Born in Chicago, Callaway made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim's short-lived but now famous Merrily We Roll Along (1981). This began a long-term professional relationship with Sondheim, as Callaway has performed in a number of live concerts in his honor and also played the role of Young Sally in the Lincoln Center concert production of Follies with Mandy Patinkin, Barbara Cook, George Hearn, Lee Remick, Carol Burnett, Elaine Stritch and the New York Philharmonic. Follies was recorded live and also filmed as a documentary. This recording is considered to be the definitive recording of the legendary Sondheim, Goldman, Prince collaboration. Additional stage credits include Lizzie in Baby (for which she earned a Tony Award nomination), The Three Musketeers, The Spitfire Grill (for which she earned a Drama Desk Award nomination), Sunday in the Park with George, Evita, Cats, and Miss Saigon, for which she received another Tony Award nomination. Liz also performed in The Look of Love, a 2003 musical revue of the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Callaway also had her own children's television show on WNEV-TV in Boston, Ready to Go, which ran from 1987 to 1991. She left this series in order to begin rehearsals for Miss Saigon on Broadway.
In July 2011, Ms. Callaway will star as Norma Desmond in the Pittsburgh CLO's new production of Sunset Boulevard
Callaway has also provided the singing voices for a number of animated characters, including Kiara in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Princess Jasmine in The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Odette in The Swan Princess, and Anya/Anastasia in Anastasia.
She has performed various cabaret acts at Joe's Pub, Rainbow & Stars, the Russian Tea Room, and the Lincoln Center in New York City, and at the Donmar Warehouse in London, among other venues.
Callaway's solo recordings include Anywhere I Wander, The Story Goes On, and The Beat Goes On. She released her fourth solo recording, Passage of Time, for the record label PS Classics, on October 20, 2009. The album has garnered rave reviews.
Callaway is the sister of singer and composer Ann Hampton Callaway, with whom she sang the theme song for the Fran Drescher comedy series The Nanny, composed by Hampton Callaway. The Callaway sisters have appeared together in a number of cabaret and stage production. Recordings of two of them, Sibling Revelry, recorded live at Rainbow and Stars in 1995 and Boom! recorded live at Birdland in 2011, have been released. Liz Callaway is married to former actor and acclaimed director Dan Foster. Foster is one of the three founding producers of the Hudson Stage Company, a non-profit, professional theatre company in residence at Pace University in Westchester County, New York. She is the daughter of the late journalist John Callaway and singer and voice teacher Shirley Callaway.
Callaway was honored at the 25th Annual Bistro Awards in New York City.
Liz Callaway also has a son - as of 2011 a sophomore at Kenyon College.
Sailing
Liz Callaway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause this relationship is goin' from love to hate
You're always trying to make me do things that are really dumb
And we're always disagreein' on how to have fun
And you know I don't want what you want
I want what I want
Yeah, It used to be funny but now it's sad
And your friends are all stupid and they talk too much
And I'd feel a lot better stayin' out of touch
'Cause you know I don't want what you want
I want what I want
You can say goodbye to me honey
You can say goodbye to my money
Well I'm sittin' here callin' from Tennessee
And I've been jammin' with my buddies like I ought to be
And it feels real good bein' on my own
And I don't mind leaving you as dry as bone
And you know I don't want what you want
I want what I want
Well it's all over, It's just too late
And I'm so glad we're livin' in different states
You know I said it all before like I knew I should
But you got nothin' in your head but a block of wood
And you know I don't want what you want
I want what I want
And you know I don't want what you want
I want what I want
And you know I don't want what you want
I want what I want
The song "Sailing" by Liz Callaway is about a failing relationship. The singer is addressing their partner, expressing that the relationship has turned from love to hate. The singer feels that their partner is always trying to make them do things that they don't want to do and that they never agree on how to have fun. The singer is very clear that they want what they want, and they don't want what their partner wants.
The song suggests that the relationship has come to an end, with the singer saying goodbye to their partner and their money. The singer is calling from Tennessee and is happy to be with their friends, playing music, and being independent. The singer is relieved to be out of the toxic relationship, stating that it's all over and that it's too late. The singer has said everything that they needed to say, but their partner still doesn't understand, having "nothing in [their] head but a block of wood."
Overall, the lyrics are about a relationship that has run its course, with the singer wanting to do their own thing and not be controlled by their partner. The lyrics express a deep sense of frustration, relief, and independence.
Line by Line Meaning
I got to talk to you baby, Set the record straight
I need to have a conversation with you to clarify things.
'Cause this relationship is goin' from love to hate
Our relationship is becoming more and more hateful.
You're always trying to make me do things that are really dumb
You keep pushing me to do things that I know are not wise.
And we're always disagreein' on how to have fun
We can never agree on what we consider to be fun.
And you know I don't want what you want
I have my own desires that do not align with yours.
I want what I want
I am determined to pursue my own passions and interests.
Well, You look like a yuppie and that's too bad
I do not approve of your appearance and lifestyle choices.
Yeah, It used to be funny but now it's sad
I used to find your quirks amusing, but now they just depress me.
And your friends are all stupid and they talk too much
I find your friends annoying and tedious to be around.
And I'd feel a lot better stayin' out of touch
I would be happier if I did not have to deal with you or your associates.
You can say goodbye to me honey
You are free to say farewell to me, dear.
You can say goodbye to my money
You can forget about receiving any financial assistance from me.
Well I'm sittin' here callin' from Tennessee
I am currently calling you from the state of Tennessee.
And I've been jammin' with my buddies like I ought to be
I have been enjoying myself with my friends, as I should be.
And it feels real good bein' on my own
I am relishing my independence and solitude.
And I don't mind leaving you as dry as bone
I have no qualms about leaving you with nothing.
Well it's all over, It's just too late
Our relationship has ended, and it is too late to salvage it.
And I'm so glad we're livin' in different states
I am pleased that we are geographically distant from each other.
You know I said it all before like I knew I should
I have expressed my feelings about our situation as I felt I had to.
But you got nothin' in your head but a block of wood
You seem to have no intelligence or imagination to comprehend our difficulties.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM A. FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind