Hard to pin down, and hard to forget, Rachel Loy has always had it both way… Read Full Bio ↴Hard to pin down, and hard to forget, Rachel Loy has always had it both ways: she's a sweet, petite blonde who sings heartrending ballads with an aching vulnerability, and she drives her electric bass like it's a pack of pit bulls. She works incredibly hard, but she makes it look easy. She rode the fleeting fame train with a major-label, Billboard-charted hit single at the ripe age of nineteen, and now she's ready to be discovered—again.

In the late nineties, Rachel Loy made a precocious debut at the age of thirteen, playing bass and singing with her sister for standing-room-only crowds at the renowned "Babes On Sixth" club in Austin. They held the Friday night slot for almost four years. When she went off to college, Rachel did that her own way too: on a full-ride electric bass scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music, in Boston. While there, in 2003, she won national attention with her song "The Same Man," which she wrote for a friend shipped off to the war in Iraq. Epic released the song, and in no time Rachel was performing on The Today Show and CNN. She graduated Berklee with honors.

It's safe to say she was the only college student in the country who got to team up on songwriting with heavy-hitters Clif Magness (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson), Steve Kipner (Christina Aguilara), Billy Mann (Pink, Ricky Martin), Victoria Shaw (Garth Brooks), Larry Seyer (Asleep at the Wheel), and Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Jewel).

Fruitful and fun as that was, Rachel says it seems like a long time ago. "I remember how badly I wanted to be Pop, and I wanted to be clever, and I wanted to hear my music on big radio with a big record deal," Rachel says. "I also wanted to express myself. And I did. But now that's the main thing. With the musical and personal changes I've gone through in the last few years, I have completely new things I want to say."

In 2008, Rachel moved to Nashville and began making her mark as a bass player and songwriter, playing for an eclectic batch of artists ranging from Dave Pahanish, Rebecca Lynn Howard and Universal Recording Artist Chris Janson, to American Idol top 6 contestant Carmen Rasmusen and Mikky Ekko. She has also co-written songs for stars like Rebecca Lynn Howard, Shane McAnally, Victoria Shaw, Kathy Valentine of the Go Gos and Tony Scalzo of Fastball. Her music has been heard on the renowned ABC primetime drama “Eastwick” and her dance single, “I Can Feel It (Loving Me)”, with producer Adam Lilley received 4 weeks of Radio 1 airplay and placements on 3 dance compilations, but her credentials do not stop there. Four of Loy’s dance songs can also be found in the upcoming independent film “When Harry Tries to Marry”. Rachel is currently the bassist for country artist Julianne Hough.

The new self-titled EP is the product of the Nashville stew Rachel's been simmering in. She feels being a resident of this southern city has played an imperative part on her songwriting and talent as an artist, which is evident in this record. Every song tells a clear story, ranging from former relationships and fighting for love to the struggle of embarking on a career in this competitive, yet compelling industry. With influences like the Indigo Girls, Patti Griffin and Shawn Colvin, the album encompasses passionate rock sounds but is evenly matched with lush, emotional textures for an exceptional balance. It's the product of her unique history, her unusually expansive musical experience and is bound to please the ears of many. "I feel, lyrically and musically, this EP is the best stuff I've ever put out,” she said.

With hard-earned, heartfelt things to say, the honesty to say them, and no desire to slow down, Rachel Loy is bound to be discovered—again and again—as the generous and gifted artist that she is.

Big Sky
Rachel Loy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got this ego
That got knocked down
Walking real slow, staring at the ground
A million loners wake up every day
My life's not over, just twisted out of place

I stop in my tracks
To watch the clouds get tossed around

And suddenly that's all I can think about.

CHORUS
I got the big sky to hold me
I got my whole life unfolding
There's beauty in solitude
So don't tell me that I need you
I'm on the outside of being lonely
I've the whole sky to hold me

I take the train home almost every night
I talk to strangers, just feel alive
So I asked this lady, when I was feeling bold:
Am I going crazy or is this just getting old?
Half-smiling, she told me she misses being young
When every moment just drips with passion
She said, 'Girl, let yourself cry,
Get rid of your fear of feeling lost
Don't calculate the cost."

