Born Keren Ann Zeidel in Caesarea, Israel on 10th March 1974, she lived in the Netherlands and Israel until the age of eleven, when her family moved to France. Her first group, KAB (for Keren Ann Band), lasted three years. In 1997, she wrote the song "Father" for the film K by Alexandre Arcady, in which she also acted a small part. The next year, at the age of twenty-four, she formed Shelby with two other women; the group released one album and had a small success with the song "1+1+1", whose composer Benjamin Biolay became an important collaborator. In 2000 she began her solo career with La biographie de Luka Philipsen -- "Luka" in homage to the Suzanne Vega song, "Philipsen" after her maternal grandmother -- written with and produced by Biolay, who also co-wrote and -produced its follow-up, La disparition. (In return, she helped write his debut album, Rose Kennedy.) The pair also wrote several songs for Henri Salvador's best-selling, prize-winning 2000 comeback album, Chambre avec vue.
Lady & Bird is a collaboration with Bardi Johannsson of the Icelandic group Bang Gang.
Not Going Anywhere, which includes several songs from La disparition re-sung in English, was her first U.S. release, but her American breakthrough came with its follow-up, Nolita. Recorded in Paris and New York, it is named for Nolita, her neighborhood in lower Manhattan; it is sung half in French and half in English.
Tennessee Waltz
Keren Ann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When an old friend I happened to see
I introduced her to my darlin′
And while they were dancing, my friend stole my sweetheart from me
I remember the night, and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
Keren Ann's Tennessee Waltz tells the story of a heartbroken narrator who loses his girlfriend to a friend at a dance where they were dancing to the title's namesake, the Tennessee Waltz. The singer reflects on the moment with a sense of regret as he narrates the loss of his love. He remembers the night vividly and connects the beauty of the dance with the pain of heartbreak. The melody of the song carries a sense of longing and melancholy that amplifies the mood of the lyrics.
The song connects with listeners through its focus on lost love and the consequences of treachery. The pain of losing a loved one is palpable in the lyrics, and the way the song expands to themes of nostalgia and regret create emotional resonance. The beauty of the Tennessee Waltz that the singer describes so poetically is contrasted with the ugliness of betrayal that he experiences. This song is a great example of the power that a song can have to evoke powerful emotions in listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I was dancin' with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
I was at a formal dance with my significant other, dancing to the music of the Tennessee Waltz.
When an old friend I happened to see
While dancing, I saw an acquaintance I knew from the past.
I introduced her to my darlin'
I formally introduced my old friend to my significant other.
And while they were dancing, my friend stole my sweetheart from me
While my friend and my significant other were dancing, my friend managed to win over my significant other and take them away from me.
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
I vividly recollect the night of the dance when the Tennessee Waltz was being played.
Now I know just how much I have lost
I realize how much I have suffered from losing my significant other to my friend.
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
I lost my endearingly cherished significant other.
The night they were playing the beautiful Tennessee Waltz
It was on that same night when the enchanting melody of the Tennessee Waltz was being played.
Writer(s): Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart
Contributed by Addison H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.