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.
honey child what can i do
Isobel Campbell Lyrics
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That takes you miles above, yeah it's called love
Would you do it for me?
'Cause I'm feeling lonely
Praying, hoping, and I leave the door wide open
I see you and you catch your spill
But come and sit by me
Maybe I'm a stupid fool
Chasing butterflies like you
On these days they seem so cruel
But honey child, what can I do?
Maybe I'm a stupid fool
Chasing butterflies like you
On these days they seem so cruel
But honey child, what can I do?
Honey child, what can I do
The lyrics to Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan's "Honey Child What Can I Do?" communicate a sense of longing and desperation for love, companionship, and emotional connection. The song opens with a hopeful yearning for the feelings that come with being in love, but then the singer switches to asking for someone to be there for them when they're feeling lonely. Despite leaving the door open, the person the singer sees doesn't come closer, instead just observing from a distance. The singer then acknowledges that they may be foolish for pursuing someone who seemingly can't reciprocate their feelings. The refrain repeats the phrase "honey child, what can I do?" which suggests a sense of helplessness or resignation to their fate.
The use of nature imagery, particularly the mention of "chasing butterflies," is a subtle metaphor for the fleeting nature of romantic love. Butterflies are delicate creatures that flit from flower to flower, never staying in one place for very long. This could signify the elusiveness of a fulfilling romantic connection. The phrase "honey child" is a term of endearment for a loved one, but its use as a rhetorical question at the end of each verse and chorus gives it a more melancholic tone. The song's slow, mournful melody and the distinctive blend of Campbell's soft vocals and Lanegan's gravelly voice contribute to the overall mood of longing and heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
Wishing, hoping, for that old familiar feeling
Desiring and yearning for the sense of comfort and familiarity that existed in the past.
That takes you miles above, yeah it's called love
Referring to the euphoric feeling of being in love and how it can make one feel ecstatic.
Would you do it for me?
Asking the subject to reciprocate the feeling of love.
'Cause I'm feeling lonely
Explaining that the reason behind this plea for love is the feeling of isolation.
Praying, hoping, and I leave the door wide open
Expressing the desperation and willingness to do anything for love, hoping that the subject will come to them.
I see you and you catch your spill
Noticing the subject's carelessness and how they spill something.
But come and sit by me
Asking the subject to come and be near them.
'Cause I'm feeling lonely
Reiterating the fact that they are feeling isolated and in need of companionship.
Maybe I'm a stupid fool
Acknowledging the possibility of being foolish for chasing after love.
Chasing butterflies like you
An analogy to describe the act of pursuing someone who is elusive and unpredictable, like catching butterflies.
On these days they seem so cruel
Acknowledging the difficulty of finding love, especially when the days are tough.
But honey child, what can I do?
A rhetorical question that conveys the helplessness and hopelessness of the situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CAMPBELL, SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind