Williams has garnered considerable critical acclaim but her commercial success has been moderate. She has a reputation as a perfectionist and as a slow worker when it comes to recording; six years passed between the release of her second and third albums. However, she frequently makes guest appearances on other artists' albums and contributes to compilations and soundtracks. She has recorded with Elvis Costello, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Leftover Salmon, and Steve Earle, among others. She has also opened concerts for artists such as Neil Young.
Early life
Williams was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the daughter of poet and literature professor Miller Williams. Her father worked as a visiting professor in Mexico and Chile as well as different parts of the American South, before settling at the University of Arkansas. His daughter showed an affinity for music at an early age, and was playing guitar at 12.
Career
By her early 20s, Williams was playing publicly in Austin, Texas and Houston, Texas, concentrating on a folk-rock-country blend. She moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1978 to record her first album, for Smithsonian/Folkways Records. Titled Ramblin', it was a collection of country and blues covers. She followed it up in 1980 with Happy Woman Blues, which consisted of her own material. Neither album received much attention.
In the 1980s Williams moved to Los Angeles, California (before finally settling in Nashville, TN), where -- performing both backed by a rock band and in acoustic settings -- she developed a following and a critical reputation. Nevertheless, it was not until 1988 that Rough Trade Records released the self-titled Lucinda Williams. The single "Changed the Locks", about a broken relationship, received radio play around the country and gained fans among music insiders, including Tom Petty, who would later cover the song.
Its follow-up, Sweet Old World (Chameleon, 1992), was a melancholy album dealing with themes of suicide and death. Williams's biggest success during the early '90s was as a songwriter. Mary Chapin Carpenter recorded a cover of "Passionate Kisses" (from Lucinda Williams) in 1992, and the song became a smash country hit for which Williams received the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1994.
Williams had garnered considerable critical acclaim, but her commercial success was moderate. Emmylou Harris said of Williams, "She is an example of the best of what country at least says it is. But, for some reason, she's completely out of the loop. And I feel strongly that that's country music's loss."
Williams also gained a reputation as a perfectionist and slow worker when it came to recording; six years would pass before her next album release, though she appeared as a guest on other artists' albums and contributed to several tribute compilations during this period.
The long-awaited release, 1998's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was Williams' breakthrough to the mainstream. Containing the single "Still I Long for Your Kiss" from the Robert Redford film The Horse Whisperer, the album received wide critical notice and soon went gold. It received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. She toured with Bob Dylan and on her own in support of the album.
Williams followed up the success of Car Wheels with Essence (2001). This release featured a less produced, more stripped-down approach both musically and lyrically, and moved Williams further from the country music establishment while winning fans in the alternative music world. She won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Rock performance for the single "Get Right With God", an atypically uptempo gospel-rock tune from the otherwise rather low-key release. The title track was co-written and co-recorded with alternative country musician Ryan Adams.
Her seventh album, World Without Tears, was released in 2003. A musically adventurous though lyrically downbeat album, this release found Williams experimenting with talking blues stylings and electric blues.
In 2006, Lucinda recorded a version of the John Hartford classic "Gentle On My Mind," which played over the closing credits of the Will Ferrell filmTalladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
Williams was a guest vocalist on the song "Factory Girls" from Irish punk-folk band Flogging Molly's 2004 album, "Within a Mile of Home", and appeared on Elvis Costello's The Delivery Man. She duetted with Steve Earle on the song "You're Still Standin' There" from his album I Feel Alright from 1996.
Williams released the album "West" on February 13, 2007, to mostly good reviews. The material is highly personal, chronicling the death of her mother and the breakup of a turbulent relationship.
Lucinda released her ninth studio album, "Little Honey", on October 14th.
Soldier's Song
Lucinda Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby sends the little one out to play
Enemy shot two of my buddies down
Baby rides the little one on the
Merry-go-round
By my post, I'm standing guard
Baby hopes for roses in the front yard
Baby takes the little one to a
Baseball game
Why am I in this God forsaken place?
Baby washes the dirt off
The little one's face
Ten year old's in the killing fields
Baby's planning the weekly meals
Bodies in a muddy ditch
Baby's got supper to fix
My buddy's got a hole in his head
Baby's getting the little one ready for bed
Today I shot my enemy
Baby gives the little one a hug for me
Both my buddy's legs got blown off
Baby tends to the little one's cough
I stare down the barrel of a gun
Baby's goin' out to have some fun
I hear ringing in my ears
Baby's face is all wet with tears
I hear echoes of shots
Baby's only thinkin' sweet thoughts
Why the hell did they send me
Here to fight?
Baby kisses my picture and turns
Off the light
I can't look my enemy in the eye
Baby tells the little one,
Daddy's gone bye-bye
Today I took a bullet through the heart
Baby's gonna have to make
A brand new start
I met my enemy today
Baby sends the little one out to play
Enemy shot two of my buddies down
Baby rides the little one
On the merry-go-round
Lucinda Williams's song "Soldier's Song" is a powerful reflection on the emotional and psychological toll of war on soldiers and their families. The lyrics depict the confusion and pain of a soldier fighting an enemy whose name he doesn't even know, as he grapples with the senseless violence and destruction he witnesses every day. Meanwhile, his wife (referred to as "baby" in the lyrics) is left to care for their child and maintain some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.
At the core of the song is the contrast between the soldier's experiences of war and his family's attempts to carry on with their everyday lives. While the soldier is constantly surrounded by death and devastation, his wife and child try to find joy in simple pleasures like playing on a merry-go-round or going to a baseball game. However, the reality of the situation cannot be ignored, and the brutality of war ultimately takes its toll on everyone involved.
"Soldier's Song" is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, both for those on the front lines and the families left behind. Through her lyrics, Williams paints a vivid picture of the complicated emotions and experiences that soldiers face, offering a profound commentary on the toll that war takes on the human psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
I met my enemy today
Today, I encountered the enemy whom I am fighting against in this war.
Baby sends the little one out to play
Despite the danger and chaos surrounding us, Baby sends the innocent child out to play, trying to protect them from the horrors of the war.
Enemy shot two of my buddies down
Unscrupulous enemies shot and killed two of my fellow soldiers in battle.
Baby rides the little one on the Merry-go-round
In an effort to distract the child from the war, Baby takes them on a ride on the Merry-go-round.
By my post, I'm standing guard
I am vigilant and watching over our area, keeping guard and ready for any danger.
Baby hopes for roses in the front yard
Even amidst the war, Baby still has hope for a peaceful future, wishing to fill the front yard with roses one day.
I don't know my enemy's name
I am fighting against a faceless enemy whose name is unknown to me.
Baby takes the little one to a Baseball game
In an attempt to keep the child happy and unafraid, Baby takes them to a Baseball game.
Why am I in this God forsaken place?
I question why I am in this seemingly God-forsaken place, surrounded by death and destruction.
Baby washes the dirt off The little one's face
Trying to shield the child from the war, Baby washes the dirt off their face to keep them clean and safe.
Ten year old's in the killing fields
Children as young as ten years old are caught in the crossfire and danger of the war.
Baby's planning the weekly meals
Despite the constant fear and danger of the war, Baby still has to plan and prepare meals to sustain those at home.
Bodies in a muddy ditch
I see the gruesome and demotivating sight of bodies lying in a bloody ditch.
Baby's got supper to fix
Despite the disturbing sights of war, Baby still has to prepare and cook supper for the hungry family.
My buddy's got a hole in his head
One of my fellow soldiers is seriously injured with a bullet hole in their head.
Baby's getting the little one ready for bed
As the war continues outside, Baby prepares the child for bed, tucking them in to sleep and safe from harm.
Today I shot my enemy
Today, I fired the deadly bullet that killed one of our enemies.
Baby gives the little one a hug for me
Sending love from afar, Baby hugs and comforts the innocent child on my behalf.
Both my buddy's legs got blown off
In battle, one of my fellow soldiers is grievously injured with both legs blown off.
Baby tends to the little one's cough
Despite the war going on around them, Baby focuses on the child's well-being, comforting and treating their cough.
I stare down the barrel of a gun
I am facing an incredibly dangerous and tense situation, staring fearfully down the barrel of an enemy gun.
Baby's goin' out to have some fun
In a brief moment of peace, Baby takes the opportunity to go out and enjoy themselves, finding some joy in the midst of a terrible war.
I hear ringing in my ears
The sound of gunfire and explosions causes a painful ringing in my ears, adding to the stress and danger of the situation.
Baby's face is all wet with tears
Despite trying to stay strong and positive, Baby can't suppress their fear and sadness, crying openly as they worry about the safety of those they love.
I hear echoes of shots
The sounds of gunfire and battle continue to echo in my mind, creating a deeply traumatic experience.
Baby's only thinkin' sweet thoughts
To stay strong and positive, Baby tries to fill their mind with happy and sweet thoughts in the midst of the war.
Why the hell did they send me Here to fight?
I question the decisions and motivations of those who sent me to fight in such a deadly and senseless war.
Baby kisses my picture and turns Off the light
In a touching moment of love and hope, Baby kisses my picture goodnight and turns off the light.
I can't look my enemy in the eye
Despite killing the enemy, I struggle to face them and look them in the eye, feeling a sense of guilt and despair.
Baby tells the little one, Daddy's gone bye-bye
In a heartbreaking moment of honesty, Baby tells the child that their father is gone, emphasizing the danger and sadness of the war.
Today I took a bullet through the heart
In a tragic twist, I am fatally wounded in battle, struck through the heart by an enemy bullet.
Baby's gonna have to make A brand new start
With my passing, Baby has to start anew, dealing with the grief and loss while continuing to protect and care for the child in a world still in the grip of war.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUCINDA WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind