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.
Sorry
Lisa Cerbone Lyrics
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Look, all the buttons are missing.
The stripes have fallen off the sleeve.
And here are coins from every country.
I stole them before I had to leave.
I thought I wouldn't believe I'd really been there.
The places of my dreams.
The places of my dreams.
Here's a picture of all the men.
Bet you can't guess which one was me.
I was so much younger then.
Here's a picture of my best friend.
Don't know what's become of him.
I hope he's found the places of his dreams.
The places of his dreams.
The places of his dreams.
The places, places...
This is the comic strip I started while I was there.
They say they kept it running after I'd gone.
They all thought I'd be a big-shot artist like Picasso.
Now all that artwork collects dust in the garage.
Sometimes I go in there on weekends to see the places of my dreams.
The places of my dreams.
The places of my dreams.
The places, places...
Places...
The song "Sorry" by Lisa Cerbone tells the story of a person who served in the navy and has returned home with a uniform full of memories. The first verse describes the uniform with missing buttons and fallen stripes, as well as coins from around the world that were collected during their travels. The singer admits to stealing the coins, indicating that they may have felt that they needed tangible reminders of their experiences in order to validate them. The repetition of "the places of my dreams" implies that these were locations that the singer had longed to visit or imagined before they actually had the opportunity to do so.
The second verse consists of pictures that the singer has kept to remember their time in the navy. The picture of the ship and the men on it is accompanied by the singer's hope that their best friend has found the places of their dreams. The singer acknowledges that they were much younger when the picture was taken, implying that the experiences they had in the navy have contributed to their growth and maturation. The final section of the song describes a comic strip that the singer started during their time in the navy, which was left behind when they departed. The artwork is now collecting dust, but the singer still visits it on weekends to revisit the places of their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my navy uniform.
This is a physical reminder of my past life in the navy.
Look, all the buttons are missing.
The uniform shows signs of wear and tear over the years.
The stripes have fallen off the sleeve.
The uniform is no longer the symbol of pride it once was.
And here are coins from every country.
These coins represent the places I've been and the experiences I've had.
I stole them before I had to leave.
I took these coins as a way to hold onto my memories of traveling the world.
I thought I wouldn't believe I'd really been there.
I had trouble believing that the amazing places I visited were real and not just a dream.
Here's a picture of the ship we went on.
This picture is a snapshot of a specific moment in my life and a reminder of the people I was with.
Here's a picture of all the men.
This picture serves as a visual memory of the camaraderie and brotherhood I experienced during my time in the navy.
Bet you can't guess which one was me.
This line is a playful nod to the fact that I may not look or act like someone who was in the military.
I was so much younger then.
This line reflects on the natural passing of time and how I have changed since my days in the navy.
Here's a picture of my best friend.
This photo is a cherished reminder of the friendship that meant so much to me during my time in the navy.
Don't know what's become of him.
This line acknowledges that life takes people in different directions and I may never see my friend again.
I hope he's found the places of his dreams.
I wish my friend the best and hope he has found happiness and fulfillment in his life.
This is the comic strip I started while I was there.
This is a creative project that helped me pass the time during my navy days.
They say they kept it running after I'd gone.
This line is affirmation that my work made an impact and was appreciated by others.
They all thought I'd be a big-shot artist like Picasso.
This shows that I had dreams and ambitions beyond my military service.
Now all that artwork collects dust in the garage.
This is a sad realization that my artistic aspirations didn't come to fruition and my work is now forgotten.
Sometimes I go in there on weekends to see the places of my dreams.
I still hold onto the hope and memories of my dreams and artistic talents, even if they haven't materialized in the way I had hoped.
The places of my dreams.
This line represents the depths of my innermost desires and aspirations, even if they are only realized through memories and fantasies.
The places, places...
This repetition symbolizes the importance of these memories in my life and how they continue to shape my present and future.
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.