After the Pharrell video went viral, several different record labels tried to sign Rogers. She ended up negotiating a contract with Capitol Records where "she licenses her music to them through her own imprint, Debay Sounds." As a result, she has more control over her sound and image than many artists at a similar place in their music careers.
Rogers's EP, Now That the Light Is Fading, was released on February 17, 2017. She released her major-label debut album, Heard It In a Past Life, in January 2019. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200.
She made her television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 15, 2017, Saturday Night Live debut on November 3, 2018 and Today Show debut on July 12, 2019.
She cites Carrie Brownstein, Patti Smith, Kim Gordon, and Björk as her musical inspirations, while prominent singers Brandi Carlile and Sharon Van Etten - who she calls her "musical big sisters" - have become mentors. She also mentioned in her initial conversation with Williams that she has synesthesia, a benign condition where one or more senses is perceived at once. In her case, she is able to perceive colours as a response to hearing music.
Alaska
Maggie Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That took my breath away
Moving slowly through westward water
Over glacial plains
And I walked off you
And I walked off an old me
Oh me, oh my, I thought it was a dream
And now, breathe deep, I'm inhaling
You and I, there's air in between
Leave me be, I'm exhaling
You and I, there's air in between
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh)
You and I, there's air in between
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh)
Cut my hair so I could rock back and forth
Without thinkin' of you
Learned to talk and say
Whatever I wanted to
And I walked off you
And I walked off an old me
Oh me, oh my, I thought it was a dream
So it seemed
And now, breathe deep, I'm inhaling
You and I, there's air in between
Leave me be, I'm exhaling
You and I, there's air in between
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh) (ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh)
You and I, there's air in between
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh)
(Ooh-ooh, ooh)
You and I, there's air in between
The song “Alaska” by Maggie Rogers is about the transformation that she experienced after a trip to Alaska. In the first verse, she describes walking through icy streams that took her breath away, symbolizing the overwhelming feeling of change that she experienced. As she continued walking through the glacial plains, she felt like she was shedding the old version of herself, represented in the line “And I walked off an old me.” The feeling of transformation was so strong that she thought it was a dream.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the space between her and her past self, as well as the space between her and the person she is addressing. “You and I, there’s air in between” suggests that there is a separation between the two, but it also acknowledges that there is something connecting them, represented by the air. The second verse talks about how she cut her hair and learned to speak her mind, symbolizing the changes she made in her life. These changes allowed her to feel free and not tied to her past.
Overall, “Alaska” is a song about self-discovery and the power of making positive changes in your life. It is a reminder that transformation can be difficult, but it is ultimately worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
I was walking through icy streams
I was experiencing a difficult path in life filled with obstacles and hardship.
That took my breath away
The situation was overwhelming and left me speechless.
Moving slowly through westward water
I was making my way in one particular direction despite the challenges that arose.
Over glacial plains
The path was long and unpredictable, with no clear endpoint in sight.
And I walked off you
I let go of a detrimental relationship or connection.
And I walked off an old me
I left behind many of my old habits and ways of thinking that weren't serving me well.
Oh me, oh my, I thought it was a dream
At the time, it felt too good to be true; I couldn't believe my luck.
So it seemed
I had a hard time accepting my good fortune because it felt like it wasn't meant to be.
And now, breathe deep, I'm inhaling
I'm taking in all the beauty and positivity of my new life freely.
You and I, there's air in between
There's space and distance between us now, and it's a good thing.
Leave me be, I'm exhaling
I'm releasing all the negativity and pain that was holding me back and moving on.
(Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh)
Instrumental
(Ooh-ooh, ooh)
Instrumental
Cut my hair so I could rock back and forth
I changed my appearance or behavior in a significant way to feel liberated and carefree.
Without thinkin' of you
I'm happily living my life without worrying about your disapproval or influence.
Learned to talk and say
I gained confidence in myself and can now speak up for myself.
Whatever I wanted to
I have the freedom to express my thoughts and opinions without fear of judgment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Graham Schadt, Margaret D. Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Harvest Angel
GOOD MORNING MAGGIE!
You know this actually like maybe 30 times Ive listened to this song-
I just don't want to come off O.C.D.
So I'll leave this last comment.
Can you please just watch my 3 minute video once, and leave a comment?
Just take a leap of faith,
and trust me.
The Harvest Angel
Adam
https://youtu.be/SN5GjLnW2SY
Sterling
This song speaks to me so differently acoustically. I love it.
Wonder J
this version of this song is better then the original, god I'm addicted
KaitlynMartinMusic
Maggie, this is absolutely incredible. This version just shows how beautiful the song is even more. Congrats on your success so far. :)
Michael Cost
I loved this song when it first came out but now, with this Acoustic version, I can't get enough of this song once more!
John Ryland
let's put these on the a full cd and make a full classic, joni mitchell would be proud and we have a masterpiece......
Steve Walter
Didn't think this song could get better... I was wrong. Wonderful.
Isabelle
Beautiful again, Maggie. Both versions transport me in two totally different ways, and that is artistry! I connect with both.
zukacs
Song so good made me rethink my life
Courtney Kehr
I absolutely admire everything you create.
Shauna Welch
I've got chills this is so beautiful