In 1983, she decided to become a psychologist, enrolling in Yeshiva University. She continued playing music while completing her PhD, and began to have some success as part of a duo with Shawn Colvin. However, when they began to attract record company interest, Kaplansky declined, choosing instead to set up a private practice and become a staff psychologist at a New York hospital. For several years, she concentrated largely on her work, and played little in the way of concerts. However, she still did some session work, such as singing backing vocals in the studio for Suzanne Vega.
By the early 1990s she found herself increasingly drawn back to music. Colvin, who by this time had experienced some commercial success, offered to produce an album for her. The result, The Tide, a mixture of her own songs and several covers, was released by Red House Records (Greg Brown's label) in 1994. At this time, she decided to give up her psychology practice, and return to music full-time. She released her second album, Flesh and Bone, in 1996.
In 1998 Kaplansky joined with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell to form the folk group Cry Cry Cry, which made an album and toured extensively as a result of the success of the original six week tour.
1999's Ten Year Night won rave reviews and boosted her popularity, leading to performances on CBS-TV. She followed that album in 2001 with Every Single Day.
The Red Thread, released in early 2004, includes songs about adopting her new daughter Molly, who Lucy and her husband Rick brought home from China in late 2003, and several songs relating to her experiences living in downtown Manhattan during 9-11. In 2007 she released her latest album Over the Hills.
Goodnight
Lucy Kaplansky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if dawn comes I won't worry
Something deep inside keeps me awake
I wish that you were here right beside me
I recall when I was very young
And I could not fall sleep
My father sang me songs to make me tired
But memories don't come so easily
Wherever you are sleeping
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
Goodnight goodnight
Wherever you are sleeping
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
Now I lie awake and it's no fun
I'm tossing and turning
I'd call you if it weren't so very late
But telephones won't bring you close to me
I recall the nights we stayed up late
Wide awake but still dreaming
There was nothing on this earth
That could make me tired
But memories don't come so easily
So goodnight goodnight
Wherever you are sleeping
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
Goodnight goodnight
Wherever you are sleeping
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
Lucy Kaplansky's song "Goodnight" is a love song with a touch of longing and sadness. The song starts with the singer commenting on how sleepless nights don't affect her. She then expresses a desire for her loved one to be with her, keeping her company during her sleepless nights. The lyrics then take the listener on a journey through the singer's memories of her father singing her to sleep when she was a child. She contrasts that with her current state of being wide awake and her regret at not being able to call her loved one due to the late hour.
The song's chorus, "goodnight, goodnight, wherever you are sleeping, and I hope that if you dream you dream of me," is a heartfelt expression of the singer's desire to be with her loved one, even if just in dreams. This line is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing its importance.
Overall, "Goodnight" is a poignant and tender love song that expresses the singer's longing for her loved one and the comfort that their presence would bring her. It highlights the power of memories, both joyful and painful, and the ways in which they shape our experiences and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleepless nights don't bother me at all
I'm fine with not being able to sleep.
And if dawn comes I won't worry
I won't be anxious even if I can't sleep and it's morning.
Something deep inside keeps me awake
There's something inside me that's preventing me from sleeping.
I wish that you were here right beside me
I want to be with someone I care about while I try to sleep.
I recall when I was very young
I remember a time when I had trouble falling asleep.
And I could not fall sleep
I had difficulty going to sleep.
My father sang me songs to make me tired
My dad used to sing me lullabies to help me fall asleep.
But memories don't come so easily
I can't remember everything from my past as easily anymore.
So goodnight goodnight
Time to go to sleep.
Wherever you are sleeping
Wherever you are, sleeping peacefully.
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
I wish you dream of me, even if just for a little bit.
Now I lie awake and it's no fun
I don't enjoy staying awake anymore.
I'm tossing and turning
I'm restless and can't find a comfortable position.
I'd call you if it weren't so very late
I would contact you, but it's too late at night to do so.
But telephones won't bring you close to me
A phone call won't replace the feeling of having you here with me.
I recall the nights we stayed up late
I remember the times we spent staying up late together.
Wide awake but still dreaming
Even though I wasn't sleeping, I was daydreaming.
There was nothing on this earth that could make me tired
I was so happy and content that I didn't feel tired at all.
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
I hope you dream of me, no matter what it is about.
Goodnight goodnight
It's time to go to sleep again.
Wherever you are sleeping
Wherever you may be sleeping peacefully.
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
I hope you dream of me again, just like I will about you.
And I hope that if you dream you dream of me
I wish for this so badly that I say it twice.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIFF EBERHARDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gillian Emslie
She does a terrific job with this on her first album, and I thought it couldn't be improved upon. I was wrong...
Gregory Barlow
I love her voice