Foster started her own label – now called Fosterchild Records - in 2003. Her debut release, Everybody’s Girl, garnered national radio success at the Triple A format, as well as positive reviews, praising her no-frills, unfiltered lyrics. Songwriting awards followed and she has also secured some impressive Film/TV placements, with songs placed in the popular television soap opera All My Children as well as a recent placement in an American Pie movie sequel.
The title track of Foster’s 2006 sophomore CD, The Underdogs, won “Song of the Year” at the Out Music Awards. Foster grew up in a very conservative, Houston, TX, suburb.
Foster credits another outsider, Ani DiFranco, for inspiration in her business model. “Ani did it her way, and she inspired me to do it my way. I’ve created a fairly unique situation. I’ve built a team of people I trust at my label and also, a community of fans,” Foster proudly notes. “It’s always challenging to take off the artist hat and put on the business hat, but it’s a challenge I embrace. My music means too much to me to blindly put it in someone else’s hands.”
Foster’s new album, "Thirty-Nine," was slated for a 2009 release, and a four-song EP, "Songs From Thirty-Nine," is currently available. The video for the single "Closer To Nowhere" recently reached #1 on the LOGO Channel (MTV Network) charts.
-------------------------------------------------------------
SONGWRITING AWARDS
1) "CLOSER TO NOWHERE" - WINNER, TRIPLE A CATEGORY, INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION
2) "TAKING BOB DYLAN" - GRAND PRIZE, INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS
3) "TAKING BOB DYLAN" - BEST FEMALE ARTIST, INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS
4) "THE UNDERDOGS" - SONG OF THE YEAR, OUT MUSIC AWARDS
5) "AMEN" - WINNER, GOSPEL CATEGORY, USA SONGWRITING CONTEST
6) "SHE" - WINNER, POP CATEGORY, 2001, JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST
7) "SHE" - WINNER, POP CATEGORY, 2001, GREAT AMERICAN SONGWRITING CONTEST
8) "EVERYBODY'S GIRL" (FULL RECORD) - WINNER, BEST DEBUT RECORDING - FEMALE, 2004, OUT MUSIC AWARDS
9) "IN BETWEEN POSES" - WINNER, 1st ANNUAL AWARDS, BEST FEMALE ARTIST, INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS 10) "TAKING BOB DYLAN" - WINNER, NASHVILLE SONG & LYRIC CONTEST
Closer to Nowhere
Jen Foster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you ever think about it?
If you were told it’s a place
Would you drive until you found it?
Or would you turn down a street
That you know would lead to where you were before?
You call it home, but are you really sure
That’s your home?
Have you ever reconsidered
What a trip we are on
And it’s the only ride we’re given?
If you could fly, would you try?
Would your feet stay firmly planted on the ground?
Can you explain why the only place you go
Is to waste?
Now you go to work and you work all day
You smoke and bitch on your coffee break
You tell some jokes to kill that time
Til the boss comes back and at the stroke of 5
You hit those bars, you have some drinks
You drown in all your long lost dreams
Oh no, you’re closer to nowhere
Do you know who you love?
Can you say those words with feeling?
Or when you look in those eyes
Is there someone else you’re seeing?
Do you dream of a day
You could take the love without running away?
What is it now? Do you need a little space?
Or are you wanting out?
Now you go to work and you work all day
You smoke and bitch on your coffee break
You grab that phone, rehearse those lines
Then you call home sayin’ you gotta work tonight
You hit those bars, you buy some drinks
For the first one who looks good and thinks you’re cool
You’re closer to nowhere...
You fake it so well
Nobody can tell
You buy what they sell
You’re going places....
Now you go to work and you work all day
You smoke and bitch on your coffee break
You share your plans and you swear you’ll quit
Maybe next year or the year after it
You hit those bars, you have some drinks
You take those pills, you go to sleep
You wake up someday all alone
You realize another year is gone
You’re closer to nowhere
And all these signs will be your guides
But you must pay attention
And all the lights that line the sides
Are beautiful, don’t miss them...
You’re closer to nowhere...
In Jen Foster's song "Closer to Nowhere," the lyrics explore important questions about identity, purpose, and relationships. The first verse centers around the idea of self-awareness, asking "Do you know who you are?" and challenging the listener to consider whether they are truly living the life they want to live. The second verse looks at the mundanity of daily life and the distractions that keep us from fully engaging with our dreams and desires. The chorus serves as a reminder that if we continue to prioritize the wrong things, we will end up getting nowhere.
