Henwood is said to have shown signs of what was to come from a very early age. Her first public performance was at the local Henley Youth Festival where she performed one of her own songs at the age of 9. As a teenager Henwood’s songwriting skills continued to develop and she performed, both as a solo artist and with her band, honing her craft on the local live circuit. At eighteen she spent six months travelling where she paid her way playing guitar and singing to crowds in Venice, Thailand, India and Malaysia. It was during this time she fell in love with the people of Nepal and has since returned to Kathmandu twice to record with leading Nepalese musicians Nirmal Kulu, Binod Katal and Shyram Saram Nepali. Back in the UK, between songwriting and performing, Henwood regularly contributes to music therapy sessions for people with learning difficulties.
Henwood won the BBC RADIO 2 Young Folk Award in 2009 with her brother Joe, beating off strong competition in the final at Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank, at the age of 20.
Her debut single “What Elliott Said” won new fans through its playlist at BBC Radio 2 and sessions at various stations including the Janice Long show on Radio 2. Her debut album, “Making Waves" featured a number of celebrated guests such as Peter Knight (Steeleye Span) on fiddle, Barriemore Barlow (Jethro Tull) on drums plus Joe Brown, Sam Brown and Mollie Marriott, among others. The first single “Hope on the Horizon” features Sam Brown on backing vocals and Nick Fyffe (Jamiroquai) on bass.
Henwood's festival appearances include Cropredy, The Cambridge Folk Festival, Secret Garden Party, Towersey Village Festival, Warwick Folk Festival, Moseley Folk Festival, Oxford Folk Festival, Cheltenham, and Sidmouth Folk Festiva.l She played her first Glastonbury in 2010. She has also played support slots around the UK with Ray Davies, Cara Dillon, Julie Fowlis and Eilen Jewell. plus a UK theatre tour supporting Eric Bibb. She continues to be a regular at her local Nettlebed Folk Club.
Henwood's third album, "River" was released in the Autumn of 2017.
Chemicals
Megan Henwood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
your blood may as well be running cold...
I was gonna be your driver, taxi on your journey. I got lost on your long and winding road ...
But I never meant to hurt you Johnny.
I didn't mean to turn your yellows grey.
But the Chemicals inside my body were telling me to walk away ...
I was gonna be your bartender, serve you sweet red wine, you're love drunk and I am stone cold sober ...
But I never meant to hurt you Johnny.
I didn't mean to turn your yellows grey.
But the Chemicals inside my body were telling me to walk away ...
They kept telling that I shouldn't stay...
I was gonna be your angel, no wings grew from my shoulders, no halo hanging over these red curls ...
Now I'm always gonna be your failure, memory growing older,
Forever be the lost and lonely girl ...
But I never meant to hurt you Johnny.
I didn't mean to turn your yellows grey.
Oh but the Chemicals inside my body were telling me to walk away ...
They kept telling me that I shouldn't stay.
In Megan Henwood's song Chemicals, she explores the idea of wanting to be there for someone but being unable to do so due to personal circumstances. In the opening verse, she talks about how she was going to be someone's doctor, but she could not find their heartbeat, indicating that the person may have been emotionally dead inside. She then goes on to say that she was going to be this person's driver, but she got lost on the journey or path they were on, which could represent the individual going through a difficult time and being unable to be helped.
The chorus of the song reveals the true reason why Megan Henwood could not be there for the person she is singing about. The chemicals inside her body were telling her to walk away, suggesting her own mental and emotional health issues were preventing her from being there for the other person fully. The second verse of the song sees her expressing similar sentiments; she was going to be someone's painter and bartender, but she could not trace their outline and felt like a stranger in their presence.
The song ends on a melancholy note as Megan Henwood talks about how she never meant to hurt the other person, but her failure to be there for them will forever be her memory, and she will always be the lost and lonely girl. Overall, the song Chemicals explores the complex emotions and struggles that come with trying to help someone when you are also dealing with your demons.
Line by Line Meaning
I was gonna be your doctor but I could not find your heartbeat
I wanted to be your savior, but I couldn't find any love left in you.
your blood may as well be running cold...
You've lost all passion and emotion.
I was gonna be your driver, taxi on your journey. I got lost on your long and winding road ...
I wanted to help guide you through life, but I got lost in your complicated path.
But I never meant to hurt you Johnny.
I never wanted to cause you pain.
I didn't mean to turn your yellows grey.
I didn't intend to extinguish your happiness and hope.
But the Chemicals inside my body were telling me to walk away ...
My instincts were telling me to leave, even though I didn't want to.
I was gonna be your painter, but I could not trace your outline, the shape your figure makes don't feel like home ...
I wanted to create beauty with you, but I couldn't connect with you on a deeper level.
I was gonna be your bartender, serve you sweet red wine, you're love drunk and I am stone cold sober ...
You were swept up in the passion of our relationship, but I remained level-headed and sober-minded.
They kept telling that I shouldn't stay...
My instincts and emotions were conflicting, telling me to leave and stay at the same time.
I was gonna be your angel, no wings grew from my shoulders, no halo hanging over these red curls ...
I wanted to be the source of your hope and inspiration, but I couldn't fulfill that role.
Now I'm always gonna be your failure, memory growing older, Forever be the lost and lonely girl ...
In your eyes, I'll always be the one who couldn't live up to expectations, and time will only make that feeling worse.
Contributed by Alexandra R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@familyrussell2105
Amazing song as always
@chrisdean3379
The whole family loves this album - Head Heart Hand. Also great live , saw her in Biddulph recently! Superb!
@mathewgotts7032
Superb song.
@sophieedwards5915
I love this song so much. My friend showed me this almost a year ago and it pops into my head from time to time and I have to listen to it. Its beautiful. x
@josouthwell2081
well done megan xx
@chrissyprice8810
What a lovely song, it's just the best...well done...:-) xx
@anthonyweightman9932
I love it.
@TeenyTitch26
Beautiful lyrics :)
@emmathegingerful
Wish there was a karoke for this :( xx
@casaMariaPT
Sublime