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.
Can You Tell Me
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
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Call it what you will, destiny, I'm so glad to see your face
I looked for you every time a bus went by
I looked for you, Park street, every time a train arrived
You say it's written in the stars
Can you tell me what they say?
Can you tell me what they say?
Tell me your story I'll tell you mine
Things don't work out sometimes
I thought of you every time I walked those stairs
I thought of you in that little park
Down in Harvard Square
You say its written in the stars...
Bells are ringing down town
I'll pick you up and we'll drive around
I think they hung those lights up just for us
Feels like Christmas not just because
Because it is, because it is
Wherever we are, it's where I wanna be
Everything looks beautiful
The North End, the whole damn city
You say it's written in the stars
Can you tell me what they say
Can you tell me what they say
Two times is lucky, third time's a charm
In Meg Hutchinson's song "Can You Tell Me," the singer describes reuniting with a lost love after many years and wondering if it was meant to be. The opening phrase "Two times is lucky, third time's a charm" suggests that the singer and her love have tried to come together before with unsuccessful results, but now they have finally found each other again. They both express feelings of relief and joy at being reunited. The singer describes searching for her love relentlessly, looking for him at every bus and train station. The line "You say it's written in the stars, can you tell me what they say?" indicates that the two lovers feel that their reunion was predetermined by destiny or fate.
The second half of the song describes the couple spending time together in the city, enjoying the sights and sounds around them. The phrase "Feels like Christmas not just because, because it is, because it is" suggests that the singer feels like this reunion is the best gift she could have received, even better than Christmas. She declares that being with her love is the only place she wants to be, and that everything around her looks beautiful. The song ends with the repeated refrain of "You say it's written in the stars, can you tell me what they say?" as if the singer still can't quite believe that they have found each other again.
Overall, "Can You Tell Me" is a bittersweet love song about the joy of being reunited with a lost love, tinged with uncertainty about whether it was really meant to be. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and searching, but also a sense of amazement and gratitude that the two lovers have found each other once again.
Line by Line Meaning
Two times is lucky third time's a charm
Having failed twice in the past, third time worked, and was fortunate. Things happen the third time that didn't happen before.
Call it what you will, destiny, I'm so glad to see your face
Regardless of what you call it, fate, luck or something else, I am extremely happy to have met you.
I looked for you every time a bus went by
Every time I saw a bus, I hoped to see you get off it.
I looked for you, Park street, every time a train arrived
Every time I saw a train arriving at Park street, I hoped to see you come out of it.
You say it's written in the stars
You believe that fate has predetermined our meeting.
Can you tell me what they say?
Can you reveal your interpretation of what fate has in store for us?
Tell me your story I'll tell you mine
Let's share our stories with each other.
Did you love her so well, oh did you try
I am curious to know if you deeply loved her and if you gave it your all.
Things don't work out sometimes
Relationships don't always have a happy ending.
I thought of you every time I walked those stairs
Every time I climb those stairs, I am reminded of you.
I thought of you in that little park
Down in Harvard Square
Every time I pass that little park in Harvard Square, it reminds me of our time together.
Bells are ringing down town
I'll pick you up and we'll drive around
The city is celebrating and I am going to pick you up for a spin around the town.
I think they hung those lights up just for us
I feel like the city decorated the streets with lights just for us to enjoy.
Feels like Christmas not just because
Because it is, because it is
Although it feels like Christmas, the reason why is that it is Christmas.
Wherever we are, it's where I wanna be
I don't care where we are, as long as we are together.
Everything looks beautiful
The North End, the whole damn city
The beauty of this city is enhanced when we are together.
Contributed by Caleb O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.