According to the The A Soft Place To Land Songfacts Edwards' father is Leonard Edwards, a former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. As a result she spent portions of her teenage years in Korea and Switzerland. Her blend of country, folk and pop music made her a favourite of music critics, and a rising star on radio in 2003 with her debut album, Failer, made popular by her hit singles "Six O'Clock News" and "Hockey Skates" Her style of music is sometimes placed in the music genre "alt-country".
In 1999, Edwards recorded a six-song EP entitled Building 55 and pressed 500 copies. By the fall of 2000, she was on tour across Canada managing her own gigs. In 2001 she wrote seven of the ten songs for her 2003 debut release Failer.
Edwards married musician and producer Colin Cripps in 2004. They later divorced.
In 2005, Edwards released Back to Me, which also garnered considerable critical acclaim, and led to the release of the singles "Back to Me" and "In State". The track "Summerlong" also featured on the soundtrack of the movie Elizabethtown starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.
In 2006, she was nominated for Juno Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year for Back to Me.
On March 4, 2008, her new CD, Asking for Flowers, arrived to excellent reviews.
Her fourth album, Voyageur, was released on January 17, 2012.
National Steel
Kathleen Edwards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know it pleased you to know I needed you and your time
You play the game not saying either way but you know
Could've made it real quick save me the guilt trip and just said no
Are you writing this all down?
This conversation the alienation in your tone
I wouldn't have asked saved you the task if I weren't for real
Trading a daughter and two thousand dollars
For a national steel
Are you writing this all down?
In Kathleen Edwards's song National Steel, the lyrics describe a conversation between two people on the telephone. The singer is surprised to hear the other person's voice, and they are wearing a disguise of sorts -- perhaps not fully revealing their true identity or intentions. The singer acknowledges that they needed the other person's time, but wishes they had been more upfront about whether they were going to help or not. The other person plays the game, not committing either way, but the singer can tell they know the answer.
As the conversation continues, the singer feels increasingly alienated by the other person's tone. They are in different time zones and the singer can't understand their perspective. The singer admits that they wouldn't have asked for help if it weren't for real, and that they are willing to trade a lot to get what they need. In this case, they are willing to trade their daughter and $2,000 for a national steel. We can assume that the national steel is some kind of valuable item, but we don't know exactly what it is or why it's worth so much to the singer.
Overall, the song explores themes of deception, desperation, and the lengths we'll go to get what we want. The singer is willing to sacrifice a lot to get what they need, but they also feel hurt and betrayed by the other person's lack of transparency. The lyrics are poignant and raw, and they prompt the listener to consider their own relationships and the ways in which we navigate complicated emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
What a surprise wearing your disguise on the telephone line
You pretended to be someone else when speaking on the phone with me, which shocked me.
I know it pleased you to know I needed you and your time
You enjoyed the fact that I relied on you and that you were able to help me.
You play the game not saying either way but you know
You are being evasive and not giving me a clear answer even though you know the truth.
Could've made it real quick save me the guilt trip and just said no
Instead of being vague and making me feel guilty, you should have simply told me no right away.
Are you writing this all down?
Are you keeping track of this conversation or will you forget it later?
This conversation the alienation in your tone
I can sense the distance and coldness in your voice during this conversation.
I've got no fucking clue from your point of view and your time zone
I don't understand your perspective or what it's like where you are.
I wouldn't have asked saved you the task if I weren't for real
I genuinely needed your help, otherwise I wouldn't have asked you and saved you the trouble.
Trading a daughter and two thousand dollars for a national steel
I gave up a lot, including my daughter and a lot of money, in exchange for a National Steel guitar.
Are you writing this all down?
Are you taking note of the sacrifices I made for this guitar?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: KATHLEEN MARGARET EDWARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind