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.
Yellow Room
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing but amusement that was my plan
Flung out to the emptiness to the billion stars
And every cell rose to greet them in that dark
The earth so simple from so far away, forgotten in the field after the children played
Their games of war, in the name of God their search for more
How strange it seemed, suddenly stranger than my dream
Just enough water, just enough light
From jawless fish and flightless birds to opposable thumbs what a miracle
Opposable thumbs, what a miracle
Woke in a yellow room, on a city street
The noise of the morning, the rush and the heat
Not too sad not too happy, not missing anything, desire-less and free for a moment
Clock radio breaking the still, with a new death toll
Could this be the place I saw from space it kinda sounds like hell
With our games of war, blood of the earth leaking out like oil
How strange it seemed, suddenly stranger than my dream
Just enough water ….
And even more amazing, yeah even more amazing,
Love
The lyrics of Meg Hutchinson's song Yellow Room describe a journey of self-discovery and existential pondering. The first verse sets the stage for this journey as the singer takes a seat on a trip to explore the unknown. The second line of the verse signifies a sense of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming adventure, as the singer holds on to their seat with both hands. But this adventure is not meant for amusement, it's meant for enlightenment. The singer is flung into the emptiness of space, surrounded by a billion stars. This experience awakens every cell in their body and gives them a new perspective on life. The Earth, once their only reality, from a faraway distance, seems simple and insignificant. This line perfectly describes how little our world seems to be in the grand scheme of things. The third line of the verse references how children, playing games of war, invoke the name of God in their search for more. This line speaks of how religious zealotry has been used as an excuse for violence and war for generations. The fourth line reflects the singer's feeling of detachment and how all of this seems strange, even stranger than their dream. They also mention how just enough water and light can create life, which is a miracle in itself. The final line is a reference to evolution and how we all evolved from jawless fish and flightless birds to beings with opposable thumbs.
The second verse starts with the singer waking up in a yellow room, in the middle of the city. They are met with the sound of the morning rush, and the heat that's rising from the city. They feel neither sad nor happy, and at that moment, they feel free from the chains of material desires. But the news that's being broadcast from the clock radio breaks the stillness of the moment. A new death toll is being reported, and the singer can't help but compare the noise of the city to the emptiness of space. They wonder if this could be the place they saw from space, as it sounds like hell. The final lines of the verse again make a reference to how war and bloodshed have resulted in the loss of the earth's resources, such as oil. The singer is once again struck by how strange everything seems, even stranger than their dream.
In conclusion, the song Yellow Room is a profound reflection on the nature of existence and the human condition. The use of imagery, metaphors, and symbolism is impressive and captures the heart of the listener. The song is a powerful reminder of how small human life is in the grand scheme of things and how we can't take our planet for granted. It also speaks of the importance of introspection and how self-discovery is an essential part of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I gave my ticket to the man, found my seat and I held on with both hands
I settled into my seat ready for the adventure, holding on tight to brace myself
Nothing but amusement that was my plan
I had no true purpose, only seeking entertainment
Flung out to the emptiness to the billion stars
Thrown into the universe, surrounded by endless stars
And every cell rose to greet them in that dark
My whole being responded to the beauty of the darkness
The earth so simple from so far away, forgotten in the field after the children played
Looking at earth from afar makes it seem insignificant, a small place where people come and go
Their games of war, in the name of God their search for more
People's quest for more has led to wars, justified by religion
How strange it seemed, suddenly stranger than my dream
The reality was too surreal to comprehend, even stranger than what I could imagine in a dream
Just enough water, just enough light
The perfect balance of resources, just enough to create life
The impossible chance at making life
It's remarkable that life exists, given the slim probability of its creation
From jawless fish and flightless birds to opposable thumbs what a miracle
From the simplest of creatures to humans with unique features like thumbs, the creation of life is a true marvel
Opposable thumbs, what a miracle
The ability to have opposable thumbs is a small but amazing feature of humans
Woke in a yellow room, on a city street
Waking up in a new environment, a yellow room in a bustling city
The noise of the morning, the rush and the heat
The cacophony of the morning, the hurry and bustle of the city
Not too sad not too happy, not missing anything, desire-less and free for a moment
Feeling neutral, content with not wanting or desiring anything at that moment
Clock radio breaking the still, with a new death toll
The silence broken by a radio announcing the latest death count, a grim reminder of reality
Could this be the place I saw from space it kinda sounds like hell
Wondering if the beautiful view from space was actually this place, with the sounds akin to hell
With our games of war, blood of the earth leaking out like oil
The wars we fight harm the earth, oil and other precious resources stained with bloodshed
How strange it seemed, suddenly stranger than my dream
The reality was even more surreal than what seemed like an unrealistic dream
Just enough water ….
The perfect balance of resources, just enough to create life
And even more amazing, yeah even more amazing, Love
Love is even more amazing than the miracle of life and the balance of nature
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.