A multi-instrumentalist, Julie plays guitar, wurlitzer, flute and melodica. In addition to being a touring member of the Sarah Harmer band, her contributions were featured on the Juno and Polaris nominated ‘I’m A Mountain’. She is a member of Great Lake Swimmers, touring both the band’s third release, ‘Ongiara’, and current Polaris nominated release ‘Lost Channels’. She appears on Chad Van Gaalen’s latest release ‘Soft Airplane’, singing on the CBC favourite ‘Willow Tree’ and on Attack In Black’s ‘Years (By One Thousand Fingertips)’.
Lullabye
Julie Fader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Telling you and the world
How irresponsible I thought that you’d been
Well I was green
You poor, poor thing
But wait – I heard about you and another boy
A boy I know
Getting off
And you were so coked out
When feelings like those could be
So spontaneous
And so impure
You can finally recognize
That what you’ve held onto
Are grudges and growth and the need
To feel that blue
You were someone else
And you were so coked out
In retrospect, it’s funny now
All the guilt through association
Doors being broken down
Unease in my hometown
While all around me
People traded people for something new
They were so untrue
And they were so coked out
Knives in the back just seem matter-of-fact
When it comes to you
You’ve got such a good heart
But when it comes to your art you come unglued
With so much to give
You were so coked out
And I was green
You poor, poor thing
The lyrics to Julie Fader's song "Lullabye" tell a story of hurt and betrayal caused by drug use and infidelity. The singer in the song has heard about their significant other cheating on them while under the influence of drugs, and also hears about themselves being talked about on the answering machine in a negative way. The atmosphere of the song is melancholic and contemplative, as the singer grapples with their own feelings of hurt and betrayal.
The use of drugs is a recurring theme in the song, with the singer referencing both themselves and their significant other being "coked out". The lyrics suggest that drug use has caused damage not only to their relationship, but also to the wider community around them, with "doors being broken down" and "unease in my hometown". The theme of betrayal is also present, as the singer describes feeling like they have been stabbed in the back by those around them.
Overall, the lyrics to "Lullabye" present a sense of sadness and introspection, as the singer tries to make sense of their hurt and pain in the aftermath of their experience with drugs and infidelity.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard about my voice on your answering machine
I found out that a negative message I left for you was recorded on your answering machine
Telling you and the world
My message was meant to criticize you in front of others
How irresponsible I thought that you’d been
My message was an indictment of your perceived lack of responsibility
Well I was green
I was naive and inexperienced in my thinking
You poor, poor thing
This comment is patronizing and shows a lack of empathy for the person on the receiving end of my message
But wait – I heard about you and another boy
However, I later heard rumors that you had been involved with another person
A boy I know
The person you were with was someone I am familiar with
Getting off
You were engaging in sexual activity
You were overheard
Someone else was present and able to hear what was happening
And you were so coked out
You were under the influence of cocaine at the time
When feelings like those could be
When strong emotions like the ones I experienced can arise
So spontaneous
Without warning or provocation
And so impure
Tainted by negativity and judgement
You can finally recognize
This realization can lead to understanding
That what you’ve held onto
The previous negative feelings I had been holding onto
Are grudges and growth and the need
Included a desire to hold onto my pettiness and a realization that I have the opportunity to grow from these experiences
To feel that blue
Desiring to hold onto my sadness and disappointment
You were someone else
The person I thought I knew was not who I thought they were
In retrospect, it’s funny now
These events may appear ironic in hindsight
All the guilt through association
Feeling some level of responsibility for the events due to my association with the person involved
Doors being broken down
A reference to law enforcement breaking down doors during raids
Unease in my hometown
The sense of unease pervading the town due to the use of illegal drugs
While all around me
Despite this context
People traded people for something new
People were moving on from prior relationships or friendships in search of something different
They were so untrue
People seemed to be acting in a disingenuous manner
Knives in the back just seem matter-of-fact
Betrayals and backstabbing seemed commonplace
When it comes to you
In your case in particular
You’ve got such a good heart
Despite my criticisms, I recognize that you are a good person at your core
But when it comes to your art you come unglued
Your passion for your art causes you to lose control
With so much to give
Despite your struggles, you have so much potential and talent
You were so coked out
The influence of cocaine was still a major factor in your life
And I was green
While I have grown to recognize my own naivety during these events
You poor, poor thing
I feel pity for the struggles you have gone through
Contributed by Joshua J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.