Liz Stringer is a singer, songwriter and musician based in Melbourne, Austr… Read Full Bio ↴Liz Stringer is a singer, songwriter and musician based in Melbourne, Australia. With a reputation for utterly captivating live shows and a string of albums already behind her, Liz Stringer has established herself as one of Australia’s most exciting and talented musicians. Described by the Australian Herald Sun Newspaper as “an old-fashioned, Springsteen-style storyteller with a soulful, mature voice”, Stringer combines intimate, complex narratives with haunting vocals to create unique contemporary roots music.

Stringer most recent and her fourth studio album “Warm In The Darkness”, sees a departure from the intimacy of 2010’s solo record Tides of Time in favour of a bigger, more bombastic sound, with horns, organs and guitars accentuating the rock-solid foundation of long-time bandmates Tim Keegan (bass) and Adam May (drums) with the addition of Van Walker on guitar. The album was co-produced by Stringer and the Killjoys’ Craig Pilkington, who engineered and played guitar on Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s renowned debut and has produced/engineered many of Australia’s greats.

Described by the Music Australia Guide as “a true wordsmith”, Stringer’s indescribable voice and intimate stories capture the full spectrum of human emotions. To see her perform live is to see an audience utterly captivated, hanging on every word and every hook as Stringer guides them through journeys of heartbreak, sorrow, hope and love.

Bursting onto the scene in 2006 with her impressive debut Soon, Stringer’s smoky voice and deft guitar work attracted the attention of ARIA award winner Mia Dyson, with whom she toured in 2006 and 2009. Supports, tours and shows with the likes of Ash Grunwald, Jeff Lang, Weddings Parties Anything, Jen Cloher & The Endless Sea, Eric Bibb (US) and Joe Henry (US) soon followed. Stringer was also invited to be part of Deborah Conway’s 2008 “Broad” tour, with performances at the Sydney Opera House, QPAC in Brisbane and Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.

More recent festival highlights have included Port Fairy Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival, Mossvale Music Festival and the Australasian World Music Expo.

A passionate advocate of independent music, Liz released Warm In The Darkness and her earlier recordings as a firm independent.

Amazingly & without label backing, Liz has a ground swell of interest within the independent and greater music industry, and is widening this interest and acclaim with the releases of Pendulum, Tides of time and now Warm In The Darkness.

Liz has also recently just finished a 36 date tour all around Australia as 'Dyson Stringer Cloher' with Mia Dyson and Jen Cloher where all 3 artist onstage playing on each others songs backed up by the amazing Danny McKenna on drums and the awesome Tim Keegan on bass. More info on that here: http://dysonstringercloher.com/ & you can get the 3 track (1 song from each artist) Tour EP exclusively from Milk! Records here: http://store.milkrecords.com.au/album/dyson-stringer-cloher-2013-tour-ep

WEBSITE: http://lizstringer.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/lizstringermusic

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/#!/LizStringerAU

BANDCAMP: http://lizstringer.bandcamp.com/

For all booking enquiries and requests contact Cat Leahy at the Booking Stable:

Email: cat@thebookingstable.com

Web: www.thebookingstable.com

Victoria
Liz Stringer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am walking inside myself
Now that these streets belong to someone else
But I feel new blood running through my hands
Deep in my pockets as the shadows here expand

The city I love it ain't my city no more
The house we grew up in doesn't stand here anymore
The swarm of change has sent its huge flanks wide

I'm gonna watch ships come in on another tide

Little tiny baby I'll never let you down
But I cried in the morning just to hear a sound
Don't you worry darling I won't give you up
But I'm here in the middle and in the middle isn't far enough

I used to walk here in the winter time
The quiet streets washed out by yellow lights
Brown paper in the window where our days were spent
Coffee like nectar, now they can't afford the rent

A wave of grief looms over me
And I cower in the indents of my history
So I'm leaving here before here leaves me
I can't bear to tread damp sands where rivers once flowed out to sea

Little tiny baby I won't let you down
'Cause I cried in the morning just to hear a sound
Don't you worry darling I won't give you up
I'm here in the middle and in the middle isn't far enough

Every numbered track that binds these suburbs to each other
Every length of fresh chalked line
Bluestone lane, brick wall and gutter
Every house I got fucked up in 'til they all looked like any other
Informs it all since I could crawl, you taught me all I know

Victoria
Victoria

Victoria
Victoria

Overall Meaning

The song "Victoria" by Liz Stringer depicts a bittersweet goodbye to the singer's hometown, Victoria. The lyrics convey a sense of displacement and nostalgia as the singer reflects on the changes that have taken place in the city she once called home. The opening lines, "I am walking inside myself / Now that these streets belong to someone else" suggest that the singer feels like a stranger in her own city, as if her identity is no longer connected to the place she grew up in.

