Dalton, whose heritage was Cherokee, was born Karen J. Cariker in Enid, Oklahoma. Her bluesy, world-weary voice is often compared to that of iconic jazz singer Billie Holiday. She sang blues, folk, country, pop, Motown - making over each song in her own style. She played the twelve string Gibson guitar and a long neck banjo.
In his 2004 autobiography, Bob Dylan wrote this in his description of discovering and joining the music scene at Greenwich Village's Cafe Wha? after arriving in New York City, New York, United States in 1961: "My favorite singer in the place was Karen Dalton. Karen had a voice like Billie Holiday and played guitar like Jimmy Reed... I sang with her a couple of times."
Dalton's second album, In My Own Time (1971), was recorded at Bearsville Studios and originally released by Woodstock Festival promoter Michael Lang's label, Just Sunshine Records. The album was produced and arranged by Harvey Brooks, who played bass on it. (Harvey Brooks played bass also on the Miles Davis album Bitches Brew, on the Bob Dylan album Highway 61 Revisited and on the Richie Havens album Mixed Bag.) Piano player Richard Bell guested on In My Own Time. Its liner notes were written by Fred Neil and its cover photos were taken by Elliot Landy. Less well-known is Dalton's first album, It's So Hard to Tell Who's Going to Love You the Best (Capitol, 1969), which was re-released by Koch Records on CD in 1996.
Both Dalton's albums were re-released in November 2006: It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best, on the French Megaphone-Music label, included a bonus DVD featuring rare performance footage of Dalton. In My Own Time was re-released on CD and LP on November 7, 2006 by Light In The Attic Records.
The version of the song Something on Your Mind (composed by Dino Valenti) that is sung by Dalton on her album In My Own Time is the soundtrack during the ending credits of the 2007 film Margot at the Wedding, which was written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starred Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Known as "the folk singer's answer to Billie Holiday" and "Sweet Mother K.D.", Dalton is said to be the subject of the song Katie's Been Gone (composed by Richard Manuel and Robbie Robertson) on the album The Basement Tapes by The Band and Bob Dylan. She struggled with drugs and alcohol for many years. It has been widely reported that she died in 1993 on the streets of New York City after an eight-year battle with AIDS.
However, an article in Uncut magazine confirmed that Dalton was actually being cared for by the guitarist Peter Walker in upstate New York during her last months.
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A cult singer, 12-string guitarist, and banjo player of the New York 1960s folk revival, Karen Dalton still remains known to very few, despite counting the likes of Bob Dylan and Fred Neil among her acquaintances. This was partly because she seldom recorded, only making one album in the 1960s - and that didn't come out until 1969, although she had been known on the Greenwich Village circuit since the beginning of the decade. It was also partly because, unlike other folksingers of the era, she was an interpreter who did not record original material. And it was also because her voice - often compared to Billie Holiday, but with a rural twang - was too strange and inaccessible to pop audiences. Nik Venet, producer of her debut album, went as far as to remark in Goldmine, "She was very much like Billie Holiday. Let me say this, she wasn't Billie Holiday but she had that phrasing Holiday had and she was a remarkable one-of-a-kind type of thing.... Unfortunately, it's an acquired taste, you really have to look for the music."
Dalton grew up in Oklahoma, moving to New York around 1960. Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders, who was in her backup band in the early '70s, points out in his liner notes to the CD reissue of her first album that "she was the only folk singer I ever met with an authentic 'folk' background. She came to the folk music scene under her own steam, as opposed to being 'discovered' and introduced to it by people already involved in it." There is a photograph from February 1961 (now printed on the back cover of the It's So Hard to Tell Who's Going to Love You the Best reissue) of Dalton singing and playing with Fred Neil and Bob Dylan, the latter of whom was barely known at the time. Unlike her friends she was unable to even capture a recording contract, spending much of the next few years roaming around North America.
Dalton was not comfortable in the studio, and her Capitol album It's So Hard to Tell Who's Going to Love You the Best came about when Nik Venet, who had tried unsuccessfully to record her several times, invited her to a Fred Neil session. He asked her to cut a Neil composition, "Little Bit of Rain," as a personal favor so he could have it in his private collection; that led to an entire album, recorded in one session, most of the tracks done in one take. Dalton recorded one more album in the early '70s, produced by Harvey Brooks (who had played on some '60s Dylan sessions). Done in Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, it, like her debut, had an eclectic assortment of traditional folk tunes, blues, covers of soul hits ("When a Man Loves a Woman," "How Sweet It Is"), and contemporary numbers by singer/songwriters (Dino Valente, the Band's Richard Manuel). The Band's "Katie's Been Gone," included on The Basement Tapes, is rumored to be about Dalton.
Something On Your Mind
Karen Dalton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So you turned your days into night-time
Didn't you know, you can't make it without ever even trying?
