While still in university she was submitting original material for other artists to record; however, none of her songs were recorded and she worked as a busker and waitress in Greenwich Village after graduating. Together with Soozie Tyrell and Lisa Lowell, she formed a street group known as Trickster. She struggled to make her way in the songwriting and recording industry in New York and New Jersey for many years before playing at Kenny’s Castaway in Greenwich Village, as well as Asbury Park's The Stone Pony, which got her notice and eventually recording work with Southside Johnny and David Johansen. Rumbledoll (1993) was her first record .
In 1984, she joined the E Street Band three or four days before the opening show of the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, either because Springsteen wanted to expand the emotional range of the band (Marsh, Glory Days) or because Nils Lofgren contracted mononucleosis, which made it impossible for him to sing his backing vocals (Scialfa, [1]). In 1986, she appeared on the Rolling Stones' Dirty Work album, leaving her unique vocal mark on "One Hit (To the Body)" as well as other tracks. She worked with Keith Richards on his first solo disc Talk is Cheap. Steve Jordan, who co-produced the Richards' record, was a friend of Scialfa's from her Greenwich Village days.
Scialfa has made two solo albums, 1993's Rumble Doll and 2004's 23rd Street Lullaby, both of which received four-star reviews from Rolling Stone, but failed to produce successful radio singles. Each record is a mix of confessional songwriting, impressive vocal range, and traditional country, folk and rock music. Springsteen and fellow E Street bandmates like Lofgren and Roy Bittan contributed backing work. Following the release of her second album, Scialfa played a series of club dates along the East Coast and she was also the opening act of the post-final night of the Vote for Change tour. Criticism of her performances was sometimes along the lines that, while she had some good songs and interesting arrangements, her voice was more suited to backing than lead vocals and she lacked stage presence. However, she has many loyal and enthusiastic fans. Some believe she ranks among today's top female song-writers and that her work is overlooked primarily due to her connection to Springsteen.
valerie
Patti Scialfa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like fire-breathing dragons against the sky
And from their throats a scarlet river
Burns itself into smoky lullabies
Over neon and fluorescent skies
Valerie, can you hear those engines drone
I wanted to go to Mexico
And once I knew a true love
It's been three years since he's gone
And if I could get that feeling back
I'd give up everything I own
16 days since I left Corona
And I traveled to this carnival town near Alberndeel
And I rode the coaster there on the fairground
Twisted backbone of a beast that never heals
And I left some skin on fortune's wheel
Valerie, can you hear those engines drone
I wanted to go to Mexico
But I'm stranded here alone
And once I knew a true love
It's been three years since he's gone
And if I could get that feeling back
I'd give up everything I own
Everything's in slow motion now
In this little border town
I've come so close from so far
Just to hide behind these windows here
From the world outside
I watch those cars and trucks raise trails of dust
Down the road as they pass by
Valerie, can you hear those engines drone
I wanted to go to Mexico
But I'm stranded here alone
And once I knew a true love
It's been three years since he's gone
And if I could get that feeling back
I'd give up everything I own
Everything I own
Everything I own
Everything I own
The song Valerie by Patti Scialfa paints a vivid picture of a woman named Valerie stuck in a border town in California, longing for her lost love. The opening stanza immediately sets the scene, describing the industrial factories in the east as fire-breathing dragons against the sky, and the river as a "scarlet river" that burns itself into smoky lullabies. This imagery gives the impression that Valerie's surroundings are harsh, with danger lurking behind every corner.
Valerie's longing for her lost love is a central theme of the song - she recalls a love that she had three years ago, saying that if she could get that feeling back, she would give up everything she owns. There is a sense of restlessness in the lyrics, with Valerie wanting to go to Mexico but being stranded in this town. The constant drone of the engines is a reminder of the wider world that exists, but which is out of her reach. The mention of the "carnival town near Alberndeel" adds a sense of escapism to the song, as if Valerie is trying to distract herself from her loss by visiting this place.
The final verse emphasizes the theme of isolation, with Valerie hiding behind her windows as she watches the world pass her by. The slow motion of everything around her emphasizes her lack of agency - she is the one left behind while others move on with their lives. Overall, Valerie is a poignant song that captures the sadness and longing of a woman trapped in a difficult situation.
Line by Line Meaning
To the east the factories stand
The factories are visible, standing tall in the east
Like fire-breathing dragons against the sky
They look daunting and fierce, just like dragons that breathe fire
And from their throats a scarlet river
The factories emit smoke that looks like a red river
Burns itself into smoky lullabies
The smoke merges with the air and creates a drowsy effect
Over neon and fluorescent skies
The darkening sky seems bright and flashy due to the lights and shadows from the factories
Valerie, can you hear those engines drone
The singer directs her query towards Valerie, asking if she can hear the sound of the engines running in the background
I wanted to go to Mexico
The singer desired to travel to Mexico
But I'm stranded here alone
However, she finds herself all alone and stranded where she is currently
And once I knew a true love
The artist had been in love earlier in her life
It's been three years since he's gone
It's been three years since he has left
And if I could get that feeling back
If the singer could get back the feeling of love, she'd be happy
I'd give up everything I own
She'd give up every possession she has
16 days since I left Corona
Sixteen days have passed since the singer left Corona
And I traveled to this carnival town near Alberndeel
She has now traveled to a carnival town situated near Alberndeel
And I rode the coaster there on the fairground
The singer went on a coaster ride at the fairground
Twisted backbone of a beast that never heals
The coaster is old and looks battered, but nevertheless still thrilling for riders
And I left some skin on fortune's wheel
She experienced a close brush with danger while riding the coaster ride
Everything's in slow motion now
Everything seems to be slowing down for her now
In this little border town
She is currently in a small town situated at the border
I've come so close from so far
She reflects on how she traveled so far to reach here
Just to hide behind these windows here
And yet she is hiding behind windows and unable to enjoy new experiences
From the world outside
She is separated from the world outside
I watch those cars and trucks raise trails of dust
However, she still watches the outside world, where cars and trucks pass by and raise trails of dust
Down the road as they pass by
She notices the vehicles going down the road
Everything I own
She reiterates that she'd give up everything she owns if she could get back the feeling of love
Everything I own
She repeats this statement as the outro of the song
Everything I own
She once again repeats the same line as the song ends
Contributed by Lincoln D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.