Her real exposure though came at the age of sixteen when she auditioned for Australian Idol. She quickly received high praise with one judge claiming that she was "the best thing musically that has ever came out of this country." While on the show, Lisa performed such songs as Collide, Diamonds on the Inside, Fall At Your Feet and Heart of Glass. Despite receiving positive reviews, Lisa felt vulnerable without her guitar providing solace.
Nevertheless, she was finally reunited with the instrument as she performed a rare track from Coldplay entitled See You Soon. Despite the pressure to perform it well, due to her growing reputation as an authentic guitar-playing songwriter ("reminiscent of an early Joni Mitchell"), she mesmerized millions with her enticing rendition. After two more performances, including an original entitled Too Far Gone, Lisa was ready to go her own way and that she did.
Soon after leaving the show, she was offered a couple of recording contracts but rejected the offers, claiming that such an album would be too manufactured. Instead, admirably, Lisa decided to continue developing her craft as both a performer and songwriter. She quickly built a grass-roots following after touring with Old Man River, as well as performing both at National Youth Week and on MySpace (four performances) to a viewership of over ten thousand. Her page has now received over three hundred thousand views. It was around this time that Lisa felt she was ready to sign with both Scorpio Music and Warner Music, and recently with Sony Publishing, all with the support of Dan Hume from Evermore.
On August 4th 2007, her first EP entitled Said One to the Other was released, which included the tracks Slow and Incomplete Lullaby. The EP debuted at number 27 on the ARIA charts and number 1 on the Australian iTunes chart. Of late, after putting school on hold temporarily, Lisa has been touring with the likes of Sparkadia, The Hampdens and Evermore, with an upcoming tour supporting Ben Lee. She has also expressed interest in producing another EP in the future.
Lisa is currently on a tour of the eastern states of Australia. Much to the chagrin of fans from her home town of Albury-Wodonga, Lisa has decided to leave her home town off the tour in favour of larger cities.
Wah Ha
Lisa Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
I spend
All my day
Tryin′ to be okay
But okay comes and goes
I feel like I'm holdin' on a little too strong
Wah ha
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Wah ha
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Well, I′m not your average
Suffering girl with a pencil in her hair
I got gifts, thank you, life
I love them, I sing for you
Do you hear me?
Do you see the joy dancin′ out my mouth?
Wah ha
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Wah ha
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Well, here I sway
Tempted by the waves
What'll it be? Dry land or open sea?
You′ve got nothing to lose
N-n-n-nuh nothin' to lose
Ho, oh
Nothin′
Nothin' to lose
Smoke stories, light and crystal vomit
Stardust singing out like comets
Do you feel the sun at night?
Do you see the stars in my eyes?
Wah ha
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Wah ha
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Wah ha
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Wah ha
The song "Wah Ha" by Lisa Mitchell is a reflection of the emotions of the singer, who is trying to hold onto a feeling of okayness, but is failing to do so. She feels like she is holding on a little too strong, which suggests that she is trying to maintain a facade of being okay, but is struggling to do so. The repetition of the lines, "doo, doo, doo, doo" and "wah ha" throughout the song create a dreamy, hypnotic effect, which adds to the emotional intensity of the lyrics.
The second verse is a statement of self-love and acceptance, where the singer emphasizes that she is not a typical "suffering girl" and has gifts to offer to the world. She sings for her listeners and asks if they can see the joy coming out of her mouth. The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, suggesting that the singer is trying to remind herself of her own strength and her gifts.
In the final verse, the singer is tempted by the waves, asking herself whether she should choose dry land or open sea. She concludes that she has nothing to lose, and sings about smoke stories, light, and crystal vomit. The reference to stardust and comets creates a sense of wonder and dreaminess, suggesting that the singer is willing to explore unfamiliar territory and take risks. Overall, the song is a poignant reflection of the human struggle to find peace amidst chaos and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Doo, doo, doo, doo
Repetitive instrumental sounds.
I spend
I dedicate my time.
All my day
The duration of my hours of wakefulness.
Tryin' to be okay
I endeavor to have a sense of well-being.
But okay comes and goes
But that sense of well-being is transitory.
And I feel like I'm holdin' on
I perceive that I am waiting.
I feel like I'm holdin' on a little too strong
I reckon that I may be waiting too urgently.
Wah ha
A nonsensical exclamation.
Well, I'm not your average
I'm exceptional.
Suffering girl with a pencil in her hair
I am not a prototypical tormented person with a pen or pencil in their hair.
I got gifts, thank you, life
I possess valuable qualities thanks to life.
I love them, I sing for you
I adore them and I express myself through music for the listener.
Do you hear me?
Do you perceive my message?
Do you see the joy dancin' out my mouth?
Can you distinguish the happiness felt in my expression?
Well, here I sway
I am moving back and forth.
Tempted by the waves
I am lured by the waves.
What'll it be? Dry land or open sea?
Will I choose stability or unpredictability?
You've got nothing to lose
There's no risk.
N-n-n-nuh nothin' to lose
Absolutely nothing to lose.
Ho, oh
An expression of elation.
Nothin'
Nothing.
Nothin' to lose
Absolutely nothing to lose.
Smoke stories, light and crystal vomit
Tales created by smoke, ranging from faint to bright.
Stardust singing out like comets
Metaphorically, spacial elements resonating like shooting stars.
Do you feel the sun at night?
Do you sense what I am feeling even though it's counterintuitive?
Do you see the stars in my eyes?
Can you see the beauty and wonder that my eyes carry?
Wah ha
A nonsensical exclamation.
Wah ha
A nonsensical exclamation.
Writer(s): Lisa Mitchell
Contributed by Eliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lisamitchellmusic
Hope you like Mahogany Sessions Live that I just filmed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txnyp5Vjpt8&t=15s
@misterhamez
a real female artist. how can you tell? she doesn't need to use her sexuality to produce music. she's an amazing talent.
@TheHacawihe
Yep one of unfortunately very few but those that are there are amazing.
@user-qm3gi2km1k
that`s the thing about most female and/or male artists, to be honest being half naked wont increase your singing talents.
@TheHacawihe
Kaily spice now thats the truth
@_syntaxera_
Uh, so I guess I shouldn't be here then...
@sophiatemporal8015
Please have a show in Asia!!!! Love you Lisa.
@RsUnborn
Wow the view is amazing, hope it was a peaceful trip :)
@jop9768
Raw and real. Beautiful.
@Aresous
it's fucking incredible what she's saying.. She's saying how incredible life is, she's singing to the being that is the universe, just life really. That's what she's doing in the video. feeling the being all around her and inside her and just being. living and loving life. fucking incredible. Wish I could go to one of her concerts, full on support for her.