Hanley was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She was a member of Letters to Cleo from 1990 to 2000 (the length of the band's existence). She came up with the band's name (she had a pen pal named Cleo when she was younger). In 1997, she started to work on other projects than the band, starting with a role in the Boston Rock Opera's performance of Jesus Christ Superstar as Mary Magdalene.
In 1999, Hanley made a cameo as herself in the film 10 Things I Hate about You, singing a cover version of Nick Lowe's "Cruel to be Kind" at the movie characters' high school prom. Towards the end of Letters to Cleo's career, she began performing with her husband and fellow Letters to Cleo member Michael Eisenstein outside of the band. Around the same time, she gave birth to their daughter, Zoe.
Starting her own solo career, Hanley started doing music for the cartoon Generation O. She also provided the singing voice for Rachael Leigh Cook's character Josie in the movie Josie and the Pussycats. In 2002, she released her first solo album, Cherry Marmalade. That same year, she appeared on the Dropkick Murphys/Face to Face split cd, providing guest vocals on the original version of the Dropkick Murphys song "The Dirty Glass". She also performed the song "Follow Me" for the video game Sonic Heroes in 2003. In 2004 she released a follow up to Cherry Marmalade, The Babydoll EP. She is very involved with the Boston based charity "Hot Stove, Cool Music." She is currently in the Los Angeles-based girl band, The Dilettantes, with New York native Michelle Lewis. In 2004, she and her husband Michael Eisenstein had their second child, Henry Aaron, the name given in honor of baseball player Hank Aaron and their love for baseball.
In August 2005, Hanley announced on her website's message board that she would be recording a cover of Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" for the soundtrack of the Reese Witherspoon film Just Like Heaven In September 2005, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as part of a pretaped man-on-the-street segment, singing a song about falling in love at Starbucks.
The internet radio station KGRL featured her as their Flower-Powered Artist for September of 2006. The feature includes an exclusive interview, CD Review of Cherry Marmalade, Review of Babydoll EP, and an on-demand video stream of the whole Hotel Cafe performance last July 2006.
She's also quite popular with fans of the New England Patriots, as every time she has sung the National Anthem for them at Gillette Stadium the Patriots have won. She has sung eight times as of January 2007 with as many wins, including the only home playoff games for the Patriots in 2006 and 2007.
She sings the main theme song for My Friends Tigger and Pooh, a half-hour Disney Channel TV show that premiered on Playhouse Disney on May 12, 2007 and "We Are The Care Bears" from Care Bears: Oopsy Does It!.
On Thanksgiving Day 2007, Hanley sang a song called "Caring Changes The World" in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the Care Bears Float. Hanley toured as a back up singer with Miley Cyrus on her Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus : Best of Both Worlds Tour.
Fall
Kay Hanley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it suited me fine
That the leaves had started
Turning and it was cold outside
Because the sun surely shined
The autumn ought to come
You used to say you liked it
Well I still like it
I didn't think
That you cared anymore
Now that you're out in Los Angeles
You kind of closed that door
But soon I'll need some warm air
I'm coming out in November
Will you be there?
Will you be there?
In the fall
Tell me could the reddest tree
Definitely give you something
To figure out?
Or is that impossible now?
I wore that red fuzzy sweater
Through the frosty grass today
And it made me feel so safe and warm
Like cherry marmalade
So it looks like I might
Plant myself where I am
And just travel light
It looks like I might
Fall
Kay Hanley's "Fall" is a nostalgic and wistful song about the changing of the seasons, the memories it brings, and the uncertainty of the future. The lyrics describe the beginning of autumn as the leaves turn, the weather grows colder, and the days become shorter, juxtaposed against the singer's personal life. The opening line, "I got up early on Monday and it suited me fine," sets the tone for the song as the singer seems to be at peace with the changing of the seasons and the changes happening in their own life. This is further emphasized by the line, "Because the sun surely shined / The autumn ought to come / You used to say you liked it / Well, I still like it," indicating that despite the passing of time, the singer still holds onto the memories of the past.
The lyrics turn more personal in the second verse as the singer reveals a sense of loss and uncertainty. "I never got your message / I didn't think / That you cared anymore / Now that you're out in Los Angeles / You kind of closed that door," suggests that the singer has lost touch with someone who was once an important part of their life. The lyrics then turn to the future as the singer announces their plans to travel to Los Angeles in November and wonders if the person they have lost touch with will be there.
The chorus is slightly ambiguous, as it could be interpreted in different ways depending on the listener. "In the fall / Tell me could the reddest tree / Definitely give you something / To figure out? / Or is that impossible now?" could be interpreted as the singer wondering if autumn and its memories hold any significance to the person they have lost touch with, or it could be more introspective, as the singer reflects on their own memories and whether they hold any relevance in the present.
Overall, "Fall" is a poignant song that captures the bittersweet nature of change and the passage of time. Through the changing seasons, the memories they bring, and the uncertain future, the singer reflects on what is lost and what endures.
Line by Line Meaning
I got up early on Monday
I woke up early on a Monday morning
And it suited me fine
I was satisfied with waking up early
That the leaves had started
I noticed that leaves were changing colors
Turning and it was cold outside
It was cold outside due to the changing season
Because the sun surely shined
The sun was shining despite the cold weather
The autumn ought to come
It is time for autumn
You used to say you liked it
You previously enjoyed autumn
Well I still like it
I still enjoy autumn
I never got your message
I did not receive your message
I didn't think
I did not believe
That you cared anymore
That you still had feelings
Now that you're out in Los Angeles
You are currently in Los Angeles
You kind of closed that door
Our relationship has ended
But soon I'll need some warm air
I will require warm weather soon
I'm coming out in November
I am arriving in November
Will you be there?
Will you be present?
Will you be there?
Will you be present?
In the fall
During the autumn season
Tell me could the reddest tree
Could the most vibrant tree
Definitely give you something
Provide you with something
To figure out?
To understand and analyze?
Or is that impossible now?
Or is that no longer possible?
I wore that red fuzzy sweater
I had on a red and fuzzy sweater
Through the frosty grass today
While walking on the frosty grass today
And it made me feel so safe and warm
It provided me with feelings of comfort and warmth
Like cherry marmalade
Similar to the comfort of eating cherry marmalade
So it looks like I might
It seems that I may
Plant myself where I am
Stay in my current location
And just travel light
Travel with minimal luggage
It looks like I might
It seems that I may
Fall
Experience a downfall or emotional decline
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY GEORGE ANDERSON, MARSHALL ALTMAN, MARSHALL N ALTMAN, STEVEN ANDREW SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind