She later signed with Virgin Music Canada and released her second album Breaking Point in 1994, a collection of roots, rock and soul. During this time period, she also contributed vocals to numerous songs for the gothic-oriented sci-fi television show Forever Knight, eight of which later appeared on the series' two soundtrack volumes.
In 1998, Yates formed Hey Stella! with bassist Bazil Donovan of Blue Rodeo, David Baxter and Michelle Josef. They released their self-titled debut Hey Stella! in 1999 and continue to be active on the club and festival circuit. In September 2007, Lori released her newest cd "The Book of Minerva" a stunning collection of acoustic-based old school country songs.
Helpless
Lori Yates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With dream comfort memory to spare
And in my mind I still need a place to go
All my changes were there
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Baby can you hear me now?
The chains are locked and tied across the door
Baby, sing with me somehow
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
Yellow moon on the rise
Big birds flying across the sky
Throwing shadows on our eyes
Leave us
Helpless, helpless, helpless
Lori Yates's song "Helpless" tells a story of a person reminiscing about a small town in North Ontario that they call home. The town is described as having "dream comfort memory to spare," hinting at a place where the singer feels at ease and able to think about the past. The singer still feels the need to return to this place in their mind, indicating a longing for its comfort and familiarity. Meanwhile, the sky and celestial bodies above are depicted in vivid colors, with "blue windows behind the stars" and a "yellow moon on the rise." The lyric "all my changes were there" suggests that the singer feels like they've changed a lot since leaving this town and wishes to regain some of what they lost. The chorus, with repeated cries of "helpless," might be interpreted as the singer feeling powerless to change the past or to return to this place they hold so dear. They invite the listener to join them in song, perhaps hoping to find solace in shared experience.
Overall, Lori Yates's "Helpless" is a poignant reflection on the elusive nature of memory and how it can shape our identities. The town in North Ontario stands in for the singer's personal history and the experiences that have shaped them. The singer's longing for this place could be interpreted as a desire to reconnect with themselves, to find a way to access the memories and emotions that have seemingly been locked away. The song's repeated cries of "helpless" suggest that this process is difficult and trying, but that perhaps by inviting others to join in, a shared sense of comfort and longing can emerge.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a town in north Ontario
The singer reminisces about a Canadian town she once lived in
With dream comfort memory to spare
The town was a place of peaceful contemplation and joyful recollection
And in my mind I still need a place to go
The singer still longs for the memories of that town, and wishes she could go back there
All my changes were there
The town was the source of the singer's personal growth and transformation
Blue, blue windows behind the stars
The night sky above the town was dotted with starry windows that sparkled like blue gems
Yellow moon on the rise
The moon rose over the town, casting a warm yellow light on everything below
Big birds flying across the sky
Large birds soared across the sky like free spirits, unencumbered by worldly concerns
Throwing shadows on our eyes
The birds' shadows fell on the townspeople, casting a temporary darkness over their lives
Leave us
The artist is expressing a desire for liberation from fear and uncertainty
Helpless, helpless, helpless
The singer feels powerless in the face of these challenges
Baby can you hear me now?
The lyric is a plea for help, directed either at a lover or a power beyond herself
The chains are locked and tied across the door
The singer is trapped by her own struggles and fears
Baby, sing with me somehow
The singer wants someone to share her pain and provide emotional support
Contributed by Lauren H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.