The band evolved from a series of jam sessions, in 2000, between Trish Klein of The Be Good Tanyas and Allison Russell, then of Fear of Drinking. The two met up again in 2003 and named themselves Po' Girl.
They released their self-titled debut album in 2003. In 2004, they recorded and released their second album, Vagabond Lullabies with the help of friend musicians who included Diona Davies (multi-instrumentalist and singer), CR Avery (hip hopper), Roey Shemesh on bass and John Raham and Shelley Okepnak on drums. 2006 saw the release of their B Side recordings, with tracks featuring guest appearances by Sarah Harmer, Luther Wright, Shaun Brodie, Jason Mercer and Ana Egge (the album can only be purchased off-stage).
In 2007 came their third album, Home to You.
Once based in Vancouver, Po' Girl are now back in the Eastern cities of Toronto and Montreal. The band lineup is now Allison Russell (singer/multi-instrumentalist), Awna Teixeira (singer/multi-instrumentalist), Benny Sidelinger (multi-instrumentalist) and Mikey "Lightning" August.
Deer in the Night was released in May 2009. Also in summer 2009, they released their first live album consisting of recordings in venues from their favourite states.
Their album Follow Your Bliss was released in 2010.
Po' Girl's music has been compared with that of The Band, Hazel Dickens, Tracy Chapman, Natalie Merchant, Elizabeth Cotten and Norah Jones. It showcases melodies from instruments as diverse as banjo, clarinet, harmonica, dobro, accordion, gutbucket bass.
Grace
Po' Girl Lyrics
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So the power lines fall and the branches become sticks
Broken trees tell of sudden cold that kills
Broken songbirds tell of sudden words that spill friendship
All things pass, all things pass
And no birds sing, the geese take wing
Fly to the south, fly far from us
Fly far from here leave us alone with our black thoughts
Watch the landscape reflection through the side view mirror
On the tinted windows of the speeding van
Think that we could be anymore, think that we could be anymore
Without a worry, without a restless care
Not these broken songbirds, searching for patterns
Not these broken songbirds, searching for meaning
For a fall into place, for a fall into place
Endless grace
Endless grace
All things pass, all things pass
And no birds sing, the geese take wing
Fly to the south, fly far from us
Fly far from here leave us alone with our black thoughts
All things pass
The song "Grace" by Po' Girl appears to be about the natural cycle of life and how things come and go. The first few lines of the song introduce the idea that there is "ice on the wires, too heavy to bear," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the weight of life's troubles becoming too much to handle. This weight causes "the power lines [to] fall and the branches become sticks," indicating that when things become too much to bear, they can break us down to our most basic form.
The second verse talks about broken trees and songbirds, both of which are symbols of life that have been taken away suddenly. The death of the songbirds is attributed to "sudden words that spill friendship," suggesting that relationships that once brought joy have ended abruptly, leading to a loss of happiness. The chorus repeats the refrain that "all things pass," indicating that even the most difficult times will eventually come to an end. However, the repeated line "and no birds sing" suggests that during those tough times, it may feel as if the world around us has gone silent.
The final verse brings in the idea of reflection and how it can help us move forward. The chorus repeats again, reminding us that all things pass and that we shouldn't let our negative thoughts and emotions consume us. The final line, "endless grace," suggests that even when things are difficult, there is still beauty in the world worth recognizing.
Line by Line Meaning
There's ice on the wires, too heavy to bear
The weight of the ice on the wires is too much to handle.
So the power lines fall and the branches become sticks
The heavy ice causes the power lines to fall and the tree branches to break.
Broken trees tell of sudden cold that kills
The broken trees serve as evidence of the unexpected cold weather that caused the damage.
Broken songbirds tell of sudden words that spill friendship
The broken songbirds represent the loss of friendships due to sudden actions or words.
All things pass, all things pass
Everything eventually comes to an end.
And no birds sing, the geese take wing
None of the usual birds are present, as the geese are migrating south for the winter.
Fly to the south, fly far from us
The geese are flying to the south and away from the current location.
Fly far from here leave us alone with our black thoughts
The geese leaving creates a sense of loneliness and negative thoughts.
Watch the landscape reflection through the side view mirror
Observing the scenery in the side mirror of a speeding van.
On the tinted windows of the speeding van
The windows of the vehicle are darkened.
Think that we could be anymore, think that we could be anymore
Contemplating the possibility of being more than the current state.
Without a worry, without a restless care
Being free of worries or insecurities.
Not these broken songbirds, searching for patterns
Trying to find meaning or order in chaos.
Not these broken songbirds, searching for meaning
Seeking to understand the purpose behind hardships or struggles.
For a fall into place, for a fall into place
Hoping for things to fall into a natural order or sequence.
Endless grace
Referencing the idea of spiritual or divine grace that is never-ending.
All things pass, all things pass
Once again acknowledging the transient nature of all things.
Contributed by Maya R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.