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.
Middle Ground
Mary Chapin Carpenter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a corner of the city
Twice a year she gets back home
Playing catch-up with the family
She tells her folks what they need to know
Her mother says she's much too thin
Her sisters ask about her beau
She's thirty-three this time around
She's always been real good at listening
Her sense of humor never lets her down
Except sometimes there's something missing
Hey, middle ground
A place between up and down
She could be safe and sound
Oh, to know middle ground
For years she's been on her guard
She's kind of tense around the shoulders
She wonders why she works so hard
She counts the days 'til they promote her
She'll take a weekend now and then
To stay in bed and watch the reruns
She'll turn the phone off when guilt sets in
But Sunday always kinda leaves her let down
Hey, middle ground; a place between up and down
She could be safe and sound; oh, to know middle ground
She gave her heart away one time, and says that she hasn't seen it since
Love's a puzzle in her mind; the pieces match, but don't quite fit; hey...
And these days run thick or thin
It never rains, or else it's pouring
All her single friends are men
She thinks married girls are so damn boring
Hey, middle ground; a place between up and down
She could be safe and sound; oh, to know middle ground
Hey, middle ground; a place between up and down
She could be safe and sound; oh, to know middle ground
Oh, to know middle ground; oh, to know middle ground
Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Middle Ground" tells the story of a woman who has been living on her own for years in the city, away from her family. When she goes back to visit her family twice a year, she tells them what they want to hear and updates them on her life. As she turns 33, she is good at listening but there is always something missing. She is in search of a place that is neither up nor down, and where she can feel safe and sound.
The woman wonders why she works so hard and takes a weekend off occasionally to watch reruns and turn off her phone. However, she still feels let down on Sundays. She gave her heart away once, but it has been missing ever since. She describes love as a puzzle where the pieces match but don't quite fit. She also seems to be frustrated by the fact that all her single friends are men while she sees married girls as boring.
Carpenter captures the woman's search for a sense of belonging and balance in her life. The song paints a picture of a woman who is successful in her career but is looking for more in life. She craves a place between ups and downs, where she can find happiness and contentment.
Line by Line Meaning
For years she's lived on her own
She has been living alone for quite some time.
In a corner of the city
She has been staying in a secluded area of the city.
Twice a year she gets back home
She goes back to her family twice a year.
Playing catch-up with the family
She talks with her family to keep up with what's been going on in their lives.
She tells her folks what they need to know
She tells her parents what they want to hear.
Her mother says she's much too thin
Her mother is concerned that she is not eating enough.
Her sisters ask about her beau
Her sisters ask about her romantic relationship.
Her dad inquires, how's business been
Her father asks how her work/business is going.
She's thirty-three this time around
She is 33 years old at the time of singing the song.
She's always been real good at listening
She is a good listener.
Her sense of humor never lets her down
Her sense of humor always works well, except sometimes.
Except sometimes there's something missing
Sometimes she feels like something is absent in her life.
Hey, middle ground
An exclamation pointing towards finding a balance in life.
A place between up and down
A place where there is stability and balance, neither too high nor too low.
She could be safe and sound
Finding the balance could make her safe and content.
Oh, to know middle ground
She longs to find the much-needed balance in her life.
For years she's been on her guard
She has been on the lookout for some time.
She's kind of tense around the shoulders
She's always nervous about something, which leads to shoulder tension.
She wonders why she works so hard
She starts questioning her hard work ethics.
She counts the days 'til they promote her
She is eagerly waiting for her promotion at work.
She'll take a weekend now and then
She'll take weekend breaks occasionally.
To stay in bed and watch the reruns
She'll spend her break watching TV shows/movies.
She'll turn the phone off when guilt sets in
She'll switch off her phone when she feels like she is neglecting her responsibilities.
But Sunday always kinda leaves her let down
But even after a break, she feels low on Sunday nights.
She gave her heart away one time, and says that she hasn't seen it since
She mentions that she was hurt in love once and hasn't quite recovered from it.
Love's a puzzle in her mind; the pieces match, but don't quite fit; hey...
She considers love to be an enigma and doesn't think it fits her well.
And these days run thick or thin
Her current days are full of ups and downs.
It never rains, or else it's pouring
Either nothing significant happens in her life, or she feels overwhelmed with everything happening at once.
All her single friends are men
She doesn't have any women friends who are unmarried.
She thinks married girls are so damn boring
She feels like married women are less exciting than single women.
Oh, to know middle ground
She still desires to find a balance in her life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY CARPENTER, MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind