Yamagata became the vocalist for the Chicago funk-fusion band Bumpus, spending six years with them while writing and recording three albums and touring the country. However, she began to write songs which took on a style that conflicted with the funk vision of the band. In 2001, Yamagata decided to take those songs and pursue a solo career. In September 2002, she landed a two-record deal with Arista's Private Music label, and her EP was released in October.
She also made an appearance in Jason Mraz's second album, singing a song with him called Did You Get My Message?
She also teamed with with Toots & the Maytals to sing Blame On Me.
She also worked with Ryan Adams & The Cardinals on their first album Cold Roses. On that album, where she is credited as: "Our little sis", she did some vocals and played "listenable" piano on the tracks 'Let It Ride', 'Cold Roses' and 'Friends'.
Yamagata sang with Rhett Miller on Fireflies from his 2006 release The Believer.
Her songs have featured on several TV shows, including How I Met Your Mother, ER , Nip/Tuck, Men in Trees, Alias, One Tree Hill, Brothers & Sisters and The O.C., to which she made a guest performance in season 2. Yamagata also contributed a song to Mandy Moore's 2007 album, Wild Hope. She also toured with Moore, opening many of her shows around the country.
Yamagata's second studio album is Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart. That album was released on October 7, 2008.
On October 9th, 2008, a two-song live acoustic video performance premiered on LiveDaily Sessions, featuring the songs "Faster" and "Sunday Afternoon".
Her highly acclaimed CD Chesapeake premiered on October 11, 2011, and was followed by an extensive tour.
On April 23, 2016, Yamagata released an acoustic version of Happenstance, Acoustic Happenstance. Later that year, she released her fourth studio album, Tightrope Walker on September 23.
Edith
Rachael Yamagata Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll never know how much I wanted you
It was not appropriate...
Oh Edith
I loved you like a movie star
Driving in your car
Counting the waves with the top down
Oh Edith
I loved you like a waterfall
But you don't know this
I never told you...
No...no...no...no...no...no...
And I think of you
Whenever street lamps die
And I think of you
No matter hot I try
You doubted my tears
Haunted me for years
Don't you know... know...don't you know
Don't you know you murder me
Oh Edith
Do you ever think of me
When you're waking from a dream
Or walking down an alley way
I wanted to send you some rain for your birthday
But it wasn't up to me
Oh that's how it had to be
Not up to me
Oh Edith
You murder me
You murder me
And I miss you...
I miss you...
Miss you...
The song "Edith" by Rachael Yamagata is a heart-wrenching ballad about unrequited love. The song tells the story of the singer's love and admiration for a woman named Edith, who never knew how she truly felt. The opening lines of the song, "Oh Edith, you'll never know how much I wanted you, it was not appropriate" sets the tone for the rest of the song, suggesting that there was some kind of barrier or obstacle that prevented the singer from expressing her feelings for Edith. The song goes on to describe the singer's intense love for Edith, comparing her to a movie star and a waterfall. However, despite her deep feelings, the singer never had the courage to tell Edith how she felt.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, with the singer lamenting how much Edith's rejection has affected her: "And I think of you whenever street lamps die, and I think of you no matter how I try, you doubted my tears, haunted me for years." The repetition of "no matter how I try" suggests that the singer has struggled to move on from her unrequited love, and that Edith's rejection has left a lasting impact.
In the second verse, the singer reveals that she wanted to send Edith some rain for her birthday, but it wasn't up to her - "Oh, that's how it had to be, not up to me." This line suggests that there may have been external factors that prevented the singer from pursuing a relationship with Edith, whether it was societal norms or something else.
Overall, "Edith" is a deeply emotional and moving song that captures the pain and longing of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Edith
Addressing someone who will likely never know how much they were wanted
You'll never know how much I wanted you
The person was not appropriate to pursue a relationship with
I loved you like a movie star
Expressing the intensity of love felt
Driving in your car
A specific memory associated with the person
Counting the waves with the top down
A vivid detail of a specific moment shared
I loved you like a waterfall
Another comparison to express the intensity of love felt
But you don't know this
The love was not reciprocated or vocalized
I never told you...
Reiterating that the feelings were never shared
No...no...no...no...no...no...
A repetition of the fact that the love was unrequited
And I think of you
Signifying that the person still holds significance in the artist's life
Whenever street lamps die
A specific trigger or memory associated with the person
No matter hot I try
Implying that the artist has tried to move on but cannot
You doubted my tears
The relationship or experience with the person was emotionally tumultuous
Haunted me for years
The impact of the experience has lasted a long time
Don't you know... know...don't you know
Expressing frustration with the fact that the other person may not understand or know the singer's feelings
Don't you know you murder me
The intense emotions surrounding the unresolved relationship are causing pain
Do you ever think of me
Wondering if the other person still thinks about the artist
When you're waking from a dream
Another specific moment where the other person may come to mind
Or walking down an alley way
Implying that the other person is still a presence in the singer's daily life
I wanted to send you some rain for your birthday
A specific gesture of love or care for the other person
But it wasn't up to me
Acknowledging that the artist has no control over the other person's life
Oh that's how it had to be
Accepting the reality of the situation
You murder me
Repeating the previous sentiment of the other person causing pain
And I miss you...
Expressing sadness and longing for the other person
I miss you...
Repeating the previous sentiment for emphasis
Miss you...
Finalizing the emotional impact of the experience
Contributed by Christian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.