In My Tribe. Merchant joined 10,000 Maniacs at the age of 17 and became the band's driving artistic force. After a pair of successful independent releases, they signed to Elektra in 1985 and briefly became one of the most popular acts in alternative rock, shooting into the Top 40 with 1987's In My Tribe and charting even higher with their follow-up effort, Blind Man's Zoo. Merchant's desire to launch a solo career increased alongside the band's growing reputation, however, and by the time the group sat down to record 1992's Our Time in Eden, she gave her bandmates two years' notice. Following the release of MTV Unplugged in 1994, she publicly announced she was leaving the group's ranks.
OpheliaMerchant made her solo debut with 1995's Tigerlily, a self-produced album that debuted at number 13 and scored a Top Ten single with "Carnival." Two additional singles, "Wonder" and "Jealousy," also cracked the Top 40, prompting Tigerlily to sell over five million copies in the U.S. alone. It was followed in 1998 by Ophelia, another platinum-selling effort that was supported by Merchant's inclusion in the second Lilith Fair tour. Live in Concert, recorded at New York's Neil Simon Theatre, appeared a year later. A prominent social activist, Merchant also drew notice by campaigning in the name of such hot-button issues as animal rights, domestic violence, and homelessness.
MotherlandMerchant launched a folk tour in 2000, with members of progressive folk band the Horse Flies joining her on the road. She then returned to her solo career with Motherland. Two years later, Merchant left Elektra's roster and formed her own independent label, Myth America, in order to issue House Carpenter's Daughter, a collection of traditional and contemporary folk music inspired by the 2000 tour. A long period of silence followed, during which a pair of greatest-hits releases -- the 10,000 Maniacs collection Campfire Songs and Merchant's own Retrospective: 1995-2005 -- kept fans relatively sated. As the decade drew to a close, though, Merchant signed with Nonesuch Records and began making plans for a new album, which eventually arrived in the form of the ambitious, double-disc neo-children's album, 2010's Leave Your Sleep. Merchant returned to straight-ahead pop music with a self-titled album in May 2014.
Not in This Life
Natalie Merchant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the wind and through the rain
Been walking through the streets
And finding sweet relief
In knowing that it won't be long
Lately it's occurred to me
That I've had enough of that
And lately I've been satisfied
Like breathing in and breathing out
Never again, not in this life,
Will I be taken twice
Never again, never on your life,
Will I make that same mistake
I can't make it twice
Lately it's occurred to me
Exactly what went wrong
I realized I compromised,
I sacrificed far too much
For far too long
Never again, not in this life,
Will I be taken twice
Never again, not on your life,
Will I make that same mistake
I can't make it twice
Starting out from here today,
Swear I'm gonna change my ways
Once mistaken in this life
But never twice
Never again, not in this life,
Will I be taken twice
Never again, never on your life,
Will I make that same same mistake.
I can't make it twice
Starting out from here today...
In "Not in This Life," Natalie Merchant sings about a feeling of liberation that comes with letting go of past mistakes. This sentiment is revealed through lyrics that refer to the singer walking alone through rain and wind, finding relief in the knowledge that difficult times are temporary. She reflects on past heartbreak, realizing that she has already been taken once, but vows that she won't allow it to happen again, promising to make changes and avoid repeating past mistakes.
The singer's vow to be more self-aware and to avoid repeating past mistakes resonates with many people who have undergone painful experiences in their lives. The song's message is one of hope and a reminder that it's never too late to make positive changes in our lives. By choosing to mature and become more mindful of our actions, we can make strides to ensure we're not taken twice.
Overall, "Not in This Life" is a poignant reminder to live intentionally and to learn from past mistakes. The song serves as an anthem for those who wish to break free from negative cycles and embrace a more positive future.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately I've been walking all alone
I have been feeling isolated and lonely lately, without anyone by my side.
Through the wind and through the rain
Despite facing obstacles and difficulties, I continue to walk alone.
Been walking through the streets
In my solitude, I have been taking long walks through my city.
And finding sweet relief
Walking brings me peace and comfort amidst my loneliness.
In knowing that it won't be long
I find solace in the belief that my loneliness is temporary and will soon come to an end.
Lately it's occurred to me
I have recently come to realize.
That I've had enough of that
I have grown tired of being lonely and want something different.
And lately I've been satisfied
Recently, I have found contentment.
By simple things
In small, uncomplicated moments.
Like breathing in and breathing out
Such as the simple act of breathing.
Never again, not in this life,
I am making a vow to myself.
Will I be taken twice
I will not allow anyone to hurt me in the same way twice.
Never again, never on your life,
I will make sure that I never repeat the same mistake.
Will I make that same mistake
I will learn from my past mistakes and grow from them.
I can't make it twice
I will not make the same mistake again.
Starting out from here today,
From this moment forward,
Swear I'm gonna change my ways
I promise to make positive changes in my life.
Once mistaken in this life
Even though I have made mistakes in the past.
But never twice
I will not make them again.
Never again, not in this life,
One last time, I am making a vow.
Will I be taken twice
I refuse to be a victim again.
Never again, never on your life,
I will not repeat my past mistakes.
Will I make that same same mistake.
I will learn and grow from my past and move forward.
I can't make it twice
I will not allow myself to repeat past errors.
Starting out from here today...
From this point forward...
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE A MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind