McLean is said to have picked up her first guitar at age 9 and age 12 formed an acoustic quartet. Her first public performance was in a local church basement. She sites her main musical influences from this time as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and the musicals of Rogers and Hammerstein. She attended Centennial Secondary School where she was influenced by Canadian singer songwriters Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bruce Cockburn.
After her first marriage dissolved in 1984, McLean attained a Bachelor of Arts from York University and worked professionally in the theatre and film community for more than a decade. She taught acting at Leah Poslun's Theatre and Theatre for Young People and developed Artist in the Schools programs with the Ontario Arts Council.
McLean’s first international performance was at the 2001 Rockrgrl Festival in Seattle. Her first full length album, Betty’s Room, co-written with partner Andy McLean, and produced by music veteran and friend John Whynot, featured drummer Gary Craig and Blue Rodeo sideman Bob Egan. Its independent release in 2002 established McLean as a noteworthy Canadian songwriter, achieving critical acclaim and airplay across Canada. It was released commercially in 2003.
In 2005 McLean released 12 new songs on her album entitled No Language.
Calling
Linda McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been living on these streets, the dust has filled my soul, I'm dry as Jesus, hanging on the cross
Calling, 'Where are you now, where are you now, I'm broke in two.'
He says, I've seen a lot of war, been around a long time, since the mother's lined these streets while their boys marched by
And I used to be a soldier, til the poison filled my mind, and the blood ran to landfill where the boys were dying,
Calling 'Where are you now, where are you now, where are you now, where are you, where are you now, where are you now, I'm broke in two, and I'm calling you.'
'Where are you now, where are you now, where are you now, where are you, where are you now, where are you now, I'm broke in two.'
The lyrics to Linda McLean's song Calling tell the story of a person living on the streets, who's only possession is their faith in Jesus. The opening lines of the song, "I've got Jesus in my pocket, he's all I own, can't carry much when you've got no home" convey the desperation and isolation of a person who has nothing to their name but their faith. The use of the word "pocket" suggests that the singer's connection to their faith is deeply personal and intimate, something they carry with them at all times.
The next few lines of the song paint a picture of a person who has been living on the streets for a long time, and who is struggling with their own spiritual desperation. They are compared to a "dry" Jesus, hanging on the cross, suggesting that they are in need of spiritual nourishment and rejuvenation. The chorus of the song is a plea to Jesus for help and guidance, with the singer begging, "Where are you now, where are you now, I'm broke in two." This repetition of the same line emphasizes the deep sense of hopelessness and loss that the singer is feeling.
In the second verse of the song, the focus shifts to Jesus himself, and the knowledge and experience he brings to the table. He is portrayed as a wise and battle-hardened soldier who has seen and experienced terrible things. The line, "And I used to be a soldier, til the poison filled my mind" suggests that Jesus himself has not been immune to the horrors of war and suffering in the world. Despite this, he encourages the singer to keep going, assuring them that he is there with them. The chorus is repeated once again, with the singer still desperately seeking guidance and hope from Jesus.
Overall, the lyrics to Calling are a powerful exploration of faith, despair, and hopelessness. They paint a vivid picture of a person struggling to survive on the streets, and the deep connection they have to their faith. The inclusion of Jesus as a character in the song adds depth and complexity to the lyrics, highlighting the idea that even those who seem all-knowing and powerful can still experience doubt and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
I carry Jesus with me because that is all I have, possessions are few when you live on the streets.
My soul is filled with sadness and I feel as parched as Jesus did while dying on the cross.
I am pleading for help, feeling completely broken and lost.
Jesus responds, saying he has witnessed much war and death, even back when mothers would line the streets to see their sons off to fight.
He used to be a soldier himself, but the horrors of war and the toxic effects it had on his mind left him broken.
I continue to plead for help, feeling more lost than ever before.
My cry for help echoes, again and again, hoping to be heard by anyone who may be listening.
Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.