Following The Story's breakup, Kimball released her first solo album, the critically acclaimed Veering from the Wave (Imaginary Road/PolyGram), in 1998. She followed this with a 2006 release Oh Hear Us (Epoisse).
Kimball performs regularly with several Boston-based bands including Wayfaring Strangers, Family Affair, and Maybe Baby, a quartet she fronts with her husband Ry Cavanaugh. She is in high demand as a vocalist and has performed on more than 60 releases by Catie Curtis, Jabe Beyer, Kris Delmhorst, Peter Mulvey, Ellis Paul, Lucy Kaplansky, Lori McKenna and Patty Larkin.
An Ordinary Soldier
Jennifer Kimball Lyrics
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It was easier than you will know.
Your lovely face, your deepest eyes
You fade from me in this disguise.
But where is my cavalry?
Who's going to follow me,
Who will fight by my side?
I'm standing still, I'm standing straight.
An ordinary soldier with my blind faith.
I hear the wind as I retreat.
It sings of when we two shall meet.
In the lee of the battle
My heart, heavy like rain,
Beats slowly to the single drum
That sounds out your name.
But where is my cavalry?
Who's going to follow me?
Who will fight by my side and hold me when I fall?
Who will keep me from slipping into the past?
Who will help me remember I loved and lost well?
The song "An Ordinary Soldier" by Jennifer Kimball is an emotional reflection on the pain of lost love and the difficulties of moving on. The first stanza uses imagery to describe the process of letting go, acknowledging that it's easier to simply fade away from the person they once loved rather than hold on to the memories. The second stanza reveals the singer's vulnerability and the need for support, asking for their cavalry, or support system to fight by their side and hold them up when they fall. The final verse shows the singer's determination to move forward and find closure while still honoring the love that they lost.
Line by Line Meaning
It was easier when I let go.
It was easier for me to come to terms with the separation when I stopped holding on to our relationship.
It was easier than you will know.
It was easier for me to keep my feelings to myself, rather than try to explain the hurt that I feel inside.
Your lovely face, your deepest eyes
I remember how beautiful you looked, how your eyes expressed your emotions so deeply.
You fade from me in this disguise.
I can no longer see the real you in front of me, only a version of yourself that seems so different.
But where is my cavalry?
I am searching for people who will support me and stand by my side during my personal struggles.
Who's going to follow me,
I am looking for people who will show me the way forward, and support me in taking positive steps in my life.
Who will fight by my side?
I am seeking people who will stand up for me and support me in my struggle, and who will not abandon me when things get tough.
I'm standing still, I'm standing straight.
I am trying to keep my footing amidst a storm of emotions, and remain strong and truthful to myself.
An ordinary soldier with my blind faith.
I hold on to my faith, my values, my beliefs, even though they might seem like a gamble to others.
I hear the wind as I retreat.
As I walk away from you, I can hear the sound of the wind in my ears, and it reminds me of the moments we shared together.
It sings of when we two shall meet.
The sound of the wind seems to hint at a future reunion, a time when we may be reconciled and find peace and love together again.
In the lee of the battle
Even though I am not fighting any more, I am still caught in the middle of an emotional war, trying to heal and move on.
My heart, heavy like rain,
My emotions are overwhelming, like a torrent of rain, and it feels like they will never lift.
Beats slowly to the single drum
The only thing that keeps me going is the steady rhythm of my own heart, providing me the beat I need to keep pushing on.
That sounds out your name.
The beat of my heart is a painful reminder of you, and I cannot escape the memories of our time together.
Who will hold me when I fall?
I worry that when the going gets tough, I may have nowhere to turn, nobody to pick me up and help me through my struggles.
Who will keep me from slipping into the past?
I am afraid that my memories and my attachment to the past will prevent me from moving on, and I long for someone who will provide me with the strength to let go and start anew.
Who will help me remember I loved and lost well?
Even though our love story did not have a happy ending, I want to remember the good times we shared, and I need someone who will remind me that I made the most of the love we had, and that it wasn't all in vain.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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