According to the Walking In Memphis Songfacts, Cohn was discovered by Carly Simon in the mid-'80s when he was with a 14-piece band called The Supreme Court. Atlantic Records signed him in 1989, but the first attempts to record his debut album with Tracy Chapman 's producer David Kerschenbaum failed. Ten months later, he tried again, producing the set himself with help from the little-known Ben Wisch, who had helped him with his demos. Finally released in 1991 when Cohn was 31 years old, his self-titled debut album was a huge hit, thanks to the massive success of "Walking In Memphis." Cohn won the 1991 Grammy for Best New Artist award, beating out both Boyz II Men and Seal. Cohn never matched the chart success of this song, but like his musical heroes Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne , he remained a critical and artistic success as a songwriter and performer.
He has issued two other studio albums to date, The Rainy Season (1993) and Burning the Daze (1998), both on Atlantic Records. A self-released live compilation, Live 04-05 (2005), is being sold at concerts on his current tour.
He is the most famous graduate of Beachwood High School in Beachwood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. He attended Oberlin College as well. In addition, Cohn is notably married to ABC News journalist Elizabeth Vargas whom he met at the 1999 US Open after being introduced by Andre Agassi. Cohn and Vargas have two sons: Zachary Raphael (born on January 31, 2003) and Samuel Wyatt (born on August 16, 2006). Cohn has two other children— Max and Emily—from a previous marriage.
On August 7, 2005, Cohn was shot in the head during an attempted carjacking, following a concert with Suzanne Vega in Denver, Colorado. He was hospitalized and released the next day. The remaining concerts on the tour were cancelled.
Cohn released The Very Best Of Marc Cohn in June 2006, and his 4th studio album, Join The Parade, was released on October 9, 2007. He continues to tour to this day. For photographs and additional information visit Marc's official website, www.MarcCohn.net.
Lost You in the Canyon
Marc Cohn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I could hardly hear your voice
Through the hissing of the highway
And all that other noise
You said "I might lose you in the canyon"
Then you went riding up the coast
Now all these things we leave unspoken
[Chorus]
I lost you in the canyon
Guess you tried to let me know
Lost you in the canyon
A long, long time ago
Lost you in the canyon
Brother you fade out slow
There were times I thought I knew you
Before these changes came to pass
But you don't think about it do you?
From up there in your house of glass
The Earth is shifting underneath you
The land is sliding all around
Do you ever stop to wonder
About that paradise you've found?
[Chorus]
I hear you moving through the mountains
Through the fires and the floods
But I can't fix this bad connection
In the wires or the blood
[Chorus]
The song "Lost You in the Canyon" by Marc Cohn is a haunting exploration of a relationship that has been lost due to distance and the inability to communicate. The song is about the struggle of trying to keep a relationship alive in the face of change and the difficulties that come with trying to maintain a connection when life pulls people apart. The singer of the song receives a call from his love in California but struggles to hear her voice through the noise of the highway and other distractions. She tells him that she might lose him in the canyon, signaling that she is going on a journey and may not be back. The singer is haunted by the unspoken words between them and the loss of these unspoken words makes him feel like he has lost her forever. The chorus repeats the phrase "I lost you in the canyon" which serves to emphasize the loss and distance between the two lovers.
The second verse of the song speaks to the difficulty of maintaining a connection when life changes. The singer speaks of a time when he thought he knew her before changes came to pass, but now she seems to be in her house of glass. The image of her in her house of glass is an interesting one, as it suggests that she is somehow protected from the world outside, but it also implies that she is isolated and cut off from others. The metaphor of the earth shifting and the land sliding around her suggests that the world is constantly changing, and the singer wonders if she ever stops to wonder about the paradise she's found. These lines suggest a sense of alienation and disconnection that the singer feels, despite the beauty of the world around him.
The final verse of the song speaks to the impossibility of fixing a relationship that has been lost. The singer hears his love moving through the mountains through the fires and floods, but he can't fix the bad connection in the wires or the blood. The image of her moving through the mountains is a poignant one, as it suggests that she is moving on with her life but is still present in his thoughts. The metaphor of the bad connection in the wires or the blood suggests that the relationship is suffering from something deeper than just distance or lack of communication. Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of a relationship that has been lost to time and distance, and the haunting melody and lyrics provide a poignant exploration of the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Got your call from California
I received a phone call from you in California.
But I could hardly hear your voice
Your voice was difficult to hear due to the noise on the phone.
Through the hissing of the highway
The sound of the highway was interfering with the phone call.
And all that other noise
There were other sounds around me that made it hard to hear you.
You said "I might lose you in the canyon"
You expressed worry that you might lose our connection while driving through the canyon.
Then you went riding up the coast
You continued your trip up the coast after our phone call.
Now all these things we leave unspoken
We don't talk about certain issues between us.
Seem to haunt me like a ghost
These unspoken things are bothering me and causing me distress.
[Chorus]
Refrain
I lost you in the canyon
I lost our connection while you were driving through the canyon.
Guess you tried to let me know
You might have given me some warning that our connection could be lost.
A long, long time ago
It's been a while since this happened.
Lost you in the canyon
Refrain
Brother you fade out slow
Your signal slowly faded away, as if you were moving away.
There were times I thought I knew you
I used to feel like I understood you.
Before these changes came to pass
Before things between us became different.
But you don't think about it do you?
You don't seem to give it much thought or consideration.
From up there in your house of glass
You seem to live a privileged life, disconnected from reality.
The Earth is shifting underneath you
The world is changing and moving around you.
The land is sliding all around
Even the ground beneath you is not stable.
Do you ever stop to wonder
Have you ever taken the time to think about it?
About that paradise you've found?
Have you considered the privilege and comfort you enjoy?
[Chorus]
Refrain
I hear you moving through the mountains
I am aware that you are traveling through mountainous areas.
Through the fires and the floods
I am aware of the challenges and dangers you face during your travels.
But I can't fix this bad connection
I cannot solve the problem of our poor phone connection.
In the wires or the blood
The issue cannot be solved by improving the technology or communication lines.
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARC COHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind