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.
The Revelations
Jennifer Kimball Lyrics
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Are but stories from the other side
Before the wise as prophets burned
They told their brothers and to sleep returned
Strange, though, don't you think?
That of the myriad who pass through the dark door
Not one returns to tell us of that road
I'm not afraid to die
Not here, not now
The laden bough
It's just that there's so much
I have to live for now
Speed the plow
You and I are here to stay
You and I are here to stay
Even through a wood you know by heart
It's hard to go the same way twice
Any bird, a stone can be a new path
Any love may turn to ice
There is no vision here but what is seen
A stillness deeper than the night sky
There's time enough for both of us
I am yours, and you are mine
This is the way I've heard
It's supposed to be, you and me
A bridge over open sea
A single span, the infinite plan
You and I are here to stay
You and I are here to stay
In Jennifer Kimball's song The Revelations, she explores the concept of death and the mysteries that surround it. She begins by stating that the revelations of the world's devout are merely tales from the other side, and that those who were considered wise and prophetic were burned before they could share their knowledge with others. She questions why, when so many people pass through the door of death, no one returns to share their experiences. Kimball suggests that the only way to understand death is to experience it ourselves.
The second verse continues to ponder about the nature of death and how it is difficult to comprehend. She says that even when we are familiar with a path through a wood, it's hard to take the same way twice, and that anything, even love, can change in an instant. Kimball suggests that the only thing we can truly understand is what we can see, but even that is just a surface-level understanding. Despite the lyrical exploration of death, Kimball ends the song by emphasizing the importance of life and the connection between two people. She declares that she's not afraid to die, but there's so much to live for now, and that she and a loved one are here to stay.
Line by Line Meaning
The revelations of the worlds' devout
The insights and experiences of those with unwavering religious faith
Are but stories from the other side.
Are merely tales from those who have already passed to the afterlife
Before the wise as prophets burned,
Even the wisest and most prophetic individuals
They told their brothers and to sleep returned.
Only shared their experiences with their fellow believers before passing on
Strange, though, don't you think?
The lack of information about what lies beyond death seems unusual
That of the myriad who pass through the dark door
Of the countless people who have died
Not one returns to tell us of that road,
No one has come back to share their journey through death
Which to discover we must travel, too.
We will only find out what comes after we die ourselves
I'm not afraid to die
The artist feels no fear of death
Not here, not now
The artist does not anticipate dying in the present moment
The laden bough.
The heavy burden the singer carries
It's just that there's so much
There is still so much for the artist to experience in life
I have to live for now,
The singer wants to make the most of their time while alive
Speed the plough.
A call to quickly get to work and accomplish things
You and I are here to stay
The singer and their loved one will remain together
Even through a wood you know by heart
Even in familiar surroundings
It's hard to go the same way twice.
It's difficult to replicate past experiences exactly
Any bird, a stone can be a new path
Any unexpected circumstance can change the course of one's life
Any love may turn to ice.
Even the strongest of relationships can fall apart
There is no vision here but what is seen,
All that exists is what can be physically witnessed
A stillness deeper than the night sky.
A sense of profound peace and calm
There's time enough for both of us,
There is plenty of time for the artist and their loved one to be together
I am yours, and you are mine.
The singer and their loved one belong to each other
This is the way I've heard
The artist has learned
It's supposed to be, you and me.
The singer and their loved one are meant to be together
A bridge over open sea
An unlikely connection over great distance
A single span, the infinite plan.
A singular and unbreakable bond that extends forever
You and I are here to stay
The artist and their loved one will remain together
You and I are here to stay.
The artist and their loved one will remain together
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jennifer Kimball
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind