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.
See Me Now
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
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Help pack you up and stand there and I wave
Then drive off into bright summer evening heat
City shining and moving all around me
Oh and if you could see me now
I am turning to tell you something
Oh and if you could see me now
I am smiling all the way home, oh darling
Don't get me wrong none of that's really changed
It's just that I've noticed everything tastes, looks, feels
A little better when you're around me
Is it true, what they say, that everything changes?
Is it true, that one day we'll be ashes to ashes?
I'll be singing
Oh and if you can see me then
I'll be turning to tell you something
Oh and if you can see me then
I'll be smiling all the way home, oh darling
The song "See Me Now" by Meg Hutchinson is a reflective piece about the transient nature of life and relationships. The singer begins by acknowledging the temporary absence of a loved one and the mixed emotions that come with it, evidenced by the conflicting actions of helping to pack and waving goodbye, yet also smiling all the way home. This is followed by a recognition of the way that this relationship has impacted the singer's perception of the world, making everything taste, look, and feel a little better when the loved one is present.
As the song progresses, the singer grapples with the idea of impermanence and whether everything truly changes, questioning whether death is the end-all-be-all. However, despite these heavier themes, "See Me Now" ultimately ends on a hopeful note as the singer imagines the loved one seeing her singing and turning to tell them something, smiling all the while.
The song's use of imagery and metaphor helps to paint a vivid picture of the singer's state of mind. The "bright summer evening heat" and the "city shining and moving all around me" evoke a sense of liveliness and energy, while the repeated refrain of "Oh and if you could see me now" creates a sense of longing and wistfulness. Hutchinson's soft, lilting vocals and gentle guitar work add to the overall sentimental and introspective tone of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that you're only gone a few short days
I am aware that you are away for a brief time
Help pack you up and stand there and I wave
I assist in packing your things, then remain standing and wave you goodbye
Then drive off into bright summer evening heat
I drive away amidst the warmth of a bright summer evening
City shining and moving all around me
The city is aglow and bustling with activity
Oh and if you could see me now
If only you could witness me at this moment
I am turning to tell you something
I am facing you to express something important
I am smiling all the way home, oh darling
I am experiencing joy throughout my journey home, my dear
I've never been one to mind being alone
I am comfortable with being by myself
Don't get me wrong none of that's really changed
Despite my circumstances, my perspective remains unaltered
It's just that I've noticed everything tastes, looks, feels
My senses pick up on the subtle nuances of my surroundings
A little better when you're around me
My experience is enhanced when you are present
Is it true, what they say, that everything changes?
I ponder whether the adage 'everything changes' holds truth
Is it true, that one day we'll be ashes to ashes?
I contemplate whether we eventually transform to dust
I'll be singing
I will express myself through song
Oh and if you can see me then
If only you could witness me in the future
I'll be turning to tell you something
I will face you to express something important in the future
I'll be smiling all the way home, oh darling
I will experience joy throughout my journey home, my dear, in the future
Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.