Cash released her first single in 1979, a duet with Bobby Bare called "We Don't Need No Memories Hangin' 'Round". Two years later, she had her first country No. 1 (and the biggest commercial hit of her career), "Seven Year Ache". Although Cash was a prominent country star throughout the '80s, alongside fellow decade-defining artists Emmylou Harris, Juice Newton, and Dolly Parton, her music was anything but traditional: She topped the charts with songs written not only by herself, but by her father ("Tennessee Flat Top Box"), John Hiatt ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Tom Petty ("Never Be You") and the Beatles ("I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"), "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", which won her a Grammy in 1985, and "It's Such a Small World", a 1987 duet with Rodney Crowell on his album Diamonds & Dirt, provided further hits. A sampling of these songs and more are included on the compilation Hits 1979-1989. In 1979, she married Rodney Crowell, who was to produce most of her hit records. Their stormy marriage lasted until 1992; its break-up is chronicled in Cash's Interiors and in Crowell's album Life Is Messy. Cash later married John Leventhal, who produced her albums The Wheel, 10 Song Demo, Rules of Travel, and Black Cadillac.
To date, Cash has had more than twenty top 40 country singles, including eleven chart-toppers, but none since 1990, and she has left Nashville in both spirit and body to pursue her artistic vision. Although she had recorded all of her hits for Columbia Records' Nashville division, she released 10 Song Demo for the pop division of Capitol. Cash resurfaced in 2003 with Rules of Travel. The album features guest appearances by Sheryl Crow and Steve Earle, as well as a tune penned by Joe Henry and the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan. Cash's latest album, entitled Black Cadillac, was released by Capitol Records in January 2006 to critical acclaim. Many of the songs were written by Cash and address the losses (within a 24-month span) of her step-mother, her father, her step-sister (Rosey Nix Adams) and then finally her mother on Cash's fiftieth birthday.
On the Inside
Rosanne Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I'm reaching out to you but I'm keeping my hands clean
The tables are turning the tempo slows down
And we're gettin' off this misery-go-round
It's a brand new world baby now things have changed
A brand new picture in a brand new frame
A turn of the page with a blink of your eye
Our two steps in rhythm our hearts beatin' time
A critical moment I know you'd agree both of us separate but neither one free
We traded our papers for new walking shoes
But I had no idea how I'd feel without you
We watched it unravel we heard it unwind imprisoned by anger embittered by time
No one could tell me we'd be standing here today
Steeled by the fire and sealed by the pain
On the inside it all happened on the inside it all went down on the inside
I'm holding on to you and I know you're holding on to me too
We gave it one more chance and found the key to romance
Now none of it happens like we think it should be
Hey it'd all be disaster if left up to me
By the power of love and protection divine
We found we hold hands through the darkness and then there was light
On the inside, it all happened on the inside
It all went down on the inside
On the inside, it all happened on the inside
It all went down on the inside
The lyrics to Rosanne Cash's song "On the Inside" describe a couple's journey through a difficult time in their relationship. The first verse reveals that they have been through a lot of emotional turmoil and are finally coming out on the other side. However, the second verse indicates that they are still struggling with their separation and trying to find their way back to each other. The chorus "On the inside it all happened on the inside it all went down on the inside" reflects the idea that their relationship was saved by their ability to work through things internally and come out stronger as a result. The song ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that they have found a way to reconnect and are moving forward together.
Line by Line Meaning
We crawled night and day through the tears and debries
We struggled endlessly through difficult times, constantly facing obstacles and emotions that we had to overcome.
Now I'm reaching out to you but I'm keeping my hands clean
I'm trying to connect with you again, but I'm being cautious about my approach and keeping things respectful.
The tables are turning the tempo slows down
Things are starting to change and the pace of our lives is beginning to calm down and stabilize.
And we're gettin' off this misery-go-round
We're finally leaving behind all the pain and suffering of the past and moving on to a better future.
It's a brand new world baby now things have changed
Everything is different now and we need to adapt to this new reality.
A brand new picture in a brand new frame
Our lives have been transformed and we need to view the world in a new perspective.
A turn of the page with a blink of your eye
It only takes a moment for things to change and for us to move on from the past.
Our two steps in rhythm our hearts beatin' time
We're in sync with each other and our love is strong and passionate.
On the inside it all happened on the inside it all went down on the inside
All the important events and changes in our lives took place internally, within our hearts and souls.
A critical moment I know you'd agree both of us separate but neither one free
We were both going through a difficult time where we felt trapped and unable to move on from our own personal struggles.
We traded our papers for new walking shoes
We left behind old problems and found new ways to move forward in our lives.
But I had no idea how I'd feel without you
I couldn't have predicted how lost and alone I would feel without your presence in my life.
We watched it unravel we heard it unwind imprisoned by anger embittered by time
We witnessed our lives falling apart, and our anger and bitterness kept us trapped in a cycle of negative emotions.
No one could tell me we'd be standing here today
I never would have believed that we could have overcome our struggles and found a way to be together again.
Steeled by the fire and sealed by the pain
We've been through some tough times, but that has only made our love stronger and more resilient.
I'm holding on to you and I know you're holding on to me too
We're both committed to making our relationship work and supporting each other through the good times and the bad.
We gave it one more chance and found the key to romance
We decided to try again and work on our relationship, and we've been able to rediscover the love and connection that brought us together in the first place.
Now none of it happens like we think it should be
Life is unpredictable and we can't always control what happens, but we can still find happiness and fulfillment if we stay committed to each other.
Hey it'd all be disaster if left up to me
I know that I'm not perfect and I've made mistakes, but our love has been strong enough to overcome those challenges.
By the power of love and protection divine
Our love has been guided by a higher power that has protected and strengthened us throughout our journey.
We found we hold hands through the darkness and then there was light
Even when things were dark and difficult, we were able to find comfort and support in each other, and that helped us find our way to a brighter future.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: ROSANNE CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
raulantonio65
Great song..!!
William Conners
saw Interiors late show at the Bottom Line . . . i was front row center! Great album this is my fave song from it.