In 2000, Ferrick founded her own record label, Right On Records. The first studio album released on her own label was Valentine Heartache.
Her 2011 album was entitled "Still Right Here".
Website: www.melissaferrick.com
Rest Now
Melissa Ferrick Lyrics
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So you got on stage
Away from the crowds
Back doors and bars your favorite place
But singing is lonely
And lonely is dark
But under those bright lights
You came alive
Big eyes, small hands yes
You sang so beautiful
It made my heart hit the ground
Bird on a wire
You're a man on the verge
You deserve
To rest now
Rest now
Rest now
'Cause nobody knows, not even you
The depth of your sadness
Why that chain is dragging you
You said it's best if we just listen to see ourselves
In the eyes of strangers
We will recognize
Our own hotel, vast horizon
Big eyes, small hands
You sang so beautiful
It made my heart hit the ground
Bird on a wire
A man on the verge
You deserve
To rest now
Rest now
Rest now
In the eyes of strangers we will recognize
Our own hotel, vast horizon
The lyrics of Melissa Ferrick's song Rest Now communicate a poignant message about the struggles of a musician who is trying to escape their loneliness through performing on stage. The opening lines, "You wanted to be invisible/So you got on stage/Away from the crowds/Back doors and bars your favorite place," suggest that the musician is seeking solace from their isolation by escaping into the world of music. However, Ferrick goes on to reveal that even performing can be lonely and dark, despite the bright lights audiences see. The next lines, "Big eyes, small hands yes/You sang so beautiful/It made my heart hit the ground/Bird on a wire/You're a man on the verge," capture the beauty of the musician's art and hint at the inner turmoil they are experiencing. What follows is a powerful message of empathy and the need for rest, "You deserve/To rest now/Rest now/Rest now." Ferrick acknowledges that the musician is carrying deep sadness and pain, but the chain of that pain remains a mystery even to the musician themselves. The lyrics seem to suggest that it might be easier to connect with strangers because there might be something relatable in their eyes. Finally, the closing lines "In the eyes of strangers we will recognize/Our own hotel, vast horizon," offer a glimmer of hope for the musician by suggesting that in their pain, they are not alone.
Line by Line Meaning
You wanted to be invisible
You sought to avoid being seen or noticed
So you got on stage
You found solace in performing music
Away from the crowds
You preferred to keep to yourself rather than be around others
Back doors and bars your favorite place
You felt most comfortable in intimate venues like bars and small clubs
But singing is lonely
The act of singing can be isolating and emotionally draining
And lonely is dark
Feeling lonely can evoke feelings of sadness and emptiness
But under those bright lights
Despite feeling lonely, performing under the bright stage lights brought you to life
You came alive
You felt a sense of purpose and vitality while performing
Big eyes, small hands yes
This is a unique description of the person being addressed, highlighting their vulnerable and delicate nature
You sang so beautiful
Your voice was captivating and moving
It made my heart hit the ground
Your singing had a powerful emotional impact on others
Bird on a wire
This is a metaphor for feeling exposed and vulnerable
You're a man on the verge
You are someone who is struggling or on the edge of something
You deserve to rest now
You have earned the opportunity to find peace and rest
Cause nobody knows, not even you
You have deeper pain and struggles that are hidden even from yourself
The depth of your sadness
Your sorrow runs deep and is difficult to fully understand
Why that chain is dragging you
You are being held back by something, but don't fully understand what it is
You said it's best if we just listen to see ourselves
You believe that the act of listening and observing others can lead to self-discovery
In the eyes of strangers
This is a metaphor for looking outward instead of inward to understand oneself
We will recognize our own hotel, vast horizon
Through the eyes of others, we can gain a new perspective and see the bigger picture of our own lives
Rest now, rest now, rest now
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance of finding rest and peace
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.