And something's on your mind, isn't it?
Let these times show you that you're breaking up the lines
Leaving all your dreams too far behind
Didn't you see, you can't make it without ever even trying?
Maybe another day you'll want to feel another way, you can't stop crying
You haven't got a thing to say, you feel you want to run away
There's no use trying, anyway
I've seen the writing on the wall
Who cannot maintain will always fall
Well, you know, you can't make it without ever even trying
Something's on your mind, isn't it?
Tell the truth now, isn't it?
Something's on your mind, isn't it?
Something's on your mind
Karen Dalton's "Something On Your Mind" is a soulful and introspective ballad with lyrics that touch on themes of self-reflection and moving forward. The singer urges the listener to face their innermost thoughts and emotions, to confront their fears and doubts, and to take action in order to better their lives. The opening lines suggesting that any way you made it was fine, means that the addressee found ways to get through everyday but eventually found themselves lost in their thoughts as reflected in the line "Something's on your mind, isn't it?"
The song implies that the listener has been living in a state of stagnation or complacency, and that it's time to take meaningful steps towards fulfilling their dreams. The lyrics warn that without trying, there's no hope of success and the addressee is reminded that seeing the writing on the wall is proof that they need to make a change. Dalton's haunting voice adds a layer of raw emotion to the already vulnerable lyrics, creating a sense of urgency and sincerity.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday, any way you made it was just fine
No matter what you did yesterday, you were fine with it
So you turned your days into night-time
You spend your days being unproductive and careless
Didn't you know, you can't make it without ever even trying?
Making progress requires effort and dedication
And something's on your mind, isn't it?
You're troubled and preoccupied with something
Let these times show you that you're breaking up the lines
These times expose that you're ignoring your goals
Leaving all your dreams too far behind
You've abandoned your aspirations
Didn't you see, you can't make it without ever even trying?
You can't succeed without working for it
And something's on your mind
You are deeply concerned
Maybe another day you'll want to feel another way, you can't stop crying
You may crave for change and feel emotional about it
You haven't got a thing to say, you feel you want to run away
You're speechless and want to escape from reality
There's no use trying, anyway
You think it's not worth trying
I've seen the writing on the wall
I know what's coming soon or possible outcomes
Who cannot maintain will always fall
Those who can't keep going, will fail
Well, you know, you can't make it without ever even trying
Making progress requires effort and discipline
Something's on your mind, isn't it?
You're deeply thinking or worrying about something
Tell the truth now, isn't it?
Be honest with yourself, what's bothering you?
Something's on your mind, isn't it?
What's troubling you?
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Dino Valenti
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Atomic_cat_69
LYRICS
Yesterday, any way you made it was just fine
So you turned your days into night-time
Didn't you know, you can't make it without ever even trying?
And something's on your mind, isn't it?
Let these times show you that you're breaking up the lines
Leaving all your dreams too far behind
Didn't you see, you can't make it without ever even trying?
And something's on your mind
Maybe another day you'll want to feel another way, you can't stop crying
You haven't got a thing to say, you feel you want to run away
There's no use trying, anyway
I've seen the writing on the wall
Who cannot maintain will always fall
Well, you know, you can't make it without ever even trying
Something's on your mind, isn't it?
Tell the truth now, isn't it?
Something's on your mind, isn't it?
Something's on your mind
@ailujd
My son puts together songs for me every once in awhile and the latest playlist included this, what a gift.
@gregjohnson1247
This comment is a little slice of joy, thank you for sharing ☺️
@TheresaLyonhart
Your son is very much in tune with his spirituality. Be proud, mom. You done good.
@ailujd
@@TheresaLyonhart
Aww thanks for that.
I'm fortunate to have him for my son.
I didn't do anything special - just gave him my love and attention.
@AndySalinger33
ailujd, your son is a direct reflection of you and your goodness. Your comment lifted my spirits. And my spirits certainly needed lifting. Take care.
@ailujd
@@AndySalinger33
How sweet of you to reply.
You know, there's always someone out there lifting ones spirits.
Happy I'm one of them.
You take care as well.
🦋
@Broonzied
1971 was an incredible year for great songs, and this little gem gets into my top 10 for the year.
@jamesbailey4798
The Serpent brought me here
Beautiful song
@wmmatthw
There's nothing in the safe! And it's raining cats and dogs. That was a tough day for Cloggy.
@cheayunju
That's where I heard it first too. Kinda surprised because I was bombarded with hippy folk and rock tracks from my friend's dad's album collection as a child. (we dated a bit once we teened up, but some loves are not romantic.)
It kinda reminded me of Put up a Parking Lot in vocal tone and rhythm but way deeper. I dig that song. It makes you feel like a fool, and suits the program well.