
I was trying to stand outside of this.
You were trying to save face.
I don't care.
You can hope that we still
Have something left to share,
But just between you, baby, and me
Just between me, baby, and you,
There's nothing there.
I finally found someone I can hold.
You ask me to defend myself
As if I shouldn't be so bold, well,
Get that look off of your face;
I don't have the time,
You don't have the place,
To say that I don't care.
I don't care.
To hope that we still
Have something left to share.
And just between me, baby, and you
Just between you, baby, and me,
There's nothing there.
Baby, what are you gonna do?
I can't salvage any truth for you.
Everybody else already knows.
It hurts you to realize,
So leave well enough
Enough alone.
And you don't need my hands
To help you understand.
You don't need to hear my voice.
(You have no choice.)
So don't be throwing stones;
The closer we get,
The harder they come.
Now even if your feeling alone,
Don't come home,
'Cause when it was up to you
When it was up to you,
You left it up to me.
Oh, you left
Oh, you left
Oh, you left it up to me.
When it was up to you,
You left it up to me.
The lyrics to "You Left It Up To Me" by Indigo Girls detail the aftermath of a failed relationship. The singer has let go of their ex but still feels the sting of rejection. The ex is angry and trying to save face, while the singer has found someone new and is uninterested in rekindling the relationship. The chorus repeats the phrase "I don't care," indicating a sense of detachment on the singer's part.
The second half of the song shifts focus to the ex, who is struggling to come to terms with the breakup. The singer encourages the ex to move on and leave well enough alone, as the relationship is beyond salvaging. The final lines, "You left it up to me / When it was up to you," suggest that the singer has taken control of the situation and is not looking back.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the complexity of human relationships and the emotional fallout that can result from failed connections.
Line by Line Meaning
When I let you go
After I let you go
I cursed myself, with empty hands.
I regret my choice, but I have nothing to hold onto now.
Strong enough to watch you walk,
I was strong enough to let you go
But not enough to understand.
But I couldn't understand why you left.
With spiteful eyes you burn for my grace.
You look at me full of anger, wanting me to forgive you
I was trying to stand outside of this.
I was trying to remain objective and not take sides.
You were trying to save face.
You were trying to protect your reputation.
You can say that I don't care.
You accuse me of not caring.
But just between you, baby, and me
Just between us
Just between me, baby, and you
Just between us
There's nothing there.
There is no love or relationship left.
I finally found someone I can hold.
I have finally found someone to love.
You ask me to defend myself
You want me to justify my actions.
As if I shouldn't be so bold, well,
As if I did something wrong, but I didn't.
Get that look off of your face;
Stop looking at me like that;
I don't have the time,
I am too busy with my life.
You don't have the place,
You have no right to interfere.
And just between me, baby, and you
Just between us
There's nothing there.
There is no love or relationship left.
Baby, what are you gonna do?
What will you do without me?
I can't salvage any truth for you.
I can't help you understand the situation better.
Everybody else already knows.
Everyone else understands what happened.
It hurts you to realize,
It painful for you to accept the truth.
So leave well enough Enough alone.
So it's better if you leave things as they are.
And you don't need my hands
You don't need my help
To help you understand.
To understand the situation better.
You don't need to hear my voice.
My words won't help you anymore.
(You have no choice.)
(You have already made your choice.)
So don't be throwing stones;
Don't blame me for what happened;
The closer we get,
The more we communicate about this,
The harder they come.
The more difficult things become.
Now even if you're feeling alone,
Even though you may feel lonely,
Don't come home,
Don't come back to me,
When it was up to you
When you had the chance,
You left it up to me.
You let me make the decision, and now you have to accept it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMY ELIZABETH RAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind