Veirs was raised in Colorado, studied geology and Mandarin Chinese at Carleton College, worked as a translator for a geological expedition in China, and now lives in Portland, Oregon. Veirs has said that she didn't seriously listen to music until she was in her 20s; instead, she just heard what was in her environment. She listened to folk / country / classical / pop, around the house & on the radio, during her youth.
Attending Carleton College in rural Minnesota, Veirs latched onto feminist punk rock from the Pacific Northwest, eventually starting an all-female punk band called "Rair Kx!". Veirs studied geology and Mandarin Chinese. After college, she embraced older country and folk music. Her first foray into songwriting started with a geological expedition in China, where she served as translator. She was miserable and immersed herself into writing lyrics as a way of coping.
She put out her own self-titled album Laura Veirs, recorded live and featuring just her and guitar, in 1999. She has since made five highly acclaimed records with producer Tucker Martine. 2003 saw the release of Troubled by the Fire, a full-band effort that found the artist sharing the studio with such luminaries as Bill Frisell and violist Eyvind Kang. She signed to Nonesuch Records the following year with the atmospheric follow-up Carbon Glacier. Year of Meteors followed in August of 2005. She collaborated with The Decemberists on "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)", from their 2006 album The Crane Wife. Her sixth record, Saltbreakers, was released worldwide on Nonesuch Records in April 2007. Her seventh album July Flame was released in January 2010.
In November 2011, Veirs released the album Tumble Bee: Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs For Children. The album presents mostly traditional songs, and features an array of guest musicians, including Colin Meloy, Jim James, and Bela Fleck. The album won a Parents' Choice Award in 2012.
In September 2012 her first feature film soundtrack was released: Hello I Must Be Going.
Veirs tours frequently in Europe, the US and Australia both solo and with her backing band Saltbreakers, consisting of Karl Blau on bass, guitar, and backing vocals, keyboardist Steve Moore, and Tucker Martine on drums.
Don't Lose Yourself
Laura Veirs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt my concave thoughts
I felt my voluntary blindness
for staring straight into the sun
the romantic air of your eye patch
called me across the room
I clung there and danced with your silent
admired your divine tattoos
we slept in the shadow of a cedar tree
we made love on the rolling tide
we smelled the perfume of the waxing moon
we dreamt of all friendships kind
we touched the blood of the black cat
we pet the mammoth dog of tears
in the flickering light we were laughing:
"necessity conquers fear!"
don't lose yourself
don't let yourself be lost...
dreaming we were stones in black stillness
dreaming of the death of the sun
waking to a world of white blindness
painted eyes of the holy one
the death of the world was upon us
and the discipline of the wind
we see less and less all the time, dear
just look at this mess we are in
don't lose yourself,
don't let yourself be lost!...
staring at the entrance to the mine
I prayed for your wounds to close
tiger ointment and a cosmic collision
and the crucifixion of the rose
don't lose yourself, don't lose yourself...
don't lose yourself,
don't let yourself be lost...
The lyrics to Laura Veirs's song "Don't Lose Yourself" paint a vivid picture of a romantic escapade in nature. The singer describes feeling weak and blind yet captivated by the "romantic air" of their lover's eye patch. The lyrics suggest a sense of temporality and impermanency as they describe the pair's dreams of "all friendships kind" and the inevitable "death of the world." The singer's pleas to "not lose yourself" suggest a struggle to hold onto a sense of self in the face of life's upheavals and uncertainties.
The song's melancholic yet dreamy tone is emphasized by the wistful descriptions of natural scenery, from shadowy cedar trees to waxing moons. The pairing of lyrical language with heavier metaphorical themes such as death and crucifixion create a sense of weighty emotions being experienced by the singer. Despite the emotional depth, the song retains a sense of hope and optimism as the singer urges themselves and their lover to not lose sight of themselves amidst the chaos of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I felt my vocal chords weakening
I started losing my voice
I felt my concave thoughts
I felt like my thoughts were getting darker and emptier
I felt my voluntary blindness
I chose to ignore the truth and was blinded by my desires
for staring straight into the sun
because I was looking for something intangible and unattainable
the romantic air of your eye patch
the mysterious and alluring quality of your eye patch attracted me
called me across the room
drew me towards you
I clung there and danced with your silent
I stayed with you and enjoyed our silent moments
admired your divine tattoos
I appreciated the beauty and significance of your tattoos
we slept in the shadow of a cedar tree
we found sanctuary under the tree
we made love on the rolling tide
we embraced while the waves moved underneath us
we smelled the perfume of the waxing moon
we sensed the fragrance of the moon as it grew brighter
we dreamt of all friendships kind
we wished for harmonious and meaningful relationships
we touched the blood of the black cat
we experienced misfortune and danger
we pet the mammoth dog of tears
we comforted each other during times of sadness
in the flickering light we were laughing
we found joy in simple pleasures despite our challenges
"necessity conquers fear!"
we believe that facing challenges head-on is necessary to overcome our fears
don't lose yourself
stay true to who you are
don't let yourself be lost...
don't give up on yourself
dreaming we were stones in black stillness
imagining ourselves as part of something greater and eternal
dreaming of the death of the sun
wishing to live until the end of time
waking to a world of white blindness
realizing that the world isn't always what it seems
painted eyes of the holy one
feeling lost and searching for a guiding force
the death of the world was upon us
the end of the world was near
and the discipline of the wind
the harsh reality of the situation
we see less and less all the time, dear
we're losing sight of the things that matter
just look at this mess we are in
acknowledging the difficult situation we find ourselves in
don't lose yourself
stay true to yourself
don't let yourself be lost!...
don't give up on yourself
staring at the entrance to the mine
facing a difficult journey ahead
I prayed for your wounds to close
hoping for healing and recovery
tiger ointment and a cosmic collision
beliefs and practices that may seem unorthodox but bring comfort
and the crucifixion of the rose
the beauty of the world despite the pain and suffering
don't lose yourself
stay true to who you are
don't lose yourself...
remain grounded and stay true to yourself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOSE SARAMAGO, LAURA VEIRS, TUCKER MARTINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Sparklesmkmewnaparty
This song saved me years ago and I’m happy we realigned
@MetalGod999
What a beautiful song by Laura Veirs. I can still remember hearing this song when it first came out about 12 years ago...and it's been stuck in my head ever since. A true classic.
@ryancarter1038
My favourite track by Laura Veirs. Love this!
@ezridax
i like the piano in this
@cdromero20
Been lookin for this song since July 2007. I was walkin around in the mall and heard it playing on the over head radio. I heard pieces of it and liked it so I recorded with my phones voice recorder. I found it thanks to my Blackberry Q10's "Whats that song" app. Eventho if i woulda had the lyrics right I could have found it years ago. I thought she was saying "dont lose your soul" the whole time I thought there was a breakdown at the end with just the notes playing, hmm. Eitherway, lovely song
@ahuska
i discovered Laura Veirs in Passos Manuel (2006 ) Porto, Portugal. :D She is fantastic and their songs :D
@SUPERALGESTATIC
Awesome song. Earlier I discovered Laura Veir through her song Carol Kaye. Now I'm browsing away...
@darktrain1971
saw here play at the academy in manchester last night..played tracks from july flame and her new album warp and weft but also played some stuff from her back catalogue including galaxies..took the time out to sign a cd and had a quick chat.Thanks laura..If you get the chance go see her live.
@alexanderfiebrandt6732
oh it's sooo beautiful... how it hits me!
@Candy-ec3wm
Classic