She has experienced the whole spectrum of what a musician’s life can be, from playing in the corner of the local bar for a small group of friends, to playing in front of 40,000 screaming fans at prestigious festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury. She has appeared on national television numerous times, but still takes the time to personally reply to fans on her Facebook page. She’s also moonlighted on other artist’s albums from The Pink Mountaintops to Neko Case’s Grammy nominated ‘Middle Cyclone.’ It seems as if she’s done it all. Yet the one frontier she has never embarked on - until now - is having the spotlight solely on her.
Recorded at her mother’s house in Victoria BC, ‘Are you my Mother?’ is one of 2010’s most innovative releases. It is a deeply personal record that was largely born through two years of Kathryn caring for her terminally ill mother. Yet the songs on “Are you my mother?’ are universal in their tone because the record relates to so many facets of all our lives. This is NOT a eulogy. Rather, it is a statement that life is a mixed bag, and that without losing things you would never know to cherish them. Yes there are songs of loss on ‘Are you my mother?’, yet there are also songs of love, friendship, and whimsy. It is a beguiling album, that - because of the wisdom and experience communicated by her voice - gives the illusion of being written by someone in the twilight of their years, while at the same time it expresses the excitement and wonder of a young woman who is just finding her own voice.
While the songs are sophisticated in their tone and expression, the process of recording them was surprisingly simple. With little in the way of technology, Calder and her producer, Colin Stewart relied on intuition and improvisation to create a record that sounds full and lush but also reflects the charms and intimacy of the surroundings in which it was recorded.
By using found items such as Kleenex boxes and filing cabinets as percussion, an old high school trumpet, and an out of tune piano plucked backwards to add texture, Calder and Stewart were able to create a unique soundscape for her vocals and expressive piano playing. Although Kathryn played most of the instruments, she did have the benefit of friends and band mates to fill in any gaps she might have missed. Local musicians and other notable friends like Neko Case, Kurt Dahle, and Todd Fancey of The New Pornographers, and members of Ladyhawk all lent their talents to the project.
‘Are You My Mother,’ is one of the most exciting and honest debut records of 2010. You will hear a moment in time and all of the feelings that were contained in it.
Kathryn Calder doesn’t like to let the grass grow under her feet for too long. 2010 is shaping up to be a busy year as she’s already working on a follow up to “Are you my Mother?” before going out on the road for six months with The New Pornographers.
Slip Away
Kathryn Calder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll tell me everything I need to know
Turn in thread into a verse
We sit and watch the Fall return to earth
Quietly as autumn comes
The days are getting shorter
One by one
Waiting here for you
Spinning on a shelf
I'm wasting my time waiting for myself
Hide my hands behind my back
My fingertips, they hold a secret
I have to hold it lightly though
Be very careful not to break it
I'm holding on to something lost
I should just let go and move on
When I'm fast asleep
It flutters in my palm
And by the time I wake up it is gone
Slips away, slips away
Slips away, slips away
Slips away, slips away
Slips away, slips away
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Hide my hands behind my back
My fingertips, they hold a secret
I have to hold it lightly though
Be very careful not to break it
I'm holding on to something lost
I should just let go and move on
When I'm fast asleep
It flutters in my palm
And by the time I wake up it is gone
Slips away, slips away
Slips away, slips away
Slips away, slips away
Slips away, slips away
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
The song, Slip Away by Kathryn Calder, is a melancholic reflection on holding onto something that has already disappeared. The singer seems to be drifting in and out of a dream state, where the object of their desire flutters in their palm, only to slip away upon waking. The first verse sets up a mysterious tension as the singer invokes a dream-like state, and encourages the listener to read a story from their sleep. It’s unclear who the listener is or what this story represents, but it’s framed as providing necessary information. The second verse introduces a sense of inevitability as autumn arrives, and the days grow shorter, one by one. The singer is waiting for something or someone, but they seem stuck and lost, spinning on a shelf. The chorus repeats the words “slips away” four times, as if to reinforce the idea that the object of longing continues to elude the singer.
The third verse introduces a physical object, hidden in the singer’s palm. The object holds a secret, but the singer is careful not to break it. Here, the song takes on a more concrete narrative as the singer appears to be holding onto some sort of talisman, hoping it will unlock a mystery. However, the singer is ultimately forced to realize that they are holding onto something that is lost, and should be let go. The song’s final lines are infused with a sense of sadness and longing as the singer describes the object’s flutters, as if it were a butterfly or bird, slipping away every time they wake up. The melancholy, dreamy nature of this song is underlined by Calder’s lilting voice and the minimal, but effective instrumentation.
Line by Line Meaning
Read a story from your sleep
Listen to your subconscious mind's whispers and secrets.
You'll tell me everything I need to know
My intuition will guide me towards the truth.
Turn in thread into a verse
Transform raw emotions into art.
We sit and watch the Fall return to earth
Observe the impermanence of life and nature.
Quietly as autumn comes
Change is happening subtly and inevitably.
The days are getting shorter
Time is passing quickly, reminding me to cherish moments.
One by one
Things are slipping away gradually and steadily.
Waiting here for you
I am waiting for someone or something, but maybe I should move on.
Spinning on a shelf
I am stuck in a cycle, going around and around without progress.
I'm wasting my time waiting for myself
I am the one holding myself back and need to take action.
Hide my hands behind my back
I am concealing something important or hiding my true feelings.
My fingertips, they hold a secret
I have a deep inner truth that only I know and can share.
I have to hold it lightly though
This secret is fragile and I must be gentle with myself and others when sharing it.
Be very careful not to break it
I am aware of the effects my words and actions can have and must be responsible with them.
I'm holding on to something lost
I am clinging to a memory or emotion that I need to let go of.
I should just let go and move on
I need to release what is holding me back and embrace the present.
When I'm fast asleep
In moments of vulnerability or rest, my deeper desires and fears surface.
It flutters in my palm
I have glimpses of what I truly want or fear, but it's fleeting.
And by the time I wake up it is gone
I miss opportunities or insights by not paying attention to my subconscious.
Slips away, slips away
Time and life move on without waiting for us.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Expressing emotions without words.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carlo Maltempi
Awesome! I love how much fun and lovely this song is. I think it has such a great musical bridge; & the lyrics are chalk full of imagery! Kathryn Calder is so talented.
Artuno
10 years later and this song still lives rent-free in my head.
Aaron Taylor
Lost my mom to cancer just after valentine's day last year and this song makes me think how she slipped away and now is finally back with my daddy-today was my wife and my anniversary and we both love your music
buniluvr
Brilliant! Magically and sweet. LOVE the song :)
MsMagic
I love this song
ablessedlifelv
Love this song. I could listen to this all day.
Eliwyn
I really love this song. :)
Jen
Love this video and song. i remember when it was featured on the yt homepage along with other puppet music videos back in 2010 💓💓💓
ahellojello
I could listen to this song over and over again all day. The balance between meditative clarity and euphoric bliss in the verses and chorus make it easy on the ears :-)
RoseofSharon
Absolutely spellbinding. The music has a quality similar to classic psychadelic 60s rock and is simply put, beautiful.