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.
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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
Ready to Go
Jen Foster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stuck here in the same old place that we've been
For so many years, Baby, please don't hold me back
I'm ready to go
Burnt-out
Void of any power, I realize now I gave it up so freely
And left myself in your
Complete control
Why would you change us when everything goes your way?
It's up to me now
Baby, I'm ready to go away, so far away
I have got to find myself again
Don't hold me back
I'm finally ready to go
Hold tight
Baby, don't persuade me to stay, I just might
For fear of how your voice cuts me and how your hands choke me
Please let me go
Free fall
Closer to the ground than I thought
What a rush, amazing what a woman can do
When she is ready to face the unknown
And I dream of happiness that no one can ever take away
From deep within me to the edges of all time and space
Maybe it's out there
Baby, I'm ready to go away, so far away
I have got to find myself again
Don't hold me back
I'm finally ready to go
Baby, I'm ready to go away, so far away
I have got to find myself again
Don't hold me back
In Jen Foster's song "Ready to Go," the lyrics paint a picture of a woman who has been stuck in the same place for years with a partner who holds her back. The woman comes to the realization that she has given up her power and control to her partner, leaving her feeling burnt out and empty. She recognizes that her partner is comfortable with the status quo and doesn't want things to change, but she's had enough and is ready to break free and find herself again. Despite the fear and uncertainty of the unknown, the woman is determined to venture out on her own and discover happiness that no one can take away from her.
The song is a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever felt trapped in a relationship or situation and has the courage to break free and pursue their dreams. It encourages listeners to take control of their lives and not let anyone hold them back from achieving their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Broke-down
Feeling stuck and hopeless
Stuck here in the same old place that we've been
Being in the same unsatisfying situation for years
For so many years, Baby, please don't hold me back
Asking not to be held back from leaving
I'm ready to go
Ready to leave and seek a better life
Burnt-out
Feeling exhausted and drained
Void of any power, I realize now I gave it up so freely
Realizing that one has lost their power and control over their life
And left myself in your complete control
Letting someone else have complete control over one's life
How can I blame you for wanting us to stay the same?
Feeling conflicted about blaming the other person for wanting things to stay the way they are
Why would you change us when everything goes your way?
Questioning the other person's motives for wanting things to stay the same
It's up to me now
Taking responsibility for one's own life and decisions
Baby, I'm ready to go away, so far away
Expressing a strong desire to leave and start anew
I have got to find myself again
Feeling lost and needing to rediscover one's identity
Don't hold me back
Asking to be allowed to leave and move on
Hold tight
Asking the other person to not try to convince them to stay
Baby, don't persuade me to stay, I just might
Expressing vulnerability and fear of being convinced to stay
For fear of how your voice cuts me and how your hands choke me
Feeling scared and oppressed by the other person's actions
Please let me go
Asking to be allowed to leave
Free fall
Taking a leap of faith and embracing the unknown
Closer to the ground than I thought
Feeling vulnerable and exposed
What a rush, amazing what a woman can do
Feeling empowered and strong
When she is ready to face the unknown
Embracing the challenges that come with stepping into the unknown
And I dream of happiness that no one can ever take away
Holding onto the hope of finding happiness that can't be taken away by others
From deep within me to the edges of all time and space
Feeling that the search for happiness extends beyond the present moment and location
Maybe it's out there
Holding onto hope that there is a better life out there
Baby, I'm ready to go away, so far away
Repeating the strong desire to leave and start anew
I have got to find myself again
Repeating the need to rediscover one's identity
Don't hold me back
Repeating the plea to be allowed to leave and move on
I'm finally ready to go
Expressing readiness to finally leave and start anew
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: JEN FOSTER, RANDY BACHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind