Perhaps best known as a second season contestant on television phenomenon American Idol, Caldwell struck a chord with millions of the show’s viewers thanks to her gutsy vocals, passionate performances, and earthy charisma. On Without Regret, she wields her full-throttle belt to maximum effect on a series of emotionally resonant, pop-inflected rock songs, several of which she co-wrote. There are buoyant, propulsive rockers (female empowerment anthem “Going Going Gone” and first single “Mess of You”), the fiery and powerful (“Cost of Love” and “Heart Like Mine”), as well as soaring, graceful love songs (“Say Love” and the soulful “If You’re Gonna Fall”). Caldwell also covers Melissa Etheridge’s “Sleep While I Drive” as a tribute to Etheridge, whose “Come to My Window” Caldwell performed memorably on Idol. “We kind of conceived this album as a modern-day Melissa Etheridge moment,” Caldwell says. “I’m a massive fan of hers, as well as of Bonnie Raitt and Ann Wilson. I just love these fearless female rockers who sing straight from the heart.”
Caldwell strove to achieve the boldness of her favorite artists on Without Regret by recording songs that spoke to her, such as “Cost of Love” (written by Diane Warren) and “Heart Like Mine” (co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi and Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger), as well as co-writing four highly personal songs: “Taking Back My Life,” “Human After All,” “Frozen,” and “Say Love” — all of which document the different stages and emotions surrounding relationships. For Caldwell, the overall theme of Without Regret is just being human. “Like everyone else, I’ve had hardships: broken family, broken hearts, and thank God I did because I’ve been able to write honestly about the experiences in my life that have affected me in both good ways and bad,” she says. “If my music can give someone that push they need just to keep on going, then I’ve done my job.”
To help her deliver the authentic vocal performances she knew the songs required, Caldwell turned to producer Marshall Altman who has worked with singer-songwriters Matt Nathanson, Marc Broussard, and Kate Voegele, among others. “Marshall was amazing because he really welcomed all the emotion that went into making this record,” Caldwell says. “He taught me to embrace the imperfections — to stop worrying about every note being perfect and just let go.”
The most important thing, Caldwell says, “is that I jumped over to the fearless side. This album is my first step in allowing people to know ‘I’ve been where you are, I hurt like you do, but I’ve turned it around and made something positive moving forward and so can you.’”
Caldwell developed her fierce determination through a childhood that had its share of obstacles. Born in Katy, Texas, she describes herself as an attention-seeking kid who would climb on the coffee table, throw her hands in the air, and scream, “Look at me! I can do this!” “I’ve always wanted to be an entertainer,” she says. “I just wanted to perform for people.” That desire led to four years on the beauty pageant circuit, from ages 5 to age 9. “I loved the hair and makeup. I loved rehearsing,” she says. “My mom would have these extravagant outfits made, like red lamé with silver fringe and she would spray paint a silver cowboy hat and boots for me, the whole nine yards.”
A fan of country music and such artists as Reba McEntire, the Judds, and Randy Travis, Caldwell became obsessed with appearing on the television talent show Star Search, “the way people are with American Idol today,” she says. She wound up winning the competition five times, the most wins for a junior vocalist on the original version. At age 12, she landed a gig as a featured performer on a singing revue called “Country Tonite,” which meant a family move to Branson, MO, where the show was located. Caldwell sang country favorites six days a week, performing two shows a day, “doing full-on numbers where the dancers picked me up and I’m wearing a headset,” she recalls. Her mother told her she could stop anytime, but she loved performing and carried on for three years. Then at age 15, she decided she wanted to move back to Katy and “just be normal.”
Around this time, her parents’ marriage fell apart, her relationship with her father deteriorated, and her mother struggled to support her and her younger sister. Caldwell coped by going through what she describes as a rebellious phase, but the absence of performing took a deep emotional toll on her. So when auditions for the second season of American Idol rolled through Texas, Caldwell decided to take her shot and rode the wave all the way to the Top 10. When the show ended, she set out on a nationwide trek with the other finalists on the “Idols Live!” tour, then parlayed her fan favorite status into a stint as a correspondent for the entertainment/extreme sports program 54321 on FOX Sports Network, followed by a job as an entertainment correspondent and host for the TV Guide Network.
“I enjoyed hosting, but I didn’t want to let go of music or my dream of making an album,” Caldwell says. She spent several years working with her mentor, hit-maker Diane Warren, and several people approached her about numerous music projects, but nothing concrete really panned out until mid-2008. That’s when Caldwell wrote several songs that finally hit the emotional notes she knew she was capable of. The strength of her songs, plus her powerhouse voice, landed Caldwell a deal with Vanguard Records, part of the Welk Music Group. Shortly thereafter, Vanguard partnered with EMI Music Group to release Without Regret through Vanguard/Capitol.
“My two main philosophies are that everything happens for a reason and never apologize for who you are,” Caldwell says. “I try to live by both each day. I wasn’t meant to make an album any sooner because it wasn’t the right time for me. Now I’m on the right path and I really feel, for the first time, like I am truly fearless.”
