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.
Summerlong
Kathleen Edwards Lyrics
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One, two, three and I'm safe.
Count real slow to five,
You couldn't keep my around if you tried.
I know how to beat the rage,
Of my tender age.
Touch me once in the hall,
(Chorus)
There are some things I can hardly say,
You've got me feeling a brand new way,
Please don't let this be summer long.
I used to play this game,
In the middle lane,
Pass them all on the inside.
And don't get caught in a lie.
(Chorus)
'cause I want to stay.
All the nights and wasted time,
Trying to get my head to change its mind.
All the talk of what it could be.
When it never was.
There are some things I can hardly say,
You've got me feeling a brand new way,
Please don't let this be summer long.
Please don't let this be summer long.
'cause I want to stay. (x3)
Please don't let this be summer long.
(I want to stay)
Please don't let this be summer long.
(I want to stay)
The lyrics of Kathleen Edwards's song "Summerlong" speak to the fear of developing strong feelings for someone and the potential of that connection being temporary. In the first verse, the singer describes her familiarity with playing the game of casual relationships, counting out the steps to ensure she doesn't get hurt. But despite her efforts to keep her guard up, she expresses her growing feelings for this person in the chorus, pleading with them not to let their connection end with the season. The second verse reveals the singer's history of avoiding intimacy, using driving as a metaphor for staying in the shallow end of relationships. The final verse speaks to the disappointment of wasted time and possibility, and the constant uncertainty that comes with the fear of being vulnerable.
The song is a reflection on the vulnerability that comes with developing feelings for someone and the difficulty of admitting those feelings when you are afraid of what might come next. The lyrics are filled with metaphors and imagery of playing games, driving, and wasted time, creating a sense of emotional frustration and confusion. Ultimately, the song expresses the desire for a deeper connection and the fear of losing it, capturing the complicated emotions that come with falling in love.
Line by Line Meaning
I know how to play this game.
I understand how to navigate this situation.
One, two, three and I'm safe.
I can quickly ensure my safety in this game.
Count real slow to five,
Take your time before pursuing me.
You couldn't keep my around if you tried.
Your attempts to control me will be futile.
I know how to beat the rage,
I know how to avoid feeling overwhelmed by emotions.
Of my tender age.
Despite my youth and vulnerability.
Touch me once in the hall,
A brief interaction is all that is needed.
But don't look back and don't call.
Don't try to continue the relationship beyond that.
There are some things I can hardly say,
There are certain emotions and thoughts that are difficult to express.
You've got me feeling a brand new way,
You've made me experience something I haven't felt before.
Please don't let this be summer long.
I don't want this to be a temporary fling.
I used to play this game,
I used to be able to manipulate situations to my advantage.
In the middle lane,
I used to stay in the safe, middle ground.
Pass them all on the inside.
I used to move past others using less obvious methods.
And don't get caught in a lie.
I made sure to always be truthful to avoid getting caught.
All the nights and wasted time,
The countless nights and moments lost.
Trying to get my head to change its mind.
Trying to alter my way of thinking to conform with others.
All the talk of what it could be,
Hypothetical talk of what the future could hold.
When it never was.
Despite the talk, it never actually materialized.
Please don't let this be summer long. (x4)
I don't want this to be just a fleeting season of my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: KATHLEEN MARGARET EDWARDS, COLIN JUSTIN CRIPPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind