Isobel Campbell (born April 27, 1976) is a Scottish singer, cellist and com… Read Full Bio ↴Isobel Campbell (born April 27, 1976) is a Scottish singer, cellist and composer in the indie and folk genres. As with her former band Belle and Sebastian, she is often labelled as twee pop. Campbell was a member of Belle and Sebastian from their formation in Glasgow in 1996 until 2002, when she departed the band for personal reasons. Isobel played cello with Belle and Sebastian and sang backing vocals. She also took lead vocals on a few songs from the band, and co-wrote their top-20 U.K. single Legal Man.

In 2006 Isobel released a collaborative LP (Ballad of the Broken Seas) with former Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age singer Mark Lanegan, a mixture of folk and more rock-orientated music. October 2006 also saw the release of her latest album, Milkwhite Sheets, a more acoustic folk album, consisting of a mixture of traditional songs alonside Isobel's own compositions.

Isobel's band The Gentle Waves released its first album on Jeepster Records, titled The Green Fields of Foreverland, in 1999. The second Gentle Waves record, Swansong For You came out one year later. In 2002, she collaborated with Scottish jazz musician Bill Wells on a collection of Billie Holliday songs, released by Creeping Bent.

In 2003 Campbell released Amorino, the first solo album under her own name, to very good reviews. Bill Wells was featured here again, along with other jazz musicians.

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan form a unique combination of gruff vocals and dulcet voices. They have released three albums so far: Ballad of the Broken Seas, which received a nomination in the 2006 Mercury Awards, Sunday at Devil Dirt, which was released in May 2008. The album received US release in Fall 2008. And finally their third album Hawk was released in August 2010.

Song for Baby
Isobel Campbell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take your time
Take it real slow
It takes time
You know
Do unto
As you would do
To yourself
It's not new

What you reap
Is what you sew
Work it - stop!
Now go
There are those
Who will hurt you
And this just
Won't do
And there are those
Who'll bring you love
Sweet love
Listen up!
You will grow strong
Wish you luck
Sing-song
Stars that shine
One day maybe
Yours and mine
Baby

And there are those

Who'll bring you love
Sweet love

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from the song "Song for Baby" by Isobel Campbell, which is a lullaby that offers advice and wisdom to a young child. The first stanza speaks directly to the child, urging them to take their time and move slowly through life. Campbell encourages the listener to treat others as they would like to be treated, emphasizing the importance of empathy and kindness.

The second stanza acknowledges that not everyone will treat the child with kindness and offers a warning to be careful. However, Campbell also offers hope and reassurance, reminding the listener that there are people who will bring them love and support. The final stanza expresses a wish for the child's growth and success, suggesting that they may someday achieve great things and share in the beauty of the world.

Overall, the lyrics of "Song for Baby" offer a gentle and loving message to a child, emphasizing the values of patience, empathy, and resilience. The lullaby encourages the child to take their time and be mindful of their actions, while also acknowledging the challenges and difficulties they may face in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Take your time
Don't rush things, take it at a slow pace.

Take it real slow
Slow down and be patient.

It takes time
Things take time to develop and grow.

You know
You are aware of this fact.

Do unto
Treat others the way you want to be treated.

As you would do
In the same manner that you would treat yourself.

To yourself
The way you treat yourself is important.

It's not new
This idea has been around for a long time.

What you reap
You will get back what you put in.

Is what you sew
A reference to the phrase 'you reap what you sow'.

Work it - stop!
Work hard but know when to take a break.