Pieta Brown (born Iowa City, Iowa, in 1973) is an American singer and song… Read Full Bio ↴Pieta Brown (born Iowa City, Iowa, in 1973) is an American singer and songwriter. She is daughter of American folk musician Greg Brown.

After releasing the album Remember the Sun (2007), Brown caught the attention of legendary producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt) and teamed up with him to make Shimmer (2009), an EP of stripped-down, just-formed original songs, hailed as “particularly poignant” (Boston Globe) that charted on Americana and Folk radio. With a one-two punch, (stepping seamlessly into the role of producer with right hand man, guitar slinger, Bo Ramsey) Pieta quickly followed Shimmer with the full-length album, One and All (2010), delivering hypnotic melodies and raw, soul-tinged grooves, with her signature vocals and an electrifying band. Upon the release of One and All, Pieta got the call to join Mark Knopfler’s North American tour, following that with a string of dates with John Prine, a full orchestral show with Brandi Carlile, and her own headlining tour of Australia.

Distinguishing herself from the crowd of singer/songwriters Pieta is being called "one of the best modern songwriters” (Sonic Boomers) and “a genuine talent” (iTunes). Or, as one of Pieta’s own songwriting heroes, Iris Dement, put it, “one of the best poets I’ve heard in a long damn time.” Even her own father, beloved folk icon, Greg Brown, has just recorded one of her songs, to be included on his upcoming album to be released in the Spring of 2011.

I'm Gone
Pieta Brown Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You say you love me
You’re thinking twice
Second thoughts
Don’t feel too nice

I’m gone
Turn around
Baby I’ll be gone

Everybody
Talking trash
Everybody else
Digging for cash

I’m gone
Turn around
Baby I’ll be gone

I’m tongue-tied
What I’m trying to say
I’m so tired
Of being treated this way

I’m gone
Turn around
Baby I’ll be gone

Double barrel
Straight to hell
I’m out of here
Like a shotgun shell

I’m gone
Turn around
Baby I’ll be gone

Call my name
Wave your hands in the air
Guess what...
Baby I don’t care

I’m gone
Turn around
Baby I’ll be gone

Broken hearted
Not broken down
I’m on my way
To a higher ground

I’m gone
Turn around
Baby I’ll be gone

Turn around
Baby I’ll be gone

Overall Meaning

Pieta Brown's song "I'm Gone" is a classic tale of someone who has tried hard to make things work, but has had enough of the situation and has decided to move on. The first verse opens with the singer’s lover confessing love but having second thoughts which is causing the singer to feel uncomfortable. The singer has eventually made the decision to leave the relationship and expresses this clearly throughout the song. However, despite the heartache and difficulty of parting ways, the singer knows that moving on is the right choice.

The second verse describes the external factors that have played into the relationship ending. There is a sense of disillusionment with society, described through the metaphor of people talking “trash” and digging for “cash”. It is almost as if the world is falling apart around the singer and the only thing that can bring her peace is leaving the relationship behind. The chorus repeats the same lines, reinforcing the idea that there is no turning back.

The third verse describes the final straw in the relationship which is how the singer has been treated. They are tired and have had enough, signaling that there has been a long build-up to this final step. The metaphor of the double-barrel shooting is used to signal to the listener that the breakup is final and decisive. The last verse sees the singer leaving behind the heartache and moving towards enlightenment, towards a better life. The repetition of the chorus is a declaration of the decision made and the fact that there is no going back.

Line by Line Meaning

You say you love me
You claim to have love for me

You’re thinking twice
You are having second thoughts

Second thoughts
You are reconsidering your feelings

Don’t feel too nice
The uncertainty of your emotions is causing discomfort

I’m gone
I have departed

Turn around
Look back at where I once was

Baby I’ll be gone
I will no longer be present in your life

Everybody
All people

Talking trash
Speaking negatively about others

Everybody else
All other people

Digging for cash
Trying to get money from any opportunity