The theme of change is prominent in the song, particularly in lines such as "The city I love it ain't my city no more" and "The swarm of change has sent its huge flanks wide." The singer acknowledges that the places and memories that were once so familiar to her are disappearing, and she feels a sense of loss and sadness. However, she also looks toward the future with hope, promising to never let her "little tiny baby" down and to hold onto the memories that shaped her.

Overall, "Victoria" is a poignant reflection on the complexity of identity and the relationship between people and places. The nostalgia and sense of loss in the song are tempered by the singer's resilience and determination to move forward, creating a powerful emotional journey for the listener.

Line by Line Meaning

I am walking inside myself
I am deeply introspective and lost in my own thoughts and emotions.

Now that these streets belong to someone else
The city I once knew and loved has undergone a significant transformation and no longer feels like home.

But I feel new blood running through my hands
Despite feeling lost and disconnected, I still feel a sense of vitality and energy pulsing through me.

Deep in my pockets as the shadows here expand
I feel a sense of apprehension as I watch the shadows grow longer and the city change around me.

The city I love it ain't my city no more
The city I once loved and called home has transformed significantly, and no longer feels familiar or welcoming.

The house we grew up in doesn't stand here anymore
The physical landmarks that once represented my memories and experiences have been replaced or removed, leaving me feeling adrift.

The swarm of change has sent its huge flanks wide
The changes that have occurred in the city are massive and pervasive, impacting every aspect of life.

I'm gonna watch ships come in on another tide
Despite feeling disconnected from this city, I am still a part of it and will watch as it continues to evolve and change over time.

Little tiny baby I'll never let you down
I am committed to caring for and protecting my child.

But I cried in the morning just to hear a sound
As a new parent, the intensity of my emotions and the sense of responsibility I feel can be overwhelming.

Don't you worry darling I won't give you up
I am dedicated to being a loving and supportive parent, no matter what challenges come my way.

But I'm here in the middle and in the middle isn't far enough
Despite my commitment to my child, I still feel lost and disconnected in my current environment and situation.

I used to walk here in the winter time
I have fond memories of this city, and specifically of walking through it during winter.

The quiet streets washed out by yellow lights
I remember the peaceful and comforting sight of the quiet streets illuminated by the warm glow of streetlights.

Brown paper in the window where our days were spent
I have vivid memories of specific places and experiences within the city, and the passage of time has made them bittersweet and nostalgic.

Coffee like nectar, now they can't afford the rent
I remember specific aspects of the city, such as the wonderful coffee, that have now become too expensive or difficult to access.

A wave of grief looms over me
I feel a deep sorrow and sense of mourning for the city and my past experiences there.

And I cower in the indents of my history
I feel a sense of fear and uncertainty as I reflect on my past experiences and how they have shaped me.

So I'm leaving here before here leaves me
In order to maintain some sense of control and autonomy, I am choosing to leave this city and situation before it leaves me completely disconnected and adrift.

I can't bear to tread damp sands where rivers once flowed out to sea
I am unwilling to continue moving forward in a situation that feels stagnant and lifeless, where there is no longer any sense of growth or progression.

Every numbered track that binds these suburbs to each other
I have a deep and intimate understanding of the city and its various neighborhoods and communities.

Every length of fresh chalked line
The changes and evolution of the city over time have left their mark, and I have a deep appreciation and understanding of those changes.

Bluestone lane, brick wall and gutter
I have a deep appreciation for the unique and distinctive architectural character of the city.

Every house I got fucked up in 'til they all looked like any other
Despite my fond memories, certain experiences and aspects of the city have lost their appeal and become soured over time.

Informs it all since I could crawl, you taught me all I know
The city and the experiences I've had within it have played a fundamental role in shaping who I am and how I view the world.

Victoria
Repeating the name of the city serves to emphasize its importance in the artist's life and emotions.

Writer(s): Liz Stringer

Contributed by Jordan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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