The bridge of the song reiterates the importance of paying attention and being present in the moment, recognizing that the signs and opportunities we need to move in the right direction are all around us. The final verse circles back to the idea of relationships, asking "Do you know who you love?" and questioning whether we are able to fully embrace our feelings and be honest with ourselves and the people in our lives.
Overall, "Closer to Nowhere" is an introspective song that invites the listener to reflect on their life and consider whether they want to continue down the path they are on or make a change. The lyrics urge us to be more mindful and intentional about our choices, recognizing that if we don't, we may end up feeling lost and unfulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know who you are?
Have you discovered your true identity?
Do you ever think about it?
Have you ever reflected on who you really are?
If you were told it’s a place
If someone tells you that your true identity is a physical location
Would you drive until you found it?
Would you embark on a journey to find your true identity?
Or would you turn down a street
Or would you just take the same old path?
That you know would lead to where you were before?
That you know will only take you back to the same place?
You call it home, but are you really sure
You say it's home, but are you truly confident?
That’s your home?
That it's where you belong?
Do you know what you want?
Do you have clarity on your purpose?
Have you ever reconsidered
Have you ever pondered other possibilities?
What a trip we are on
How amazing this journey of life is
And it’s the only ride we’re given?
And we only have one chance to make the most of it?
If you could fly, would you try?
If you had the chance to soar, would you take it?
Would your feet stay firmly planted on the ground?
Or would you always stay within your comfort zone?
Can you explain why the only place you go
Can you justify why you waste your time?
Is to waste?
Is to squander your time?
Now you go to work and you work all day
You spend the entire day at work
You smoke and bitch on your coffee break
You smoke and complain during your break
You tell some jokes to kill that time
You share some jokes to pass the time
Til the boss comes back and at the stroke of 5
Until the boss returns and it's time to go home
You hit those bars, you have some drinks
You go to bars and drink alcohol
You drown in all your long lost dreams
You indulge in your forgotten desires
Oh no, you’re closer to nowhere
Sadly, you're still going nowhere
Do you know who you love?
Have you identified the one you love?
Can you say those words with feeling?
Do you express your love genuinely?
Or when you look in those eyes
Or do you see someone else when you gaze into their eyes?
Is there someone else you’re seeing?
Do you have feelings for another person?
Do you dream of a day
Do you hope for a future day?
You could take the love without running away?
Where you could embrace love without fear of leaving?
What is it now? Do you need a little space?
What's the case? Do you need time alone?
Or are you wanting out?
Or do you want to break free?
You grab that phone, rehearse those lines
You pick up your phone and practice what to say
Then you call home sayin’ you gotta work tonight
Then you call home saying you have to work tonight
For the first one who looks good and thinks you’re cool
For the first person who seems attractive and impressive to you
You’re closer to nowhere...
You're still going nowhere
You fake it so well
You pretend convincingly
Nobody can tell
No one can spot the act
You buy what they sell
You buy into what they offer
You’re going places....
You think you're making progress
You share your plans and you swear you’ll quit
You reveal your goals and vow to stop the negative habits
Maybe next year or the year after it
Maybe not soon, but someday in the future
You take those pills, you go to sleep
You swallow some pills and doze off
You wake up someday all alone
One day, you'll wake up all by yourself
You realize another year is gone
Then you'll realize another year has passed
You’re closer to nowhere
And you're still going nowhere
And all these signs will be your guides
All these signals can point the way
But you must pay attention
But you have to stay vigilant
And all the lights that line the sides
And all the twinkling lights on the way
Are beautiful, don’t miss them...
Are stunning, don't overlook them
You’re closer to nowhere...
You're still progressing nowhere
Contributed by Alyssa B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DoctorwhoXMangafan2
Love this song so much and the video is perfect with it!
Iggysluckytonite
Jen wherever you are, r u still writing music? I was head over heels for thirty-nine upon my first listen over ten years ago. You have amazing talent and you should be even bigger than you are in my opinion
fourteentwelve
I love this song, and the video! Thank you for putting it up here.
Venusbeautygirl
💗💗💗 this song!
Yola Image Print, Web & Video Design
great song and video. shared it on fb. hope we see you in France one day :)
Venusbeautygirl
I feel like this on the daily😬