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.
To Hell Back Again
Isobel Campbell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have been to hell and back again
My doctor knows, he comes and goes
For I'm at Your door, I'm knee up in the storm
My sister says that I should rest
She's been there too and she knows best
A spirit's close, I love the most
Nothing to fear when He draws near
As the twilight falls to wipe away your tears
When he laid me down, when he brought me around
My baby's prayer, the sweetest sound
I'm in despair, I cannot win
I've been to hell and back again
And back again, and back again
And back again, come back again
The lyrics of Isobel Campbell's song "To Hell Back Again" convey a sense of inner turmoil and struggle. The singer is in despair and cannot seem to win the battle against whatever it is that is plaguing her. She has been to hell and back again, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for a dark, difficult experience in her life. Her doctor is aware of her struggles but is not always present or available to help. Despite this, she finds herself at the door of someone who may be able to offer some solace or peace in the midst of the storm.
The singer's sister advises her to rest and implies that she has also faced her own challenges in life. The mention of a spirit being near could suggest a belief in the supernatural or a higher power that the singer finds comfort in. The reference to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost indicates a Christian influence in the imagery of the song. The singer finds solace in the idea that nothing to fear when He is near and that He can wipe away her tears.
The song's refrain of "I've been to hell and back again" repeats, emphasizing the singer's sense of struggle and the difficult journey she has been on. The final line of "come back again" implies a cyclical nature to the struggles and battles of life, with the implication that the singer may face these challenges again in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in despair, I cannot win
I am feeling hopeless, like there is no possibility for me to succeed.
I have been to hell and back again
I have been through a very difficult and trying experience and have come out the other side, but still feel the scars from that experience.
My doctor knows, he comes and goes
The person who is treating me for my troubles is aware of my situation but is not always present to help me deal with it.
For I'm at Your door, I'm knee up in the storm
I am at a point where I really need help, and I am looking to someone else for that assistance, but they are not there to help me.
My sister says that I should rest
Someone close to me is advising that I take a break and try to recover from my struggles.
She's been there too and she knows best
This person has also been through similar struggles and is offering advice from personal experience.
A spirit's close, I love the most
I feel a strong connection to someone I cannot see, likely a personal or religious spirit, that is providing me with comfort.
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost
These are religious figures that represent a trinity or a higher power that people might rely on for guidance and support.
Nothing to fear when He draws near
As I feel a connection to a higher power or spirit, it gives me a sense of comfort and safety, and that there is nothing to be afraid of when this force is present.
As the twilight falls to wipe away your tears
This refers to a time of day when the light is fading and signaling the end of the day, which can be a very emotional time for some, but that it can also bring relief and be a time to let go of emotions and worries.
When he laid me down, when he brought me around
This is likely a reference to a time in the past when I was in need of help, and was taken care of by someone or something else.
My baby's prayer, the sweetest sound
This could refer to a personal prayer, or message from a loved one, that is especially meaningful and comforting.
And back again, and back again
Despite being through difficult experiences in the past, they seem to continue to affect me and my life, possibly through PTSD or ongoing trauma.
And back again, come back again
I keep falling back into these same struggles and challenges, and it feels like a never-ending cycle.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ISOBEL KAREN CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind