McKee is the half-sister of Love guitarist Bryan MacLean, with whom she played in a duo as a teenager. In 1982 McKee was a founding member of the cowpunk/country rock band Lone Justice with whom she released two albums. Her band opened for such acts as U2.
She released her first solo, self-titled album in 1989. Her song "Show Me Heaven", which appeared on the soundtrack to the film Days of Thunder, was a number one single in the United Kingdom for four weeks in 1990. Later her eerie, country-tinged single, "If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)" was released on the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction. (1994).
Her recorded output has varied between the rootsy country-folk of You Gotta Sin To Get Saved (1993) and Peddlin' Dreams (2005), and experimental rock on Life Is Sweet (1996) and High Dive (2003). She even made a foray into early-90s dance music with her "Sweetest Child" single.
Life Is Sweet was seen at the time as an artistic about-face from her country-rock sound, full of guitar feedback and complex, baroque songwriting. Confounding both fans and critics, it was her last release for seven years and her last for a major label.
In 2007 she released Late December, an album rooted in classic 60s pop songwriting.
She is the half-sister of Love guitarist/singer/songwriter Bryan Maclean, with whom she played in a duo as a teenager. In the nineties, she spent time living in Dublin and the East Village.
Turn Away
Maria McKee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think I would learn by now
And when I heard you, it just tears me all to bits
You think I would learn by now
All my labor is in vain
But I'll beg just the same
If you turn away, if you turn away
Why am I the one to wear the pain?
I guess I do it with panache
To talk it over now it'll only be a strain
With our hearts lost in all this trash
Where there are fewer stars to burn
Who'll be here when you return?
If you leave me now, if you turn away
If you turn away, oh honey, please stay
Where there are fewer stars to burn
Who'll be here when you return?
If you leave me now, if you turn away
If you turn away, oh, honey please stay
In this song by Maria McKee, the singer seems to be confessing her mistakes or admitting her flaws to someone she cares about deeply. She is aware that she has said too much in the past and is fearful that she will harm the relationship with her words again. The vulnerability of this confession is evident in the melancholic tone of the song. She communicates her genuine desire to right her wrongs, to fix the damage that is already done, and to convince the other person not to leave her. The chorus, "If you turn away, oh honey, please stay," is a desperate plea for the person to remain in her life despite her mistakes. She acknowledges that her labor has been in vain because despite her efforts, the relationship is still in trouble. The line "All my labor is in vain" can be interpreted as a metaphorical plea, that no matter what she does, she'll never be quite good enough to keep this person around.
The lyrics also suggest that the relationship is in distress and is in danger of being destroyed. The line, "Where there are fewer stars to burn," implies that they have been in better places and the love they once had has diminished to a point where they're unsure if it can be rekindled. The final chorus with the line, "If you leave me now, if you turn away," leaves the listener with the haunting thought that this relationship may not have a happy ending. The song ends on a plea to her lover to stay with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me words, said too much again
She is tired of the same empty promises and wishes the person would not speak them anymore.
You think I would learn by now
She acknowledges she should not have faith in these promises but still can't help hoping for change.
And when I heard you, it just tears me all to bits
Hearing the empty promises causes her a lot of emotional pain.
All my labor is in vain
The effort she puts into the relationship is not yielding the desired result.
But I'll beg just the same
Despite the pain, she still wants the person to stay and is willing to plead with them.
If you turn away, if you turn away
She fears the person will leave and is pleading for them to stay.
If you turn away, oh, honey, please stay
The repetition emphasizes her desperation for the person to not leave.
Why am I the one to wear the pain?
She is questioning why she is the one who has to suffer while the other person walks away with no consequences.
I guess I do it with panache
She acknowledges that she takes on the pain with style or flair, but it still hurts nonetheless.
To talk it over now it'll only be a strain
She doubts that talking things over now will help the situation and fears it will only make things worse.
With our hearts lost in all this trash
The problems in the relationship have caused emotional baggage to pile up and are weighing them down.
Where there are fewer stars to burn
This is a metaphor for losing hope when things are looking bleak and uncertain.
Who'll be here when you return?
She asks who will be there for the person if they leave and later regret it.
If you leave me now, if you turn away
She is pleading for the other person not to leave her and to stay committed to the relationship.
If you turn away, oh honey, please stay
This is again showing her desperation and fear of losing the person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN BETTIS, RICHARD LYNN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Suzannah4Christ
Amazing voice ! I love Maria's " soft " songs... soft yet so powerful.....just beautiful !!! She is very unique, one of a kind. Love you Maria !
Scott Leikam
WOW! I first heard her in the mid 80's with her group Lone Justice. Her voice is still simply amazing.
James Dinsmore
Beautiful vocals and thanks for sharing the video.
wldheart
one of the best voices, smokey and evocative I love her and this video
Shenandoah Lynd
So under-rated. Fantastic song. As good as anything she did before this.
Kevin Habershon
love,love, love Maria Mckee
demonhoopa
She looks a little older here. Is this recent? Anyway, she's beautiful and the song is fabulous. As always.
haltmusic
Bellissimo!
Paranoid Potato's Music Jam
Who could dislike Maria?
rivpupper
I never knew Anne RIce could sing ... =D