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.
Rhythm Of The Blues
Mary Chapin Carpenter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see with both eyes closed in the dark
Sleep will come in just a while but till it does I choose
To listen to the rain, it's the rhythm of the blues
I walk along these streets of home that once belonged to us
And now baby I walk alone and I am lost
In the sound of my own footsteps on the avenues
I don't wanna hear another word spoken, I don't wanna see another tear shed
I can't seem to fix what's broken, like this record baby in my head
Lonely looks as bad on me as lonely looks on you
And still we keep on moving to the rhythm of the blues
I want a place to call my own, where you have never been
I wanna look around and know you won't be coming back again
On some pretense paper-thin that I can see right through
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues...
The lyrics of Mary Chapin Carpenter's song "Rhythm Of The Blues" tell a story of heartbreak and loneliness. The first verse speaks of the comfort that the sound of rain brings, how it can be felt just as much as it can be heard. The singer is choosing to listen to the rain because it is familiar and soothing to them, much like the blues. The second verse sets the scene of the singer's hometown and how they feel lost in it now that they are alone. They perceive their footsteps on the pavement as lonely and can only move to the rhythm of the blues.
The bridge speaks of the singer's pain and how they cannot seem to fix what has been broken, almost like a record playing over and over in their head. They do not want to hear any more words or see any more tears shed. The final verse speaks to the desire for a new beginning, a place that is for them alone where there are no memories of their lost love. They cannot bear the thought of their ex returning on a "pretense paper-thin" and want to move on from the pain they are feeling. However, the final line of the song shows that they cannot escape the rhythm of the blues, which follows them wherever they go.
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear the rain come down, I can listen with my heart
I am attentive to the sounds around me, both with my ears and my emotions.
I can see with both eyes closed in the dark
I am aware of my surroundings without relying solely on my vision.
Sleep will come in just a while but till it does I choose
I am not yet ready to rest, preferring to indulge in my present reality.
To listen to the rain, it's the rhythm of the blues
I find a soothing consistency in the sound of rainfall, reminiscent of blues music.
I walk along these streets of home that once belonged to us
I roam familiar streets that once served as a shared home for us.
And now baby I walk alone and I am lost
I now traverse these roads unaccompanied, and feel directionless.
In the sound of my own footsteps on the avenues
The only rhythm I have to cling to is that of my own physical movements.
I guess I'm only walking to rhythm of the blues
Without you by my side, my footsteps align themselves with the melancholic beat of blues music.
I don't wanna hear another word spoken, I don't wanna see another tear shed
Further communication or emotional turmoil is unbearable to me at the moment.
I can't seem to fix what's broken, like this record baby in my head
I am unable to remedy the issues that haunt me, much like a stuck musical record.
Lonely looks as bad on me as lonely looks on you
The appearance of loneliness is equally unflattering for both of us.
And still we keep on moving to the rhythm of the blues
Despite these emotional struggles, we continue to exist in a melancholic state.
I want a place to call my own, where you have never been
I crave a sense of ownership over a space untouched by your presence.
I wanna look around and know you won't be coming back again
I desire confirmation that I will not suffer the pain of your return.
On some pretense paper-thin that I can see right through
I hope that any promise of your absence holds true, but suspect it to be false.
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues
Your presence and absence in my life are as consistent as the beat of a blues song - intermittent and unpredictable.
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues
Your actions remain unchanged, following the unrelenting flow of the blues genre.
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues...
You continue to oscillate between presence and absence, mimicking the cyclic nature of blues music.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY CARPENTER, MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bell R
I can hear the rain come down, I can listen with my heart
I can see with both eyes closed in the dark
Sleep will come in just a while but till it does I choose
To listen to the rain, it's the rhythm of the blues
I walk along these streets of home that once belonged to us
And now baby I walk alone and I am lost
In the sound of my own footsteps on the avenues
I guess I'm only walking to rhythm of the blues
I don't wanna hear another word spoken, I don't wanna see another tear shed
I can't seem to fix what's broken, like this record baby in my head
Lonely looks as bad on me as lonely looks on you
And still we keep on moving to the rhythm of the blues
I want a place to call my own, where you have never been
I wanna look around and know you won't be coming back again
On some pretense paper-thin that I can see right through
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues
You come and go baby, like the rhythm of the blues...
pdef1949
Without a doubt my all-time favorite Mary Chapin Carpenter song (and she did many really good ones). Makes a great instrumental too!
Michael Giffey
This was the song that made me Chapin's fan forever. I so deeply empathize with her lyrics. I'm disappointed that she still does not have mainstream success, but I am glad she had success with the general public at all. I am so thankful that Nashville thought highly enough of her to elect her to the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame. So richly deserved.
Danny Miller
0swamp thing
Teena Canaday
This is one of my most favorite songs I have ever heard. Being from Oregon rain and lost loves seemed to be the pattern of my life... This song is my heart...
Jen321
This album amazing and never got old to me when had. I'm like a happy teenager again listening to this.
jeri moyes
I had this cd when it first came out & this has always been my favorite of hers. So beautiful.
Jim Farley
The genius in in every spec of this song, pure poetry!
James Todd
I bought a CD at a garage sale, Mary Chapin Carpenter. From the moment I heard this song, I was in Love, with her, her music, her poetry. She is absolutely brillant.
rocketpost1
A gorgeous song with words that anyone can relate to. What a great songwriter MCC is !.
I especially love this song and also Late for Your Life.
Sharon Sandoval
Oooh the guitar is dreamy. This whole album is full of gems!