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
Taking Bob Dylan
Jen Foster Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Music by Jen Foster
The black and white picture taken by a stranger
Out in the streets of New Orleans
The blanket I stole from that hotel in London
You asked if I thought I was the Queen
And my big blue sweater - you made it look better
You're taking everything, you've got my heart on a string
Just tell me where we are going
All I am is where you are
And I never knew you could go so far
All I have is in your heart
You took me with you, you took me with you
The broken wine bottle that fell off our mantle
We couldn't stand to throw that sweet memory away
The book by Fitzgerald that I bought for your birthday
Is packed in a box with my love letters you saved
And you're taking Bob Dylan, oh, the times must be changing
Maybe you'll listen as you're driving away
You're taking everything, you've got my heart on a string
C'mon tell me where we are going
All I am is where you are
And I never knew you could go so far
All I have is in your heart
You took me with you, you took me with you
Those shells from the ocean, that one, yellow rose and
The incense and candles and your old tambourine
Your sweatshirt from college, that painting that you wanted
And I'll take the promise that you could not keepâ?¦.
All I am is where you are
And I never knew you could go so far
All I have is in your heart
You took me with you, you took me with you
You're taking Bob Dylanâ?¦.
Jen Foster's song "Taking Bob Dylan" is a touching love song about a person who is leaving with all their possessions, including their partner's belongings. The lyrics describe different items that the partner is taking with them, such as a blanket stolen from a hotel in London and a broken wine bottle that has sentimental value. The partner is also taking a book by Fitzgerald that was given to them as a birthday present and the partner's love letters. The song is particularly poignant because the partner is also taking Bob Dylan's music, suggesting that the person is leaving not just with their own belongings but also with a critical part of the relationship.
The lyrics of "Taking Bob Dylan" reveal a sense of loss and heartache as the singer realizes that their partner is leaving them. However, the song also has a sense of acceptance and resignation, suggesting that the singer knows that the relationship is over and that their partner needs to move on. The line "All I am is where you are" suggests that the singer's entire identity is wrapped up in their partner, and that without them, they are nothing. This creates a sense of vulnerability and dependence, but it also shows the depth of the singer's love for their partner.
In summary, "Taking Bob Dylan" is a moving love song that explores themes of loss, heartache, and acceptance. The lyrics reveal the depth of the singer's love for their partner and the pain they feel as their relationship comes to an end.
Line by Line Meaning
The black and white picture taken by a stranger
A photograph in black and white taken by an unknown person.
Out in the streets of New Orleans
The photograph was taken while wandering through the streets of New Orleans.
The blanket I stole from that hotel in London
A stolen blanket from a London hotel.
You asked if I thought I was the Queen
Asking if the other person thought they were royalty.
And my big blue sweater - you made it look better
The other person made a big blue sweater look good.
Is folded in the corner of your suitcase
The sweater is neatly folded and packed in a corner of a suitcase.
You're taking everything, you've got my heart on a string
The other person is taking everything and has control over the singer's emotions.
Just tell me where we are going
The artist is unsure of the destination and wants to know where they are going.
All I am is where you are
The artist's identity and existence is tied to the other person's location and presence.
And I never knew you could go so far
The artist is surprised by how much the other person has changed or developed.
All I have is in your heart
The singer's possessions and worth are in the other person's love and affection.
You took me with you, you took me with you
The other person took the artist with them when they left.
The broken wine bottle that fell off our mantle
A broken wine bottle that sat on a mantle.
We couldn't stand to throw that sweet memory away
The singer and the other person couldn't bear to dispose of the memory of the broken bottle on the mantle.
The book by Fitzgerald that I bought for your birthday
A book by Fitzgerald that the singer bought for the other person's birthday.
Is packed in a box with my love letters you saved
The book is packed in a box with saved love letters from the artist.
And you're taking Bob Dylan, oh, the times must be changing
The other person is taking Bob Dylan's music, signifying a changing time or relationship.
Maybe you'll listen as you're driving away
The other person may listen to Bob Dylan's music as they drive away.
Those shells from the ocean, that one, yellow rose and
Shells from the ocean and a yellow rose.
The incense and candles and your old tambourine
Incense, candles, and an old tambourine.
Your sweatshirt from college, that painting that you wanted
A college sweatshirt and a painting the other person desired.
And I'll take the promise that you could not keep
The artist will take the unfulfilled promise the other person made.
You're taking Bob Dylan
The other person is taking Bob Dylan's music.
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: JEN FOSTER, KATHY SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind