Born in California to a musical family, when she was one year old her family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado In college in the summer of 1997, Herzig formed the band Newcomers Home with Tim and Laurie Thornton and Andrew Jed. Two years later, Herzig released Weightless. She produced the album herself, recorded it at home using Pro Tools, and played most of the instruments: electric and acoustic guitar, banjo, keyboards, and percussion, in addition to her singing and songwriting. The song "Jack and Jill" appeared on the TV shows One Tree Hill and Pretty Little Liars, while several others appeared on Grey's Anatomy.
Her next album, Apple Tree (2008), was more pop-oriented. Her 2011 album was entitled The Waking Sleep. She then released Walk Through Walls (2014) and Moment of Bliss (2018).
Herzig has spent years playing festivals such as Bonnaroo and Summerfest and touring as a headliner and as support for Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, The Fray, and as a member of 10 out of Tenn. She has had her music licensed for innumerable film, TV and commercial uses. Including over 10 songs on Grey’s Anatomy and most recently her song “Lost and Found” was featured in the trailer for Disney's Saving Mr. Banks and in a commercial for Carnival Cruises. Herzig can be heard on RAC's EP with their song collaboration "We Belong," featured on KCRW. Herzig also co-produced songs on Ingrid Michaelson's 2014 Lights Out album, including her first single “Girls Chase Boys.”
Not Even Close
Katie Herzig Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stare in the mirror I'm unfascinated with everything I have done
I'm faking my way, living it down
Oh my God I'm lazy and I'm frenzied
But I can't take this wine and bread
I'm not even close to where I want to be
And all of the people, as small as we are
Are crying out with our hands
Feeding the poor, feasting on sunsets
Take it away my friend
All of the hands are having their way
Licking their palms for a taste of grace
I'm saving myself for all the moments that I'll never have
I'm not even close to where I want to be
And all of the people, as small as we are
Climb out with our hands
I'm unfascinated as small as I am
Nothing else here is grand
So take me away, and move me ahead
So I can take a taste of wine and bread
I'm living it down, it's all that I have
This is about the things I'll have
Mercy
Cause I'm not even close to where I want to be
I'm unfascinated by everything else
And me
The lyrics to Katie Herzig's song "Not Even Close" are reflective of the common notion that life is not always easy and that achieving dreams is easier said than done. The singer expresses her desire for a better life but is unsatisfied with what she has accomplished so far. She looks at herself in the mirror and is unfascinated by everything she has done. She feels like she's faking her way through life and that she's lazy but at the same time frenzied. She's unhappy with where she is, but she's not sure how to get to where she wants to be.
Throughout the song, the singer uses metaphors to express her feelings of being unsatisfied and unfulfilled. When she says "I can't take this wine and bread," she's talking about not being able to take the easy path to success. She knows that she needs to work hard to achieve her dreams, but she's not sure if she's willing to put in the effort. The line "Feeding the poor, feasting on sunsets" is a reference to the fact that people who are less fortunate than her find joy in the simple things in life, while she's searching for something grander.
The song ends on a note of hope, with the singer acknowledging that she has a long way to go but knows that there's a way forward. She wants to be moved ahead and taste the wine and bread that she's been denying herself. Ultimately, the message of the song is that life is hard, but with persistence and hard work, one can achieve their goals and find fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a dream of living a life that's easier said than done.
I aspire to live a simpler, uncomplicated life, but the reality is far more challenging.
Stare in the mirror I'm unfascinated with everything I have done
As I look at myself in the mirror, I feel indifferent about my past accomplishments.
I'm faking my way, living it down
I'm pretending and suppressing my imperfections.
Oh my God I'm lazy and I'm frenzied
I feel both lacking in motivation and overwhelmed at the same time.
Licking my wounds, and moving ahead
I'm taking time to recover from past hurts before continuing forward.
But I can't take this wine and bread
I'm not satisfied with the simple pleasures in life; I desire something greater.
I'm not even close to where I want to be
I am far from reaching my goal or fulfilling my potential.
And all of the people, as small as we are
Though each of us is insignificant alone, together, we are powerful.
Are crying out with our hands
We use our actions to express our needs and desires.
Feeding the poor, feasting on sunsets
We find happiness in helping others and appreciating the beauty around us.
Take it away my friend, All of the hands are having their way
We work together to make things happen and achieve our goals.
Licking their palms for a taste of grace
People desire to be forgiven and to receive mercy and love.
I'm saving myself for all the moments that I'll never have
I am clinging to the hope of experiencing things that may never come to pass.
Climb out with our hands
We use our own efforts to rise above difficulties.
I'm unfascinated as small as I am
I feel insignificant and uninteresting.
Nothing else here is grand
There's nothing particularly admirable or impressive about my life or circumstances.
So take me away, and move me ahead
I need a change of scene and a push to move forward.
So I can take a taste of wine and bread
I long for meaningful experiences and deeper fulfillment.
I'm living it down, it's all that I have
I'm trying to get over the past and make the best of my life as it is now.
This is about the things I'll have
What matters to me is what I achieve and obtain in life.
Mercy
I plead for forgiveness and compassion.
Cause I'm not even close to where I want to be
I'm far from attaining my ambitions and hopes.
I'm unfascinated by everything else
Few things captivate or vex me these days.
And me
I, personally, am not satisfied with my current situation and progress.
Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.