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.
Faster
Rachael Yamagata Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think I'm lost inside my mind
You're like an old tattoo
And I know you'll fade in time
I'm not the girl you think you know
I'm not the girl you waited for
I'm not the one for you
Why don't you let me be
Cause I'm a million miles away
Why don't you set me free
Cause you don't treat me like you said
I won't tuck you in one last time
I'm taking back what is mine
For me
I belong to me, yeah
[Chorus]
I'm going faster
You're going backwards
You're going to miss me when I'm gone
I hang from the ceiling
I feel what I'm feeling
Should've been feeling it all along
I'm going faster
I'm going faster
That's the last black eye
I hope I ever give to you
Yeah, I had a good time
But what's a girl supposed to do
Take the pictures off the wall
They don't look like us at all
They don't look like friends
I've got new things to begin
Why don't you let me be
Cause I'm a million miles away
Why don't you set me free
I belong to me
[Chorus]
I'm going faster
I'm going faster
[Chorus]
I'm going faster
I'm going faster
The lyrics to Rachael Yamagata's song Faster describe a woman who is breaking free from a toxic relationship. The first verse suggests that the person she is addressing doesn't understand her and that their relationship has started to fade away. The second verse explicitly states that she is not the girl he was waiting for, and she has to let him go. The chorus is all about moving on and going faster without looking back or regretting the past.
The line, "I'm going faster, you're going backwards," indicates that the singer is moving on, and the person she's addressing is staying in the same place. The verse "that's the last black eye I hope I ever give to you" is an allusion to a physical altercation between them, indicating that the relationship was abusive. The line "I hang from the ceiling, I feel what I'm feeling, should've been feeling it all along" could refer to the singer's attempt to come to terms with her emotions and finally feel free after getting out of the relationship.
In summary, the song Faster is about ending a toxic relationship and moving on without looking back.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't talk to you
I am unable to communicate with you
You think I'm lost inside my mind
You believe that I am confused and disoriented
You're like an old tattoo
You are a permanent reminder of a past that I have outgrown
And I know you'll fade in time
Eventually, memories of you will lose their influence and relevance
I'm not the girl you think you know
I am not the person you perceive me to be
I'm not the girl you waited for
I am not the girl you expected or hoped for
I'm not the one for you
I am not the right choice for you
It's just one thing left to do
There is only one course of action remaining
Why don't you let me be
Why don't you allow me to be alone and live my own life
Cause I'm a million miles away
I have emotionally and mentally distanced myself from you
Why don't you set me free
Why don't you give me the freedom to pursue my own desires
Cause you don't treat me like you said
You do not uphold your promises or respect me as an individual
I won't tuck you in one last time
I will not continue to be involved with you in an intimate or nurturing way
I'm taking back what is mine
I am reclaiming my self-worth and independence
For me
This is solely for my own benefit
I belong to me, yeah
I am responsible for myself and my own happiness
I'm going faster
I am moving on quickly
You're going backwards
You are stagnant and not progressing
You're going to miss me when I'm gone
You will feel my absence and regret not valuing me more
I hang from the ceiling
I am feeling trapped and overwhelmed
I feel what I'm feeling
I am experiencing genuine and legitimate emotions
Should've been feeling it all along
I realize that I should have allowed myself to feel my emotions earlier
That's the last black eye
That is the last hurtful or damaging action towards you
I hope I ever give to you
I wish to never hurt or harm you again
Yeah, I had a good time
I enjoyed our past experiences together
But what's a girl supposed to do
However, I must prioritize my own well-being and happiness
Take the pictures off the wall
Remove any reminders or memories of our past relationship
They don't look like us at all
They no longer accurately reflect our current situation or dynamic
They don't look like friends
They are not a positive representation of our relationship
I've got new things to begin
I am looking forward to starting new experiences and creating positive memories
I'm going faster
I am moving on quickly
I'm going faster
I am moving on quickly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL DURHAM, RACHAEL YAMAGATA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sunny C.
I really love this girl's music. I really wish you could come to Montana so I could see her play live.