CHORUS

Some time my spirit's stretched so far
You can see right through it to my beating heart
It's just a growing pain
Just when I think I'm going to shrivel up
I can feel the blood running through my veins
Oh, that'll never change

I've got the whole sky to hold me
Temporarily lonely
I defeated the solitude, oh
Just to find that I don't need you...

I got the big sky to hold me
I got my whole life unfolding
There's beauty in solitude
So I'm standing strong and new

I'm on the oustide of being lonely
I've got the whole sky to hold me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rachel Loy’s song “Big Sky” are very introspective and reflective. The first verse talks about the singer’s ego that has been knocked down and how she feels isolated from everyone else. She is walking slowly and staring at the ground while a million other people wake up every day. Despite feeling like her life is twisted out of place, she stops to watch the clouds get tossed around and the natural beauty of the world distracts her from her troubles. The chorus talks about how she has the big sky to hold her and her whole life in front of her. The solitude is beautiful, and she doesn’t need anyone to tell her that she needs them. She is comfortable being alone and has embraced the lonely feeling.

In the second verse, she talks about how she takes the train home almost every night and talks to strangers to feel alive. She asks an older lady if she’s going crazy or if life is just getting old. The lady tells her she misses being young and how every moment was filled with passion. The singer is encouraged to cry and not be afraid of feeling lost. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the importance of the sky holding her and how she doesn't need anyone else.

The song speaks to the idea of how sometimes the best company is oneself, and there is great beauty in being alone. It is a reminder that while we may feel isolated at times, it is not always necessary to have someone to distract us from our problems. Sometimes the natural beauty of the world is enough to distract us and bring us perspective.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got this ego
I have an ego that defines my self-worth.

That got knocked down
Which got defeated by something.

Walking real slow, staring at the ground
I'm walking with a slow pace, looking down reflecting on my life.

A million loners wake up every day
There are countless people who wake up feeling isolated and alone.

My life's not over, just twisted out of place
Although my life has taken an unexpected turn, it is not over yet.

I stop in my tracks
I come to a halt.

To watch the clouds get tossed around
I stand to admire the clouds moving in the sky.

And suddenly that's all I can think about.
At that moment, the only thought occupying my mind is the beauty of the clouds.

I got the big sky to hold me
I am secure in the vastness, openness of the sky.

I got my whole life unfolding
My life is continuously evolving and taking shape.

There's beauty in solitude
Being alone offers a kind of beauty that should be appreciated.

So don't tell me that I need you
I don't need another person to help me appreciate life and its beauty.

I'm on the outside of being lonely
I feel a sense of loneliness, but I am not engulfed by it.

I've the whole sky to hold me
I find comfort and security in the vastness of the sky.

I take the train home almost every night
I ride the train back home almost every night.

I talk to strangers, just feel alive
I engage in conversations with strangers to feel more alive.

So I asked this lady, when I was feeling bold:
I muster the courage to ask a lady a question.

Am I going crazy or is this just getting old?
I question my sanity and wonder if life is just getting mundane.

Half-smiling, she told me she misses being young
She wears a half-smile and admits to missing her youthful days.

When every moment just drips with passion
The period of flitting youth was characterized by passionate moments.

She said, 'Girl, let yourself cry,
She consoles me and tells me to express my emotions.

Get rid of your fear of feeling lost
She entices me to shed the fear of being lost.

Don't calculate the cost.'
She advises me not to be overly calculative of consequences.

Some time my spirit's stretched so far
At times, my spirit is stretched to the limit.

You can see right through it to my beating heart
It becomes evident that I am pushing myself through a struggle that goes as far as affecting me emotionally.

It's just a growing pain
This is just a pain that comes with growth.

Just when I think I'm going to shrivel up
Just when I think the pain will defeat me.

I can feel the blood running through my veins
I am alive and I feel energized, looking forward to a new day.

Oh, that'll never change
This sense of being content with myself will never change.

Temporarily lonely
Being lonely is not permanent.

I defeated the solitude, oh
I enjoy moments of solitude that are empowering.

Just to find that I don't need you...
I realize that I don't need other people for my happiness and contentment.

So I'm standing strong and new
I come out of these experiences feeling stronger and renewed.

Contributed by Jeremiah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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