As a 17 year old out of high school, Keaton started thinking about college. He decided on The Evergreen State College, located in Olympia, Washington. The area, which has become known as a fertile breeding ground for music and art, proved perfect to set in motion his initiation into the immense world of music. It was there that Keaton started writing songs. He dove in headfirst, taking on courses ranging from 20th century classical composition to Indonesian gamelan music to jazz and quite a lot in between. Keaton's years at Evergreen not only introduced him to diverse global music but also taught him to incorporate everything into his own sensibilities. Major record labels have accused Keaton of being too diverse to contain.
After an early graduation, it was back to Los Angeles, playing music with old friends like Tre Hardson (of The Pharcyde) and new ones like singer N'Dea Davenport (of the Brand New Heavies), Kim Hill (of the Black Eyed Peas), underground hip-hop legend Medusa and appearing on Jay Leno's TONIGHT SHOW with hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg.
Before Keaton was 21 years old he was asked to compose music for the motion picture Mercy Streets. Labels began to investigate and eventually he landed a deal with Maverick Records. Keaton released a five-song EP with Maverick entitled "Currently". The EP displays a taste of bluesy, rootsy, guitar-driven songs & ballads, with stylish arrangements that showcase his rich, often spooky melodies. Indeed, the disc's delicate, down-home title track is in rotation at radio stations around America. Recently reaching ..1 on the charts of Tucson, AZ's KWMT 92.9 The Mountain.
One of the first to play Keaton's music was influential LA public radio station KCRW, which afforded him the opportunity in early 2005 to play the Universal Amphitheatre supporting Coldplay. Keaton's music has also been featured on LA's ..1 mid-day radio show, KLSX 97.1, "Heidi, Frosty and Frank". Here is where leaks have started of some of the tracks on Keaton's album that were produced by well known producing team, The Matrix. The timing for Keaton's meeting (through a mutual friend) with the Matrix really worked for both. Keaton's songs were thought of as being too alternatively structured to be radio friendly, though many agreed there was something there. The Matrix, just off Avril Lavigne's COMPLICATED, were seeking something to ground them, and reveal the soul in their pop music. The team loved every second of working together, and ended up with an album that was completed just in time for the record label to conclude changes that made releasing such a "big album" impossible. Hence, a move to the beautiful freedom and diversity of CD Baby.
Keaton participated in the 2005 Sundance Film Festival as a part of BMI's annual showcase. Sharing the bill with Vanessa Carlton, Minnie Driver, Joe Firstman and Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service). Keaton is no stranger to the world of film and television. It's kind of the family business. Keaton's little stepsister, Emma Roberts, costars with JoJo in the just completed AQUAMARINE. Emma has an album coming out, featuring songs from her television series UNFABULOUS. Keaton's sister, Morgan Simons, is a culinary artist who tries to feed actresses healthfully enough such that they will not need to name their babies after food!
Keaton's grandfather, Don Garrett, has been publicist to such world renowned sensations as everything from The Supremes to "The Flintstones". Another of Keaton's grandfathers, screenwriter David Rayfiel, wrote such loved films as "Three Days of the Condor" & "Round Midnight", to name a few. Keaton's grandmother, Lila Garrett (whom Keaton immortalized in the song "Joseph" on which Keaton took the opportunity to play all the instruments including drums, bass, piano, guitar and vocals) has credits and Emmy awards as writer/ producer/ director on pretty much every situation comedy from the 1960s to the 2000s. Keaton and his father, Jimmy Simons, had a chance recently to work together when Keaton appeared on Fox Televisions' MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, which Jimmy produces and sometimes directs. Keaton was cast by his episode's director, Bryan Cranston, who also plays "Hal" on the series. Keaton's mother, Eliza Roberts, has made a name for herself as a Hollywood Jane of all trades. From actress to casting director, manager to writer. In her early 20s she became producer of the pre-MTV phenomenon "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert". With baby Keaton in tow, Eliza's show hosted live performances from such acts as Chuck Berry, James Brown, The Brothers Johnson, Donna Summers, Abba, Natalie Cole, and featured early comedy by David Letterman, Andy Kaufman, Michael Keaton and almost Robin Williams - but no one could quite figure out what his act was.
