In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was widely lauded, with India.Arie writing "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge. Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. The album was a huge success, peaking at #14 on the Billboard 200, and going Gold immediately. Her latest release is 4th Street Feeling.
Etheridge is known for her mixture of "confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals." She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
No Souvenirs
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Calling from a jackpot telephone
Shame, shame, but I love your name
And the way you make the buffalo roam
Oh, oh, oh, fly, fly I guess this is goodbye
Oh you packed up your heart
And you left no souvenirs
In the night you know where I'll be
Broken lover you can touch me
In the dark the innocent can't see
You lock it up now hide the key
It would mean surrender to let me see
Oh brave, brave soldier keep it under cover
You fell alone like no other lover
Burn the pictures break the records
Run far away to a northern town
Sell your fear and leave me standing here
With no souvenirs
Once, twice I thought it might be nice
To come into your kitchen and play
Cool, cool just a crazy fool
I never saw it any other way
Oh, oh, oh, wait, wait I guess I'm just too late
Oh you made up your mind
Love shouldn't be so hard
But if you want me you can call me
In the night you know where I'll be
Broken lover you can touch me
In the dark the innocent can't see
You lock it up now, hide the key
It would mean surrender to let me see
Oh brave, brave soldier keep it under cover
You fell alone like no other lover
Burn the pictures break the records
Run far away to a northern town
Sell your fear and leave me standing here
With no souvenirs
No shirts, no shoes
No jackets, no blues
You car's for sale
You forward your mail
You're growing your hair
You don't want to know where
I'm calling you from
Or how come
But if you want me you can call me
In the night you know where I'll be
Broken lover you can touch me
In the dark the innocent can't see
You lock it up now hide the key
It would mean surrender to let me see
Brave, brave soldier keep it under cover
You fell alone like no other lover
Burn the pictures break the records
Run far away to a northern town
Sell your fear and leave me standing here
With no souvenirs
Yeah, yeah
Hello, hello, this is Romeo
The lyrics to Melissa Etheridge's song No Souvenirs convey feelings of rejection and loneliness caused by a failed romantic relationship. Romeo, most likely a nickname for the singer's love interest, calls from a jackpot telephone, perhaps indicating that he's won the singer's heart, but his subsequent actions suggest that he's not interested in taking the relationship further. He loves the singer's name and enjoys the way she makes the buffalo roam (metaphor for how she brings excitement to his life), but decides to break it off with her nevertheless. Romeo decides to pack up his heart and leave without leaving behind any souvenirs, memories that would remind the singer of their relationship.
The chorus of the song communicates the singer's willingness to have a physical relationship with Romeo without any strings attached. She says that he can call her in the night and touch her in the dark without worrying about anyone finding out. However, Romeo makes it clear that he doesn't want any sort of relationship with her, and that he'd rather burn the pictures, sell his car and run away to a northern town than stay and face the consequences of their failed relationship.
Overall, the song speaks of a one-sided, intense love that wasn't reciprocated, and the emptiness and pain that came with it. The singer is urging her love interest to reconsider, but he's resolved to leave their relationship behind without looking back.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, hello this is Romeo
The singer is introducing themselves; they are Romeo and attempting to make contact with the person they are speaking to.
Calling from a jackpot telephone
The singer is reaching out in hopes of a positive response from someone they are trying to contact.
Shame, shame, but I love your name
The singer acknowledges they may feel guilty but they are attracted to the person.
And the way you make the buffalo roam
The artist is impressed by how the other person has free reign over their life and are able to go where they please.
Oh, oh, oh, fly, fly I guess this is goodbye
The artist is saying goodbye to the other person who is leaving.
Oh you packed up your heart
The person leaving has closed themselves off emotionally and is leaving with only what they need.
And you left no souvenirs
The person leaving has left with nothing to memorialize their time together.
But if you want me you can call me
The artist tells the other person they are available to be contacted if they need anything.
In the night you know where I'll be
The artist assures the other person they can contact them at any time if they need support.
Broken lover you can touch me
The artist is willing to offer physical comfort and support to the other person who may be hurting.
In the dark the innocent can't see
The singer is willing to offer comfort and support to the other person discreetly so as not to attract any unwanted attention.
You lock it up now hide the key
The person who left has something they do not want others to see or know about, and is keeping it hidden.
It would mean surrender to let me see
The person who left would feel they had lost control if they were to share what they are keeping hidden with the singer.
Oh brave, brave soldier keep it under cover
The singer is acknowledging the person who left is strong for keeping their situation under wraps.
You fell alone like no other lover
The person who left is alone and struggling more than the singer has seen anyone struggle.
Burn the pictures break the records
The person who left wants to erase everything to do with the artist to move on.
Run far away to a northern town
The person who left has moved away to attempt to start fresh and forget the artist.
Sell your fear and leave me standing here
The person who left is choosing to move on with their life, leaving the singer behind.
With no souvenirs
The person who left has no tangible reminders of their time with the singer.
No shirts, no shoes
The person who left has taken nothing physical with them in their move.
No jackets, no blues
The person who left has taken nothing physical with them in their move and is attempting to move on from the artist's influence.
Your car's for sale
The person who left is selling their possessions to start fresh.
You forward your mail
The person who left wants to redirect their mail to their new address.
You're growing your hair
The person who left is trying to make a change in their appearance to match the new start they are trying to make.
You don't want to know where
The person who left does not want to be found by the singer as they want to move on.
I'm calling you from
The singer is telling the person where they are calling from.
Or how come
The singer is telling the person they are not sure why they felt the need to contact them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidramsey2411
This is the first song by Melissa I ever heard. I got the chance to tell her this song saved my life. It put everything in perspective and described exactly how I felt at that moment. It gave me a way to start moving on with my life. Now that's what I call the magic power of music.
@Faithgrace295
Sounds extremely familiar hello 😅 wait ❤‼️
@westerntke
This was my mom’s favorite song and was my favorite song for a long time! She passed away from cancer in 2015. You have always been a happy place for me dealing with cancer. I know you have had your battle as well. Every time I hear you, it makes me think of my mom. You could always put a smile on our face, if we were at the lake of the ozarks or tailgating at a chiefs game listening to you! Thank you for everything Melissa!
@rickarra1833
That was nice
@alicia8210able
Love this whole damn albums. Just dusted it off.
@bjtild
Brave & Crazy was and always will be a brilliant album! I worked at one of her concerts back in the 90's and she autographed my copy.
@BillKrayer12thMan
Who's still here in 2021? Greetings from Seattle!! Edit: who's still here in 2023? Also,why isn't this amazing woman in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame yet?!!🤔
@daisypooch4034
2024, grateful I was able to catch her live performance of this song and many others!
Amazing singer/songwriter!
No one else like her!
@melissamisfit5097
One of my all time favourite female singers. Fierce woman, incredibly talented
@cariwaldick4898
I have no idea why this woman never became a superstar. Every song she sings is amazing.