Lisa worked with musician and producer Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon, Red House Painters) on her third release, Ordinary Days. From this experience, Lisa learned to shape a more organic soundscape and to explore mood to complement her delicate voice and poetic themes. On We Were All Together, the songs explore these ideas even further. All the musical and lyrical elements work sparingly to speak of those things that sometimes go unsaid but are frequently felt, bringing the listener in close. Since many of the songs were written after the loss of Lisa’s father, Lisa’s songs prove to be a more personal outing than those of the past, yet at the same time, continue to cover universal ground (“Tiny Patch of Earth”, “Change the Ending”). Still, there is also a whimsical quality found in songs inspired by her children (“Mia Noelle”, “Humming”, and “You Are So Loved”). These songs highlight the redemptive nature of life. Whether the songs are joyful or melancholic, or anywhere in between, at the forefront of Lisa’s work is an attempt to hold onto fleeting moments with love and hope.
Lisa currently lives in Maryland with her family and is a professor teaching English as a Second Language when she is not writing.
Calm As Houses
Lisa Cerbone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you know there will be something in her eyes you'll recognize.
And this nonsense she speaks tells you more of this strange peace you
Never realized.
Calm and safe as houses set off the road.
Calm and safe as houses set off the road.
Wound up so tightly, ready for blast off.
Years of silence and fade outs.
Calm and safe as houses set off the road.
Calm and safe as houses set off the road.
She has eyes in the land of the blind.
Calm and safe as houses set off the road.
The opening line of Lisa Cerbone's song Calm As Houses, "She walks backwards through the door", creates an image of someone leaving a situation or relationship, yet not quite ready to fully let go. The line "But you know there will be something in her eyes you'll recognize" suggests a familiarity and depth to the relationship between the two characters, one that allows the singer to see beyond the surface of the situation. The "nonsense" that the woman speaks is described as revealing a "strange peace" that was never before realized, highlighting the dichotomy between the confusion of the situation and the comfort and peace that is simultaneously present.
The repeated phrase "Calm and safe as houses set off the road" serves as both a chorus and a mantra, emphasizing the sense of security and stability found in this off-road location. The singer has been "wound up so tightly" and is "ready for blast off", suggesting a sense of anxiety or urgency, but the calmness and safety of this house and the woman who inhabits it seems to soothe that tension. The woman's "climbing words like sundrops" are a metaphor for the way in which her words enter the singer's soul and bring a sense of lightness and hope.
The final line, "She has eyes in the land of the blind", speaks to the woman's uniqueness and ability to see things that others cannot. The phrase "land of the blind" suggests a place of confusion or chaos, yet the woman is able to navigate it with clarity and calmness. Overall, Calm As Houses speaks to the power of human connection, even in challenging situations, and the way in which finding a safe and calm space can bring a sense of peace and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
She walks backwards through the door,
The woman enters the room in a unique way, moving contrary to the norm.
But you know there will be something in her eyes you'll recognize.
Although her behavior differs, you can still sense familiarity in her gaze.
And this nonsense she speaks tells you more of this strange peace you
Never realized.
The woman's inexplicable words reveal an unfamiliar sense of tranquility.
Calm and safe as houses set off the road.
She exudes a sense of serenity and security, isolated from the traditional path.
Wound up so tightly, ready for blast off.
Despite her calm exterior, she is tightly wound and prepared for rapid movement.
Years of silence and fade outs.
Years of silence and fading progress have preceded this moment.
Her climbing words like sundrops entered your soul.
Her words, like rays of sunshine, penetrate deeply into your being.
She has eyes in the land of the blind.
In a world of confusion, she sees with clarity.
Calm and safe as houses set off the road.
Once again, her demeanor radiates peace and safety, apart from the common path.
Contributed by Elizabeth H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.