Beyond MALCOLM, like many musicians today, Keaton has crossed over into the world of acting, having performed a heart-stopping rendition of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" on NBC's acclaimed "American Dreams". Keaton will also be seen starring in Henry Jaglom's upcoming feature film, "Hollywood Dreams" (Lots of "dreams" needed to sort through some of the harsh realities of our world these days, it would seem). Keaton's earliest work features his mother, Eliza (Garrett), three months pregnant with him, when she appeared as "Brunella, at the desk" in NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE.
Just Outside My Window
Keaton Simons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took a breath
Blinked my eyes
And didn't show it
It wasn't till I heard the song
That squeezed my heart
And brought the storm
Just outside my window
It can't be real
Please take me home
Your empty body
Doesn't remind me
CHORUS
In the beginning
There was nothing
Some things never change
Just outside my window
Is the rain
We had plans
And we had time
I really thought we'd live our lives
Here together
But like a Monarch Butterfly
A glimpse of beauty passing by
Just outside my window
Now I feel
It can't be real
Please take me home
Your empty body
Doesn't remind me
In the beginning
There was nothing
Some things never change
Just outside my window
Is the rain
Is the rain
Just outside my window
Just outside my window
Oh
In the beginning
There was nothing
Some things never change
Just outside my window
Is the rain
Is the rain
Oh
In the beginning
There was nothing
Some things never change
Just outside my window
Is the rain
Is the rain
Just outside my window
Take a look
Take a look outside
My window
Take a look outside my window
Just outside
Just outside
The song "Just Outside My Window" by Keaton Simons talks about the loss of a loved one and the emotional turmoil that comes with it. The first verse depicts the moment when the singer hears about the death of someone close to them. They keep a stoic exterior and don't show the pain they feel. It's only when the song comes on that the emotions take hold, and a storm brews just outside the window. The storm represents the turmoil within the singer's heart. They can't believe that the person is gone, and this is emphasized in the chorus when they say that "in the beginning, there was nothing, some things never change, just outside my window is the rain."
The second verse talks about the plans that the singer had with the deceased. They thought they'd live their lives together, but like a monarch butterfly, the person passed by and left a fleeting glimpse of beauty. It's a metaphor for how life is fragile and can be taken away in the blink of an eye. The chorus is repeated, but this time there's an added line: "Take a look outside my window." It's as if the singer is inviting the listener to see the world through their eyes, to feel the pain and heartache that they're going through.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of how fleeting life can be, and how one moment can change everything. The storm outside the window represents the emotional storm within, and the lyrics express the raw pain of losing someone close.
Line by Line Meaning
When she told me you had died
When I was informed of your death by someone else
I took a breath
I stopped for a moment to regain my composure
Blinked my eyes
I closed and opened my eyes in disbelief
And didn't show it
I continued to keep my emotions hidden
It wasn't till I heard the song
It was only when I listened to the song
That squeezed my heart
That had a powerful emotional impact on me
And brought the storm
And unleashed a wave of emotions
Just outside my window
Right where I could see it
Now I feel
At present, I am experiencing
It can't be real
I am having a hard time believing it is true
Please take me home
I want to leave and be in a more comfortable place
Your empty body
Your lifeless physical form
Doesn't remind me
It does not evoke memories or emotions for me
In the beginning
Initially
There was nothing
There was complete emptiness
Some things never change
Certain things remain constant
Is the rain
It is currently raining heavily
We had plans
We had made future arrangements together
And we had time
We had plenty of opportunities to spend time together
I really thought we'd live our lives
I genuinely believed we would grow old together
Here together
Living in this place as a couple
But like a Monarch Butterfly
Similar to the lifespan of a monarch butterfly
A glimpse of beauty passing by
An brief moment of beauty that disappeared quickly
Take a look
Take a moment to observe
Just outside
Right beyond
Contributed by Carson V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gord Vass
Love this. A beautiful song and lots of great shots.
Shelley Sandler
Great song!!!! From Loren's NYC extended family. U rock Keaton!! & too bad we never met Loren (this is Maurice's wife & family) but maybe you can sing one of Loren's songs, there was one about planets? When you come to NYC maybe we can all catch up! I know Maurice would LOVE that & Loren has a newlywed step brother & sister that would like that too & so would I, Shelley PS I sent your song out to 25 peeps so word of mouth is the best!!! Best Regards, Moe & his New Yorkers!!
wasabihansen
hahaha entry level lml