One of her most widely known singles is "Passionate Kisses" (written by fellow singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams), a song with a rock flavor musically and lyrics listing simple desires such as "a comfortable bed", "food to fill me up", and "time to think". Another big hit was "Down at the Twist and Shout", which she performed in January 1997 at Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.
A number of Mary Chapin Carpenter's songs speak to women, urging them on through hard times or troubled relationships. In "He Thinks He'll Keep Her", co-composed by Carpenter and Don Schlitz, the singer makes the case for strength and self-respect. Another common theme in her music is that of taking life at your own pace, rather than rampant goal-driven materialism, such as "The Long Way Home" from her 2001 album Time*Sex*Love, which pokes fun at a man who "retire(s) at thirty to his big-ass house next to the putting green." The album has a relatively different feel musically, incorporating elaborate orchestra melodies, but with her characteristic lyrical depth.
Her album Between Here and Gone, was released in 2004.
Carpenter's 2007 album, The Calling, on Rounder Records' rock/pop imprint Zoë, features commentary about contemporary politics, a reaction to the impact of Hurricane Katrina on a track entitled "Houston," and an incendiary track entitled "On with the Song", dedicated to the Dixie Chicks, and addressing the visceral reaction to the trio. In less than three months after its release, The Calling sold more than 100,000 copies in the US.
Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards and is the only artist to have won four consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, which she received from 1992 to 1995. On October 7, 2012, Carpenter was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Carpenter is a fifth cousin of the late singer and humanitarian Harry Chapin, along with his brothers Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin.
Dead Man Walking
Mary Chapin Carpenter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never felt the cold cold steel
Slam you like a fist
Break you down until you kneel
Just like a beggar man
Asking only for redemption
All the things that can't
Make a man believe in heaven
Fix your eyes upon the bars
Memorize their other side
Like the tatoos on your arms
The brag so loud and tough that night
But now the truth comes out
Fast as feel can do your talking
It sets you free as one guard shouts
Dead man walking
When neither light nor darkness
When neither night or day
When neither kind nor heartless
When neither lost or saved
When neither still or moved
When neither held or free
Oh to be so human
Dead man walking
When neither light nor darkness
When neither night or day
When neither kind nor heartless
When neither lost or saved
When neither still or moved
When neither held or free
Oh to be so human
Oh to be
Somewhere in a dream like this where
Light of love leads us home
Broken worlds will not be fixed
if vengeance take us as thy own
We're just like beggars now
On our knees we hear our names
God forgives somehow
We have yet to learn to save
Mary Chapin Carpenter's song "Dead Man Walking" is a solemn meditation on the experience of incarceration and the struggle for redemption. The lyrics open with a description of the harsh realities of imprisonment, as the singer reflects on the cold, steel bars that hold them captive. The metaphorical slamming of the bars like a fist reinforces the feeling of powerlessness and vulnerability that comes with confinement.
The lyrics go on to describe the quest for spiritual redemption, as the singer seeks to find meaning and hope in their situation. The desire for forgiveness is expressed through the repeated refrain of "dead man walking," which evokes the image of a condemned prisoner walking to their execution. This phrase, which was made famous by the calls of prison guards to indicate the imminent execution of a prisoner, is used here to represent the singer's own inner struggle with guilt and despair.
The second verse of the song encourages the listener to look beyond the surface of the world around them, to "fix your eyes upon the bars" and see the truth that lies beneath. The tatoos on the singer's arms, which they describe as "brag so loud and tough," are a symbol of the superficial posturing and aggression that often accompanies imprisonment. But now that the truth is out, the singer feels a sense of release and freedom, even as they remain physically captive.
The final verses of "Dead Man Walking" suggest that redemption and salvation are ultimately possible, even in the face of extreme hardship and despair. The line "God forgives somehow, we have yet to learn to save" is a powerful statement of faith and resilience. Even as the singer acknowledges their own limitations and failures, they hold onto the hope that they can still be redeemed and ultimately saved.
Overall, "Dead Man Walking" is a powerful and poignant song about the human experience of confinement, guilt, and redemption. Its evocative imagery and powerful emotional impact make it a standout track on Mary Chapin Carpenter's acclaimed album Stones in the Road.
Line by Line Meaning
You never had a dream like this
You could never fathom dreaming about this reality
Never felt the cold cold steel
You've never experienced the futile, cold touch of steel
Slam you like a fist
It hits you like a forceful punch
Break you down until you kneel
It crushes you until you're forced to kneel
Just like a beggar man
You have nothing left except desperation and a plea for mercy
Asking only for redemption
All you can ask for is a chance at forgiveness
All the things that can't
Nothing can make you believe in heaven
Make a man believe in heaven
No amount of struggle can instill your belief in heaven
Fix your eyes upon the bars
You gaze upon the imprisoning bars
Memorize their other side
You imagine what it's like on the other end of the bars
Like the tattoos on your arms
The scars that will forever mark your arms
The brag so loud and tough that night
The lies you spun and the false facade of strength you showed that night
But now the truth comes out
The reality you tried to hide is now exposed
Fast as feel can do your talking
You speak out as fast as your emotions overcome you
It sets you free as one guard shouts
The shouted announcement of your impending death provides a sense of liberation
Dead man walking
You are left with nothing but the label of a dead man walking
When neither light nor darkness
When you exist in a state of neither light nor darkness
When neither night or day
When you exist in a state of neither night nor day
When neither kind nor heartless
When you exist in a state of neither kindness nor heartlessness
When neither lost or saved
When you exist in a state of neither lost nor saved
When neither still or moved
When you exist in a state of neither still nor moved
When neither held or free
When you exist in a state of neither held nor free
Oh to be so human
Oh to experience the many contradictions of human existence
Somewhere in a dream like this where
In some reality like this dream
Light of love leads us home
Love guides us towards our final destination
Broken worlds will not be fixed
The damage of the world cannot be undone
If vengeance takes us as thy own
If we let hate consume us
We're just like beggars now
We've become desperate and powerless
On our knees we hear our names
We cry out, hoping to be heard and forgiven
God forgives somehow
Despite our mistakes, God forgives us in some way or another
We have yet to learn to save
We still have much to learn to make amends
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hydra
Her voice and excellent instrumentation, one of the most beautiful songs.
my name in game
Love this song, cant say it helped me or not but I definitely played it over and over again during my darkest times...
Danny Ryan
one of my favorite songs of all time.
Parinitha Murali
Beautiful song and reality ❤️
Kc
Love it...❤️
Brendan Buckley
this is one of the most moving songs i have ever heard.
Kk Oo
Great song and great album
Nourdine Mezrar
magic sound this record and this song is magic forever
Mark Zimmerman
Mary Chapin is my favorite musician ever
SunHalo
so beautiful