Armed with a bottleneck slide, blues harmonica, and her signature gut-wrenching vocals, Moanin’ Michelle Malone ( a nickname given to her by Albert King after hearing her sing), is having so much fun these days that she can’t help but shake her Sugarfoot!
Malone was born in the dirty south and grew up listening to her mother sing in the church choir every Sunday. When it came time to craft her own sound, she took those religious roots, blended in enough rock and soul to keep the devil satisfied, and came up with her 9th studio CD, Sugarfoot. It's a high-spirited stripped down blend of rootsy acoustic slide, gritty electric blues and explosive vocals – blues with just enough rough edges to get the medicine down. Sugarfoot sounds like the lost recordings of Bonnie Raitt and the Rolling Stones meeting up in Susan Tedeschi's garage for a late night jam session. And as is usually the case with Malone, the disc is an experience best enjoyed at high volume.
Songs such as "Tighten up the Springs" ,"Rooster 44" and "Traveling and Unraveling" highlight Malone's devil may care attitude and her slide guitar, which is becoming more and more of a signature for her. "I'm having a good time with it," she says. "Since I picked up the slide, I feel more free - I'm having more fun." She’s also working hard - Malone plays all the guitar, blues harp, and mandolin on the new disc.
Sugarfoot comes as close to capturing her raw spontaneity and grand, dirty, low-down power as anything to date. As well as being voted best blues guitarist on IAC.com, Sugarfoot have earned Malone critical acclaim on many "Best Of" lists including The Blues Critic Top 10 albums of the year, and multiple nominations for traditional blues rock album, best female blues vocals.
In keeping with her rough and tumble attitude, Malone averages 200 days a year on the road, and has shared stages and tours with such blues legends as Charlie Musselwhite, Johnny Winter, ZZ Top, Marsha Ball and the late Chris Whitley, as well as folk icons Indigo Girls, Shawn Colvin, Jackson Browne and John Mayer. Malone’s live show is not to be missed - she can make the biggest venues seem as cozy as a camp fire, and an intimate venue feel like the center of the universe.
GREEN
Michelle Malone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel blue, as blue as a bird on fire
and I've got to let it happen now
I feel stupid like anything I got to say's not worth it
I feel lonely and mute, but I'm not blind and I'm not perfect
and I've got to let it happen
I've got to let it happen
I've got to let it happen now
Let it out
Get it out
but I feel naked and it's feeling kind of good like I've found freedom
and I feel green, as green as the leaves of my heaven
Come on and let it happen
Come on and let it happen
Come on and let it happen now
Let it out
Let it out
come out
come out
and show yourself to me
The song "Green" by Michelle Malone is a poignant expression of vulnerability, loneliness, and the need to let go. The title "Green" is used metaphorically to represent the feelings of growth, renewal, and hope that can come from acknowledging and expressing one's true emotions.
In the first verse, Malone sings "I feel green, as green as the leaves of last summer," conveying a sense of being stuck in past experiences or memories. The image of the blue bird on fire in the same verse suggests a feeling of intense inner conflict or emotional pain. Malone recognizes the need to release these feelings, saying "I've got to let it happen now."
The second verse continues this theme of vulnerability and self-doubt, with Malone feeling "stupid" and "lonely and mute." Despite these feelings, she urges herself to continue opening up and releasing her emotions. The repetition of "I've got to let it happen" emphasizes the importance of this process.
The chorus is a call to action, urging the listener to "let it out" and "come out" and show their true selves. The line "but I feel naked and it's feeling kind of good like I've found freedom" represents the liberation and catharsis that can come from speaking one's truth, even if it feels uncomfortable or frightening.
Overall, "Green" is a powerful reminder of the importance of vulnerability and emotional honesty in the process of personal growth and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel green, as green as the leaves of last summer
I feel inexperienced and fresh, like the new leaves that recently bloomed during the last season.
I feel blue, as blue as a bird on fire
I feel depressed and hopeless, like a bird on fire that's completely burnt out.
and I've got to let it happen now
I need to allow myself to feel these emotions and not hold them in any longer.
I feel stupid like anything I got to say's not worth it
I feel unintelligent and as if anything I say or contribute won't matter or make a difference.
I feel lonely and mute, but I'm not blind and I'm not perfect
I feel isolated and unable to express myself, but I know I'm not ignorant or flawless.
and I've got to let it happen
I need to allow my emotions to surface and not suppress them any longer.
I've got to let it happen
I must let these feelings run their course and not try to control them.
I've got to let it happen now
I need to let these emotions out at this moment and not delay any longer.
Let it out
Release these feelings that have been bottled up inside.
Let it out
Express these emotions and let them out into the open.
Get it out
Vent these pent-up feelings and let them out of my system.
but I feel naked and it's feeling kind of good like I've found freedom
Despite feeling vulnerable and exposed, it feels liberating and refreshing to have released these emotions.
and I feel green, as green as the leaves of my heaven
I feel new and rejuvenated, akin to the fresh green leaves that adorn the trees in my paradise.
Come on and let it happen
Encouragement to let these emotions surface and not bottle them up.
Come on and let it happen
A gentle nudge to allow these feelings to surface and run their course.
Come on and let it happen now
Urging to release these emotions without further delay or hesitation.
Let it out
Let these emotions out into the open.
Let it out
Release these pent-up emotions and express them without restraint.
come out
Surface and reveal these emotions that have been hidden away for too long.
come out
Encouragement to express these emotions and let them out.
and show yourself to me
Show these emotions to the world and let them be seen, felt, and heard.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDIE ARLISA BRICKELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rita Thrasher
Love that you still do this one regularly, and at the Fillmore, too! <3 So many of your songs are forever keepers.
Michelle Malone Music
Thanks, Rita! You're very kind. BTW - i stream most weekends on facebook, so maybe i'll see you again! In the meantime, there's more at michellemalone.com
reviewer678
nice
reviewer678
@Michelle Malone Music I SING AND PLAY INSTRUMENTS ON MY CHANNEL,CHECK IT OUT MICHELLE
Michelle Malone Music
Thanks for watching and for the kind words! If you enjoy live streamed music, i stream most weekends on facebook, so maybe i'll see you again! In the meantime, there's more at michellemalone.com