Nicole was born into a family of Pittsburgh steelworkers. This ancestry initially influenced her desire to write music as a means to convey the struggle of the working class. After completing a major in jazz guitar and composition and travelling West, she began to broaden her songwriting to encompass the universal themes of love, betrayal, disillusionment, and hope as well as issue-specific songs addressing war, sexuality, and health care. These and other topical concerns are incorporated into her 20 song debut release, Wolves Won't Eat Us, independently released in August of 2006.
In July of 2006, Nicole moved to a small organic farm in Western PA and continues to reside and work there in between recording and touring. Her second album, This Arduous Alchemy, is slated for release in the summer of 2007. She has expanded from the folk simplicity that defined her first cd into a broader sound that resonates with a rich spectrum of personal experiences. Through a collaboration with Philadelphia-based recording artists, Nicole has covered a wide variety of songwriting styles and looks forward to touring in support of the album.
Nicole has toured throughout the United States, Germany, and Holland. She has performed shows with Jean Ritchie, Dan Bern, Chris Pureka, Janis Ian, Tom Paxton, Melissa Ferrick, Bitch, Ellis Paul, Erin Mckeown, Peter Mulvey, Edie Carey, Sarsaparilla, Jake Shimabukuro, Eleni Mandell,
The Waybacks, among many others.
a fine set of fools - released in december 2009
nicole writes about her new record:
"a fine set of fools" is my 4th full record release. it is my
pleasure to share these 16 songs with you. i've written
about a lot on this album:
"only atoms" was written after i spent a few months in
europe farming and sleeping on couches. "like the ocean"
is a song i wrote about my childhood, adolescence, sexuality,
being raised catholic, and how i came through it.
"ghost dance" and "oats and barley" are about food and life
cycles, which was gathered from my experience as a sheep
and vegetable farmer in western pennsylvania. i wrote
"practical things" after reading a book of letters from
violet trefusis to vita sackville-west, who were having a love
affair in the early 1900s. "memory is a minefield" and "we are
haunted" are both songs for the melancholy. "crazy as you" is
a rock song i wrote for the fun of it.
"i went to the mountain" was written about mountaintop
removal, which is a form of coal mining in appalachia where
the entire mountain is leveled and the communities are
devastated, often with many deaths and illnesses. "earthworms"
is a queer little song i wrote for a friend. "the tree believes,"
"in this world," and "we could stay" are all songs about
transformation- questioning, moving on. "joseph brown"
is a union song about the 1892 homestead strike in pittsburgh.
my mother, grandfather, and great great grandfather all
worked in the pittsburgh mills.
"for christmas" is a song about materialism. i would like to
encourage everyone to make something for the holidays-
carve a spoon, knit a glove, paint a picture, draw a cartoon,
write a poem, save your seeds and give them out as gifts-
put a little thought into your friends and family, even if they
don't give a shit and just want money or a new battery charger.
i will be on the road touring for a while. if you'd like to
recommend a venue in your town, set up a house concert,
or have me play at your college, let me know and i will
try to come by.
Morning
Nicole Reynolds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beat beat beat in my brain
Morning's here
The moon atoms wash away
And the daybreak come our way
Morning's here
Just stay here
You sing your note
I sing my note
The pitch ain't perfect, no,
But i know it sounds beautiful
When we write our morning song
Morning morning morning
I'm a sensitive canary
You're an unordinary mine
I'll be fine
Send me down down down
You got your rhythm
I got my rhythm
I know i feel them both
When we are close
So won't you stay
We'll write
Our morning song
The lyrics to Nicole Reynolds's song "Morning" create an image of a new day beginning and the hopeful feeling it brings. The repetition of "pulse pulse pulse" and "beat beat beat" emphasizes the energy and excitement of a new start. The mention of "moon atoms" suggests a deeper realization that the past is gone, and a new day is here. The singer urges someone to stay with her, both literally and metaphorically, as they create their own morning song. The imperfection of their singing is not an issue because they know it sounds beautiful. The lyrics also reveal a relationship between the two singers, as they share their different rhythms and come together to create something unique.
Line by Line Meaning
Pulse pulse pulse in my veins
The rush of excitement courses through my veins as the morning begins
Beat beat beat in my brain
My heart is racing with anticipation for the day ahead
Morning's here
The day has finally arrived
The moon atoms wash away
The night's worries are disappearing as the new day begins
And the daybreak come our way
The sun is rising and bringing new opportunities with it
Morning's here
The dawn has arrived and with it comes a fresh start
Just stay here
I want to soak in and savor the moment
You sing your note
With each passing moment, you are contributing something unique and special to the day
I sing my note
I too am adding my voice to the hopeful song of the day
The pitch ain't perfect, no,
We don't need to be perfect to make beautiful music together
But i know it sounds beautiful
I know that our collaborative efforts will result in something extraordinary
When we write our morning song
Together, we are crafting our own unique story for the day ahead
Morning morning morning
A reminder that this fresh start is available to us each and every day
I'm a sensitive canary
I'm attuned to the nuances and subtleties of the world around me
You're an unordinary mine
You possess a wealth of brilliance and creative energy that is unparalleled
I'll be fine
Because I have you by my side, I know I can handle whatever comes my way
Send me down down down
Remove me from my sense of self and allow me to exist entirely within the present moment
You got your rhythm
You have a beat that is entirely your own, and I respect and admire that
I got my rhythm
Similarly, I have my own way of moving through the world and navigating the day
I know i feel them both
Although we tread different paths, I recognize that we are both united in our love of the morning and our desire to create something beautiful
When we are close
It is in our shared experiences that we truly shine and find the most meaning
So won't you stay
Please don't leave me; let's continue to collaborate and grow together
We'll write
Together, we will craft a new story for the day ahead
Our morning song
A tribute to the unique and hopeful journey we are embarking upon together
Contributed by Makayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.