Baldwin was born in Evanston, Illinois, and graduated from Northwestern University's theatre program in 1997.
Baldwin has appeared in several Broadway productions, including her debut in The Full Monty (2000), Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002), and Wonderful Town (2003). She performs frequently in regional theater, including South Pacific as Nellie Forbush (receiving a Helen Hayes Award nomination) at Arena Stage in Washington, DC (2002); The Sound of Music as Maria (2005) and The Music Man as Marian Paroo (2009), both at The Muny, St. Louis, Missouri) and A Little Night Music as Countess Charlotte at Centre Stage, Baltimore, Maryland, in March 2008.
She played the role of Sharon in the 2009 Encores! staged concert production of Finian's Rainbow. The New York Times critic Charles Isherwood praised her performance, writing that she sang the role "beautifully... her rich, pure soprano riding the crests of the melodies with ease", most notably in the "famous wistful ballad 'How Are Things in Glocca Morra?'" and called her a "discovery". She is repeating the role as Sharon in the Broadway revial of Finian's Rainbow at the St. James Theatre beginning October 8, 2009.
Baldwin is working on her first solo album, Let's See What Happens, consisting of songs written by Burton Lane and E. Y. Harburg.
She married fellow actor Graham Rowat on October 2, 2005.
I Don't Need a Roof
Kate Baldwin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a lifetime.
In this place
I feel at ease.
Wallpaper peeling, paint wearing thin.
Here′s where I end and begin
I don't need a roof to say I′m covered
I don't need a roof to know I'm home
I don′t need a roof to make my bed
Close your eyes, I′m still beside you.
No goodbyes needed today
Hear what the rain says,
Know what it knows
After the rain something grows
I don't need a roof to say I love you
I don′t need a roof to call you mine
I don't need adventure in some far away frontier
I don′t need a roof to feel you near
All I need is you and you forever
All I feel is true and absolute
I don't need a legal deed
To help me play my part
I don′t need a roof to hold my heart
Stay with me
Stay with me
Kate Baldwin's song "I Don't Need a Roof" contains lyrics that express the notion that home isn't determined by a physical structure, but rather by the people who make up a person's life. The lines "In your face I see a lifetime" and "I don't need a roof to know I'm home" illustrate the sentiment that there is a sense of belonging and comfort that one can experience in the presence of a loved one, regardless of where they are located or whether they have a physical home.
The imagery of peeling wallpaper and worn-out paint evokes a sense of nostalgia, and highlights the idea that the physical appearance or condition of the surroundings does not define one's sense of home. The lyric "I don't need a roof to make my bed" reinforces this idea, that having someone to share life's moments with at the end of the day is what matters the most.
Line by Line Meaning
In your face
I can see your entire life through your face.
I see a lifetime.
The emotions and expressions in your face reveal your past, present and future.
In this place
This place where I am at right now.
I feel at ease.
I feel comfortable and peaceful here.
Wallpaper peeling, paint wearing thin.
The house is old and decaying, but it doesn't matter as long as I feel at home.
Here′s where I end and begin
This place represents who I am and where I came from.
I don't need a roof to say I'm covered
I don't need material belongings to feel secure and safe.
I don't need a roof to know I'm home
Home is a feeling that comes from within and doesn't depend on physical surroundings.
There could be a single shingle-dangling overhead
Even if the house is falling apart, I still feel at home.
I don′t need a roof to make my bed
I am content with whatever I have, even if it's not a lot.
Close your eyes, I′m still beside you.
Even if we are physically apart, we are still together in spirit.
No goodbyes needed today
We don't need to say goodbye because we will always be connected.
Hear what the rain says,
Listen to the message that nature is trying to convey.
Know what it knows
Understand the wisdom that comes from observing the natural world.
After the rain something grows
There is always growth and renewal after a period of hardship or struggle.
I don't need a roof to say I love you
I don't need grand gestures to express my love for you.
I don′t need a roof to call you mine
I don't need material possessions to feel like you belong to me.
I don't need adventure in some far away frontier
I am happy with the simple pleasures of life and don't need extravagant experiences.
I don′t need a roof to feel you near
I feel your presence no matter where I am.
All I need is you and you forever
We have everything we need in each other.
All I feel is true and absolute
My love for you is unwavering and unchanging.
I don't need a legal deed
Ownership doesn't matter to me as long as I am happy.
To help me play my part
I don't need a title or status to feel fulfilled in life.
I don′t need a roof to hold my heart
My emotions and feelings are not tied to any physical location or possessions.
Stay with me
I want you to stay by my side forever.
Stay with me
I want to continue sharing my life with you.
Writer(s): Andrew Edwin Lippa
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.