Adams was born the daughter of a preacher and was raised with gospel music. In her youth her family moved to Yakima, Washington, which is sometimes shown as her place of birth.
Adams started her career in 1980 with two self-financed albums which had limited success. In 1985, she was discovered by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, founders of the famous English pop band Tears for Fears whilst performing in a Kansas City, Missouri bar. They invited her to join their band as a singer to their next album The Seeds of Love.
In 1989, the LP was released and the single "Woman In Chains" - sung as a duet by Adams and Orzabal and with Phil Collins on drums - became her real first hit. Oleta started her solo career in 1990 assisted by Orzabal who did the production. Her debut album Circle of One received much critical acclaim and she scored her biggest hit to date in 1991 with her cover of Brenda Russell's "Get Here". 1991 also saw Oleta contribute to the Elton John/Bernie Taupin tribute album, Two Rooms, on which appeared her version of John's 1974 hit "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me".
Her next album Evolution was also a commercial success. Her 1995 release, Moving On, saw Oleta move more in the direction of R&B. Two years later she released the Christian themed Come Walk With Me.
Adams' smooth sumptuous contralto voice has become the vanguard in an R&B jazz segment that was largely vacant during Anita Baker's hiatus.
In 2001, Adams released her sixth album, All The Love, a return to an R&B/Adult contemporary sound. The album was re-released in 2004 in Germany with a different title I Can't Live a Day without You.
In 2004, Adams reunited with Tears for Fears once again as she made a surprise guest appearance onstage at their Kansas City concert, performing "Woman in Chains".
Adams released her first Christmas album on 3 October 2006, entitled Christmas Time with Oleta.
A secular album entitled Let's Stay Here, was released on April 21, 2009.
Window Of Hope
Oleta Adams Lyrics
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You've been pickin' at the scab's of some old wounds
Cudding up the sorrow like it's your best friend
Thinkin' it's an inescapable end
But see the light shining on the wall
It”s gonna shine through the nightfall
Can't you see
Shining the light on every problem
A window of hope
There's always a chance that you can solve them
When you think it's all over and you want to let go
The faintest glow is there to help you, I know
Keep looking for the light of
The window of hope
You're shadow boxing almost everyday
Don't you think it's time to ut your gloves away
This kind of punishment should be a sin
Face it, that ain't no way to begin
But see the light shining on the wall
It's gonna shine through the nightfall
Can you see
A window of hope
Shinning the light on every problem
A window of hope
There's always a chance that you can solve them
When you think it's all over and you want to let go
The faintest glow is there to help you, I know
Keep looking for the light of
The window of hope
Hope is the sea of life
That was meant to flow
As a never ending stream
And I can sleep at night
Now that I know
Hope is a waking dream
Can't you see
A window of hope
Shinning the light on every problem
A window of hope
There's always a chance that you can solve them
When you think it's all over and you want to let go
The faintest glow is there to help you, I know
Keep looking for the light of
The window of hope
The lyrics to Oleta Adams's song "Window of Hope" are a rallying call to anyone who feels like they are at the end of their rope, in the darkness of their private space, battered by life's punches. It acknowledges that we all have old wounds, and at times we pick painfully at them, perhaps in the belief that we are beyond repair. But then we are asked to see the light shining on the wall, a hope for a better tomorrow, a chance to solve all the problems that seem insurmountable. Hope is likened to a never-ending stream, a waking dream that we can cling to in our darkest moments.
Adams's delivery of these lyrics is powerful and persuasive, as her soulful voice encourages listeners to never give up, to keep looking for the window of hope. The song seems to suggest that hope is not just a state of mind but a tangible light that we can see, something that can guide us through the darkest of times. It speaks to the resilience of human beings and the enduring quality of hope. The imagery is both simple and impactful, with the light on the wall representing a way out of the darkness, a way to see things anew.
Line by Line Meaning
In the darkness of your private room
You've been alone, dwelling on your problems in the dark.
You've been pickin' at the scabs of some old wounds
You've been reopening old wounds instead of letting them heal.
Cuddling up the sorrow like it's your best friend
You've been holding onto your sadness and treating it as a companion.
Thinking it's an inescapable end
You feel like there is no way out of your current situation.
But see the light shining on the wall
Despite the darkness, there is a glimmer of hope.
It's gonna shine through the nightfall
This hope will help you through even the darkest times.
Can't you see
Can't you see that there is a way out?
A window of hope
There is a way to solve your problems.
Shining the light on every problem
This hope sheds light on the issues you face.
There's always a chance that you can solve them
There is always a chance for a solution.
When you think it's all over and you want to let go
When you feel like giving up, hope is still there.
The faintest glow is there to help you, I know
Even the smallest glimmer of hope can be enough to guide you.
Keep looking for the light of the window of hope
Don't give up, keep searching for hope.
You're shadow boxing almost everyday
You're fighting with yourself, but not making any progress.
Don't you think it's time to put your gloves away
It's time to stop fighting and find a new path.
This kind of punishment should be a sin
Torturing yourself will only make things worse.
Face it, that ain't no way to begin
It's not a healthy or productive way to handle things.
Hope is the sea of life
Hope is an essential part of life.
That was meant to flow as a never ending stream
Hope should always be present and accessible.
And I can sleep at night now that I know
Having hope brings peace and comfort.
Hope is a waking dream
Hope is like a dream that can become reality.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: OLETA ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind