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.
I Can See Your Tracks
Laura Veirs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I won't follow them
I'll just hope for rain
Or some kind of crazy wind
To erase them
And chase them into oblivion
Oh I can smell the smoke
But I'll leave you alone
And sleep in this lonely cave
And pray for
A storm to scrub this dirt away
Oh I can hear the snakes
Creeping cross the scene
I'm quaking in my boots
But you won't hear me scream
You're half way
Down to New Orleans
You're half way
Down to New Orleans
In Laura Veirs's song "I Can See Your Tracks," the lyrics depict the aftermath of someone who has left a situation but has left a trail behind. The opening line, "Oh I can see your tracks, but I won't follow them," establishes the singer's decision not to pursue the person who left the tracks. Instead, the singer wishes for "rain" or "some kind of crazy wind" to "erase" the tracks and "chase them into oblivion." The singer does not want to be reminded of the past, and the metaphor of the tracks serves as a reminder of what has transpired.
The second verse reveals that the smoke from the person's fire can be smelled, indicating the person's presence is still felt. But, the singer chooses to remain alone in a "lonely cave" and "pray for a storm to scrub this dirt away." The third verse mentions the "snakes" that are "creeping cross the scene," perhaps alluding to the danger of the past relationship. The singer is "quaking in my boots," but doesn't want the other person to "hear me scream."
The repetition of "You're half way down to New Orleans" at the end of each verse serves as a reminder that the person who left the tracks is not present and is moving on with their life. The song is ultimately about the singer's attempt to move on from a previous relationship and the desire to forget the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I can see your tracks
I am aware of your actions and their consequences
But I won't follow them
I choose not to mimic your behavior
I'll just hope for rain
I wish for something to cleanse the situation
Or some kind of crazy wind
Or some unexpected event to alter the situation
To erase them
To remove any trace of your actions
And chase them into oblivion
And forget the impact of your actions
Oh I can smell the smoke
I can sense the aftermath of your presence
From your fire, babe
From the damage you have done
But I'll leave you alone
I'll distance myself from you
And sleep in this lonely cave
And deal with the loneliness that comes with it
And pray for
And hope for
A storm to scrub this dirt away
Something to cleanse the situation
Oh I can hear the snakes
I am aware of the danger
Creeping cross the scene
Lurking around the corner
I'm quaking in my boots
It scares me
But you won't hear me scream
But I won't let you know how I feel
You're half way
You are on your way
Down to New Orleans
To your destination
You're half way
You are on your way
Down to New Orleans
To your destination
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LAURA VEIRS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bob Duvall
That is Pete the deer, of Barnegat NJ. Born on March 19, 1935, orphaned in a forest fire. Then adopted by the Raymond Becket family. Pete was given to the Philadelphia Zoo in 1945. Years later when Mrs. Becket visited the zoo she called Pete's name. He would break from the pack and come put his nose through the bars and onto Mrs Becket's face.
I Love Her Music!! Laura Veirs.. <3
sidDkid87
Great stuff ... and proof positive why YouTube should never, NEVER block / remove the comment section from any, ANY upload - thank you for sharing this golden nugget!!
sudy
I thought this looked original. Sue Vaughan
Iluska Magalhaes
Thank you for this info !
JAQ GALLIER
This song and vid are everything
celloprofundo
Now I can die in peace, for I have heard the voice of angels, echoing forth from Laura and Neko Case..moved to tears..
Randy Depew
Best music video ever. Smiled the whole way through.
Ellen Diane
lovely voice-
rudeboy
Aw, this is so cute! I love deers--they go great with any song. :)
Al Lamaye
Listened to/watched this 5 times tonight! Buying her CD's Great sound! Listened to her other stuff too! And yes I want a pet Deer! :P :)