Performing Songwriter calls Hutchinson, "...A master of introspective ballads filled with understated yearning and an exquisite sense of metaphor." The twenty-six year old describes her style as "lyric-based, folk-pop, with a whole lot of small town idealism and one devastating break up thrown in for good measure." Among her influences she is quick to include poet Mary Oliver along with the likes of David Grey, Patty Griffin, Greg Brown and Shawn Colvin. Her songs are characterized by a weathered but unselfconscious optimism, a love of language and of the natural world. Having grown up in a town of 5,000 people, "just outside the National Historic District," her songs possess all the charm of Lake Wobegon, tempered by a sweet and timeless voice.
All My Doors
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To tell me something I already knew
And I've been waiting for some indication
That the hardest part is through
And I've been walking these hills in the afternoon
Watching the snow line slowly recede
Thinking if there's nothing that's mine to keep
Then there is nothing I will ever need
And all my doors are open wide
And I am staring at my life
Hearing sweet laughter of someone
I haven't seen for a long long time
And if there's nothing I expect
Then what the hell do I stand to lose
If given a choice between this and something easy
I know what I'd choose
'Cause I've already chosen
These are things she dreams of one warm breeze
wafting up the avenue
Meanwhile they talk of sleet and snow in every bar
on every radio
All My Doors is a song by Meg Hutchinson that explores themes of patience, acceptance, and letting go. The opening lyrics speak to the idea of waiting for something that is already known. The singer is waiting for some sort of indication that the hardest part is over, but in reality, she already knows that it is. She has been walking through the hills in the afternoon, watching as the snow slowly recedes. She recognizes that if there is nothing she truly needs to keep, then there is nothing to worry about losing. The chorus of the song, "all my doors are open wide," suggests that she has let go of all that she was holding onto and is now completely open to what comes her way.
Throughout the rest of the song, the singer speaks to the idea of being content with what she has and not expecting or needing anything more. She hears the sweet laughter of someone she hasn't seen in a long time and realizes that if she doesn't expect anything from this person, then there is nothing for her to lose. She recognizes that given the choice between what she has now and something that is easy, she would choose what she already has because she has already chosen it.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to appreciate what they have and to let go of expectations and desires that may be holding them back.
Line by Line Meaning
I've be waiting for you
I have been waiting for someone, possibly you, for a while
To tell me something I already knew
To reveal something that I had already guessed
And I've been waiting for some indication
I have been looking for some sign or signal
That the hardest part is through
That the most difficult part of a challenge is over
And I've been walking these hills in the afternoon
I have been strolling through these hills during the day
Watching the snow line slowly recede
Observing the gradual melting of the snow line
Thinking if there's nothing that's mine to keep
Wondering if there is nothing that I can keep as my own
Then there is nothing I will ever need
Implying that one requires nothing to be content if all they can obtain is not in their ownership
And all my doors are open wide
All possibilities and opportunities are available to me
And I am staring at my life
I am analyzing and contemplating the course of my life
Hearing sweet laughter of someone
Listening to the pleasant laughter of somebody
I haven't seen for a long long time
Someone who has not been seen or met for a prolonged period
And if there's nothing I expect
If I am not anticipating anything
Then what the hell do I stand to lose
I don't have anything at stake
If given a choice between this and something easy
If I were given the option of choosing between this and something simple
I know what I'd choose
I am confident that I can decide what I want
'Cause I've already chosen
I've made up my mind already
These are things she dreams of one warm breeze
This is what she desires, just like dreaming of a gentle, warm breeze
wafting up the avenue
Blowing through the pathway
Meanwhile they talk of sleet and snow in every bar
Everybody is complaining about the freezing and dismal weather conditions in every pub and bar
on every radio
On every broadcast or music station
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.