Doiron started playing guitar (later switching to bass) in Eric's Trip at age 18, having joined the band under the insistence of her then-boyfriend, Rick White, also of Eric's Trip. Shortly before the band's break-up in 1996, she released a solo album under the name Broken Girl, which followed two previous 7" EPs under that name. All of her subsequent material, however, has been released under her own name.
In 1999, Doiron recorded an album with the Ottawa band Wooden Stars, the first time she had worked with a band since the end of Eric's Trip. She was honoured with a Juno Award for Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars in March of 2000. She has also appeared as a guest musician on albums by The Tragically Hip, Gordon Downie and Herman Düne, and has also released a split record co-credited to the alternative country band Okkervil River.
Although most of her solo material has been written and performed in English, she has also released an album of French language material, Désormais.
Apart from her musical career, Doiron is an avid photographer, having published a book of her photographs entitled The Longest Winter with words by Ottawa writer Ian Roy. She often does her own promotional photos and cover artwork along with her husband, painter Jon Claytor.
Borrowed Minivans
Julie Doiron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm looking for your hand
And the girls I see now
Are driving around in borrowed minivans
They're wearing tank tops and knee-high pants
And laughingly singing out loud
They're running around this old town
Looking for their man
With all the drunken hands in flight
So take me to the country land
It's time for us to make a stand
And it's time to make some music right
We'll know each other better tonight
So carry me out past the place I live
I think I'm ready; I'm ready to give
You everything, anything, little or big
I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready
To live
We're leaving the line of buried burns
To wet basement apartments
And into our arms
Flying birds through the watery parks
We'll fly on our bikes in this
DARK! DARK! DARK! DARK!
And all of the people are with us tonight
And all their hopeful plans
So take me to the country land
So we can make a stand
1! 2! 3! 4!
It's time to make some music right
It's time to make this land feel bright
It's time to use our hands for right
And make this place feel right tonight
The song "Borrowed Minivans" by Julie Doiron seems to be a reflection on youth, rebellion, and the pursuit of love in a small town. The first stanza sets the scene: the town is drunk and wild, and the singer is looking for someone to hold onto. She sees other girls driving around in borrowed minivans, dressed in revealing clothing and singing loudly. They are searching for love, but it seems elusive. The second stanza continues this theme but expands it to include a larger group of people. Some are lost in the frenzy of the night, but the singer wants to escape with her lover to the country, where they can make a stand and make some music.
The third stanza is a call to action. The singer wants to leave behind the negativity of the town and embrace the possibility of a better future. She is ready to give everything to her lover, and she wants them to fly away together to a brighter and more hopeful place. The final stanza is a rally cry: it's time to make some music, to use our hands for right, and to make this place feel right tonight.
Line by Line Meaning
All of this town seems drunk tonight
The atmosphere in this town is heavily influenced by alcohol tonight
And I'm looking for your hand
I am searching for your companionship and support
And the girls I see now
The women I observe
Are driving around in borrowed minivans
They are using borrowed minivans for transportation
They're wearing tank tops and knee-high pants
They are wearing stylish tank tops and pants that stop at the knee
And laughingly singing out loud
They are singing loudly while enjoying themselves
They're running around this old town
They are energetically exploring this town
Looking for their man
They are searching for a romantic partner
Some of the people seem lost tonight
Some individuals appear uncertain or confused
With all the drunken hands in flight
Due to the alcohol, there is a noticeable increase in physical affection
So take me to the country land
I want to escape the city and go to the countryside
It's time for us to make a stand
We need to take a stand for something we believe in
And it's time to make some music right
We need to make music that represents our feelings and beliefs
We'll know each other better tonight
We will have a more profound understanding of one another by the end of the night
So carry me out past the place I live
Take me away from my current situation to a new environment
I think I'm ready; I'm ready to give
I feel prepared to offer my all
You everything, anything, little or big
I am willing to provide you with anything and everything, no matter how small or significant
I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready
I am enthusiastic about this
To live
To experience life fully
We're leaving the line of buried burns
We are departing from our painful pasts
To wet basement apartments
To dwell in damp, underground apartments
And into our arms
And towards each other's embrace
Flying birds through the watery parks
Birds soaring over waterlogged parks
We'll fly on our bikes in this
We will ride our bikes throughout
DARK! DARK! DARK! DARK!
The darkness will not hinder our progress
And all of the people are with us tonight
Everyone is together and supporting each other tonight
And all their hopeful plans
All the positive aspirations of those around us
So take me to the country land
I want to escape to the countryside
So we can make a stand
So that we can demonstrate how we feel
1! 2! 3! 4!
A classic rock-style countdown for an upcoming musical performance
It's time to make some music right
We need to make music that portrays our emotions and beliefs accurately
It's time to make this land feel bright
We need to brighten up this place
It's time to use our hands for right
We need to start doing things right with our own hands
And make this place feel right tonight
We need to make this place feel right at this moment
Contributed by Eva A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.