Phillips began her musical career as a vocalist in the early 1980s, singing background parts for Christian artists such as Mark Heard, Randy Stonehill, and others. After a short time, Phillips was signed to a solo contract with Myrrh Records (under her given name) where she went on to record four Christian pop albums: Beyond Saturday Night, Dancing with Danger, Black & White in a Grey World, and, The Turning, which teamed her with producer and future husband T-Bone Burnett. Throughout the Myrrh period, Phillips wrote more and more of her own songs and several were Top 10 singles on Christian radio.
Since Cyndi Lauper was popular at the time and also had an high-pitched, idiosyncratic vocal style, Myrrh insisted on promoting her as "the Christian Cyndi Lauper." Phillips was never comfortable with this image, and it was a bone of contention between her and the label. She began using the name "Sam" professionally in 1988 when she left Myrrh Records and signed with Virgin Records, partially in order to distance herself from her somewhat embarrassing Myrrh-imposed persona.
Like many Christian artists before her, she expanded into more secular content at the new label. She released The Indescribable Wow, which featured the orchestrations of Van Dyke Parks. Cruel Inventions, which was released in 1991, included a guest appearance from close friend Elvis Costello, and she (with her husband) supported Costello on his 1991 tour. 1994's Martinis & Bikinis was widely praised by music critics and was even nominated for a Grammy Award; this was Phillips' first nomination.
In 1995, Phillips made her silver screen debut in the Bruce Willis blockbuster Die Hard With a Vengeance, in which she played a mute terrorist. She was originally supposed to have a speaking part in the film but it was decided that her character would be silent, since it made her appear much more imposing and lethal, although it also placed her in a more stereotypically femme fatale role at the same time.
In 1996, Phillips released Omnipop (It's Only a Flesh Wound Lambchop), which was more experimental musically and ended up being her worst-selling album to date. After releasing a contractual obligation "best-of" album for Virgin in 1999, the label dropped Phillips from their roster.
In 2001, Phillips signed with Nonesuch Records and released a stripped-down acoustic album called Fan Dance, which featured some of the most critically acclaimed songwriting of Phillips' career. Van Dyke Parks contributed string arrangements for a track or two. Phillips also began writing music for and scoring the television series Gilmore Girls, and even appeared on-screen during the final episode of season six, performing Taking Pictures. In 2004 she released A Boot and a Shoe, another collection of acoustic cabaret songs in the same vein as her previous album.
Sam returned with a new album don't do anything in 2008. In October 2009 Sam launched Long Play, an exclusively web-based membership site which promised subscribers 5 digital EPs and 1 full-length digital album over the course of about one year. A physical "best of" compilation of Long Play songs, titled Solid State, was released in June 2011.
Signal
Sam Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now they stay dark when it's light
You passed in the night
Under the table
I gave you who I am in secret
Looking for a signal
Underneath my face
Too close to see
Waiting for a sign
Between heart and skin
Through the shoulders
Where the wings might have been
Finding your broken heart
And falling in
Cold blues where love has never been
At the mercy of your interest
Close your eyes I'll shake you slowly
Looking for signal
Underneath my face
Up above my head
Too close to see
Waiting for a sign
Between heart and skin
Through the shoulders
Where the wings might have been
The lyrics of Sam Phillips's song "Signal" capture the uncertainty and vulnerability of searching for love and connection in a world that can be dark and confusing. The opening lines describe a city that is shrouded in darkness even during the day, perhaps reflecting the singer's feelings of isolation and disorientation in the midst of urban life. The second line introduces the idea of passing someone "in the night," which could be interpreted literally or figuratively as a missed opportunity for connection.
The next couplet introduces the idea of secret sharing: "Under the table / I gave you who I am in secret." This suggests that the singer is holding back some aspect of their true self, perhaps out of fear or a sense of shame or vulnerability. The chorus repeats the image of "looking for a signal," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for seeking some kind of sign or indication from another person that they are interested in or open to a deeper connection. The repeated phrase "too close to see" could suggest that the singer is so wrapped up in their own hopes and fears that they are unable to perceive what is actually in front of them.
The second stanza introduces the idea of physicality and embodiment: "Between heart and skin / Through the shoulders / Where the wings might have been." This imagery seems to suggest a desire for connection that transcends surface appearances and reaches into the depths of one's being. The lines "Finding your broken heart / And falling in / Cold blues where love has never been" suggest that the singer is willing to take risks and be vulnerable in order to make a genuine connection with someone, even if it means facing the pain of heartbreak or rejection. The final lines of the chorus repeat the search for a sign or signal, indicating that the singer is still looking for some kind of affirmation or indication that their pursuit is worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
The streets are so dark at night
At night, the streets are so dark that visibility is decreased.
But now they stay dark when it's light
Even during the daytime, the streets remain dark and unlit.
You passed in the night
You passed by unnoticed, without being seen or recognized.
Under the table
In a covert, hidden or secret way.
I gave you who I am in secret
I revealed my true self to you in a clandestine fashion, keeping it hidden from others.
Looking for a signal
Searching or waiting for a cue, indication or sign.
Underneath my face
Below or hidden beneath the surface or facade of my expression or appearance.
Up above my head
Located or occurring high above me, beyond my immediate reach or perception.
Too close to see
In such close proximity as to be obscured or impossible to observe clearly.
Waiting for a sign
Anticipating or hoping for a clear or definitive indication or instruction.
Between heart and skin
In the space or divide between one's emotions and their physical body or tangible being.
Through the shoulders
Passing or traveling through the area around or between the shoulders.
Where the wings might have been
In the region or space where wings, symbolically representing freedom or movement, might have been.
Finding your broken heart
Discovering or recognizing your heart, which is damaged or shattered, preventing it from functioning properly.
And falling in
Becoming involved or entangled with someone or something that is problematic or dysfunctional.
Cold blues where love has never been
A state of despair, sadness or loneliness where love and affection have never existed or been experienced.
At the mercy of your interest
Helpless or vulnerable to your attention, curiosity or attraction.
Close your eyes I'll shake you slowly
I will ease you into a state of relaxation or vulnerability by having you close your eyes and slowly rock you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LESLIE PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind