She took up piano at the age of five, attending Manhattan's Third Street Music School for two years, going on to the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island's Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute. There she met vocal coach Elizabeth McCullough, who worked with her through high school. She is a graduate of Staten Island Technical High School and Binghamton University, where she received a degree in theatre.
Her influences range from Fiona Apple to Coldplay. She regularly appears at Manhattan venues such as The Knitting Factory, CBGB's Gallery, Bar 169, The Sidewalk Cafe, Kenny's Castaways, and Pianos.
She began recording music in 2002, releasing Slow the Rain independently in January of 2005. In 2006, Ingrid released her second album Girls and Boys. Her music has recently enjoyed a bit more commercial success with songs like "Breakable" and "Keep Breathing" being featured on ABC show Grey's Anatomy, as well as a 2007 Old Navy commercial being set to her song "The Way I Am".
http://www.ingridmichaelson.com/
The Chain
Ingrid Michaelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind talks back
My bones are shifting in my skin
And you my love are gone
My room feels wrong
The bed won't fit
I cannot seem to operate
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take,
Then I will take the chain from off the door
I'll never say that I'll never love
But I don't say a lot of things
And you my love are gone
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take, the chain from off the door
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take the chain from off the door
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take the chain from off the door
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take the chain from off the door
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take
Then I will take
Then I will take the chain from off the door
The lyrics of "The Chain" by Ingrid Michaelson express the pain and difficulty of moving on from a relationship. The singer is going through a difficult time, with the sky looking upset and the wind seemingly talking back. She feels as though everything is wrong, including her own bones that are shifting in her skin. The most painful part about the situation is that her love is gone, leaving her alone and struggling to cope.
Throughout the song, the singer addresses her former partner, urging them to move on and not make any more promises that they can't keep. She acknowledges that she'll never say she'll never love again, but she also recognizes that there are many things she will never say, including the fact that she is hurting and struggling to come to terms with their breakup. The repeated line "And you my love are gone" emphasizes the singer's pain and loss.
The song's chorus is both empowering and heartbreaking, as the singer promises to take the chain off the door if her former partner comes back. This shows that while she is hurting, she is also willing to give them another chance if they are willing to truly commit to her. The use of the phrase "glide away on soapy heels" suggests that the singer wants her former partner to leave her life gracefully, without causing any more pain or drama.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky looks pissed
The atmosphere seems angry and is reflecting the emotions of the singer.
The wind talks back
Nature is hostile, and the wind is blowing with anger.
My bones are shifting in my skin
The singer is going through something unsettling, and her body feels wrong.
And you my love are gone
The cause of the heartache is the absence of a lover.
My room feels wrong
Even home fails to provide the comfort the singer's heart requires.
The bed won't fit
The bed feels too big, too empty as if it no longer accommodates the singer's needs.
I cannot seem to operate
The singer is unable to function and is struggling to do basic tasks.
So glide away on soapy heels
The loved one is called to leave with ease and without causing more pain.
And promise not to promise anymore
The singer wants the loved one not to give false hope by making promises they cannot keep.
And if you come around again
The singer is open to another chance, but the loved one must prove their sincerity.
Then I will take, Then I will take the chain from off the door
If the loved one returns after showing their sincerity, the singer is ready to remove the barriers that kept them out.
I'll never say that I'll never love
The singer won't close off her heart to deep emotions and is still open to love.
But I don't say a lot of things
The singer may hold back words, especially those that seem pointless.
And you my love are gone
Again, the source of pain is the absence of a lover.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Ingrid Michaelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CateFoFate
The sky looks pissed
The wind talks back
My bone are shifting in my skin
And you my love are gone
My room seems wrong
The bed won't fit
I can not seem to operate
And you my love are gone
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again
Then I will take, then I will take the chain from off the door
I'll never say
I'll never love
But I don't say a lot of things
And you my love are gone
So glide away soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again then I will take the chain from off the door (x6)
So glide away on soapy heels
And promise not to promise anymore
And if you come around again then I will take
Then I will take, then I will take
The chain from off the door
The End
Lydia K
We sing this in choir as a warmup, it's my favorite thing ever. We have done it in a round with 40 people each singing their own part, it sounds so cool
eva !
SAME
Yuno Hadashi
Same We'd be split into 4 groups then sing after each other it was really fun!
Kaitlyn Wilson
Same
Rassy Bah
SAME I think you go to my school Lydia K
nobody
STOP I DO THE SAME THING!!!
Vanya Smith
“My bones are shifting in my skin” is probably the best way to explain anxiety to the people without it
gomamon15
That sentence is very chilling. A chilling statement.
Michael Schultz
You're absolutely right
Maddy Hatter
Yes