Say Love
Kimberly Caldwell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The cost of love can rip your world apart
It can tear you up till you're down
Spit you out, bleed you dry
Yeah, the cost of love can have a painful price
The cost of love
But the cost of being alone is being lonelyGetting over love from nobody
Living no life at all
And the cost of being alone is feeling empty
When you got no love, you got nothing
Better to pay the cost of love
The cost of love can purge you nights of sleep
The cost of love can cause you pain so deep
It can wear you out, wear you down
Mix you up, mess up your mind, yeah, yeah
Yeah, the cost of love can cost so much sometimes
But the cost of being alone is being lonely
Getting over love from nobody
Living no life at all
And the cost of being alone is feeling empty
When you got no love, you got nothing
Better to pay the cost of love
'Cause love can be so good sometimes
But you will never know
If you don't let love inside
Don't hide your heart away
You'll be sorry someday, yeah, yeah
But the cost of being alone is being lonely
Living no life at all
And the cost of being alone is feeling empty
When you got no love, you got nothing
Better to pay the cost of love
The cost of being alone is being lonely
Getting over love from
nobody
Living no life at all
And the cost of being alone is feeling empty
When you got no love, you got nothing
Better to pay the cost of love
In these lyrics, Kimberly Caldwell is exploring the theme of love and its various costs. She acknowledges that love can come with a great deal of pain and heartache, referring to it as a "painful price," something that can "rip your world apart" and "purge your nights of sleep." She highlights the emotional toll it can take on a person, whether it's "tearing you up" or "messing up your mind." Despite all of the pain and emotional turmoil that can come with love, Caldwell argues that it's worth it to pay the cost of love because being alone is an even greater cost. She suggests that the pain of being lonely and having "no life at all" and "nothing" is much worse than the cost of love.
The lyrics offer a deep and thoughtful reflection on the nature of love and the risks that come with it. Caldwell explores the good and the bad parts of love, acknowledging that it can be painful but that it's worth it. She reminds listeners that it's important not to hide their hearts away and to give love a chance, despite the potential costs.
Line by Line Meaning
The cost of love can be a broken heart
Engaging in love often leads to the potential for deep emotional pain, symbolized by heartbreak.
The cost of love can rip your world apart
Love has the power to disrupt your life significantly, causing turmoil and uncertainty.
It can tear you up till you're down
Love can emotionally exhaust and devastate you, leaving you in a vulnerable state.
Spit you out, bleed you dry
The experience of love can drain you emotionally and leave you feeling empty and depleted.
Yeah, the cost of love can have a painful price
There is a heavy toll associated with love, often manifesting as profound emotional suffering.
The cost of love
This phrase encapsulates the sacrifices and hardships that accompany the pursuit of love.
But the cost of being alone is being lonely
Remaining solitary comes with the sorrow of loneliness, highlighting the human need for companionship.
Getting over love from nobody
Coping with the absence of love can be just as challenging as recovering from a romantic relationship.
Living no life at all
A life devoid of love lacks fulfillment and richness, leading to a feeling of existential dissatisfaction.
And the cost of being alone is feeling empty
Isolation leads to a profound sense of emptiness that underscores the importance of love.
When you got no love, you got nothing
Without love, the essential joy and meaning in life are significantly diminished.
Better to pay the cost of love
It is preferable to endure the challenges of love than to suffer the deeper pain of loneliness.
The cost of love can purge you nights of sleep
The emotional turmoil of love can result in sleepless nights filled with worry and anxiety.
The cost of love can cause you pain so deep
The emotional weight of love can lead to intense heartache that cuts deeply into your soul.
It can wear you out, wear you down
Love can be exhausting, both mentally and physically, leaving you drained and fatigued.
Mix you up, mess up your mind, yeah, yeah
The complexities and confusions of love can lead to mental chaos and uncertainty.
Yeah, the cost of love can cost so much sometimes
There are moments when the emotional investment in love feels overwhelmingly burdensome.
But the cost of being alone is being lonely
The reality of solitude often brings with it the deep sorrow of loneliness.
Getting over love from nobody
Healing from the absence of love is a process that can be just as painful as recovering from a lost relationship.
Living no life at all
Existence without love does not equate to a fulfilling or meaningful life experience.
And the cost of being alone is feeling empty
Isolation brings about a profound sense of hollowness, underscoring the value of connection.
When you got no love, you got nothing
Life devoid of love feels incomplete and lacking in essential joy.
Better to pay the cost of love
Choosing to experience the difficulties of love is preferable to the affliction of loneliness.
'Cause love can be so good sometimes
Despite its challenges, love has the potential to bring immense joy and fulfillment.
But you will never know
Without taking the risk to embrace love, you will miss out on its rewards.
If you don't let love inside
Opening yourself to love is essential to experiencing its positive effects.
Don't hide your heart away
Avoid withdrawing emotionally, as it prevents you from forming meaningful connections.
You'll be sorry someday, yeah, yeah
Regret for not embracing love can manifest later in life, leading to feelings of unfulfillment.
But the cost of being alone is being lonely
The pain of isolation remains a constant reminder of the need for companionship.
Getting over love from nobody
Recovering from the absence of affection is a process fraught with its own challenges.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind