Following her first year of public performing, she released her debut album in September 2008, a self-titled effort produced by Don Chaffer. The nine tracks feature minimal instrumentation – primarily Swenson’s acoustic guitar with additional decoration by Chaffer – to emphasize the songwriting and voice.
“It feels personal, powerful, life affirming,” Present Magazine reviewer Pete Dulin wrote about the record. “With this debut album, it is evident that Swenson is more than capable of capturing the intangible feelings and bonds that nonetheless have a physical impact and emotional resonance.”
As Swenson’s album made it into more hands and more audiences experienced her live performances, the local music scene began to recognize her. In 2009, voters selected her as Kansas City’s “Singer-Songwriter of the Year” at the Pitch Music Awards. (She has since been nominated for the same title in the upcoming 2010 Pitch Music Awards, as well.) Her self-titled album also garnered the #1 spot on the “100 Best Recordings of 2009” by local radio station 90.1 KKFI.
To date, 2010 has only enriched Swenson’s music career. In January she released the digital single “Be Not Far,” which went on to earn her the winning slot in the 2010 OurStage Lilith Fair Local Talent Search for Kansas City.
In late spring 2010, she recorded a new record at Woodland Studios in Nashville, Tenn., collaborating once again with producer Don Chaffer. The album, which boasts supporting vocals from Katie Herzig, Gregory Alan Isakov and Lori Chaffer, explores new territory for Swenson, in terms of both depth and diversity of sound. The record, titled “All Things Big and Small” was released in September 2010.
Swenson continues to regularly perform both solo and in collaboration with various musicians, including guitarist/pedal steel/dobro player Jeff Larison, and a 5-piece band known as the "Pearl Snaps" both around Kansas City and in other cities.
Time To Go
Sara Swenson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What tomorrow I will miss
Can't set you on a shelf
Keep you only for myself
I'll squeeze your hand one last time
Set a still frame in my mind
Of the laugh lines 'round your face
It's time to go
It's time to go
We loved, and we let go
And now it's time
Let your voice linger in my ears
Drown out the silence of my tears
And play back in my head
The everyday words you said
It's time to go
It's time to go
We loved, and we let go
And now it's time
Oh...
So I'll turn reluctantly
Leaving behind a part of me
And reach out to that day
When we'll no longer have to say
It's time to go
It's time to go
We loved, and we let go
And now it's time
In Sara Swenson's song "Time To Go," the singer reflects on the pain of saying goodbye to someone they love. The singer admits that they are not prepared for this moment and can only hope to hold onto the memories of their soon-to-be-missed tomorrow. The singer wants to keep the person they love all to themselves, but acknowledges that they cannot set them on a shelf. The singer takes solace in the memories they have shared, like the laugh lines around their face and everyday words they spoke to each other, hoping to keep those moments alive in their mind.
The chorus, "It's time to go, we loved and we let go, and now it's time," emphasizes the bittersweet nature of leaving someone they love. Despite the heartache, the singer recognizes that it is time to move on and let go of what they cannot control. In the final verse, the singer reluctantly turns away, leaving a part of themselves behind. They hold onto the hope that one day they will be reunited with the person they love and will no longer have to say, "It's time to go."
Overall, Sara Swenson's "Time To Go" portrays the universal experience of loss and grief. The song reflects on the power of memories and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with the people we love, even when it is time to say goodbye.
Line by Line Meaning
I wouldn't say I'm prepared for this
I am not ready for what is about to happen
What tomorrow I will miss
I am going to miss what the future holds
Can't set you on a shelf
I cannot keep you safe just for me
Keep you only for myself
I wish to keep you to myself
I'll squeeze your hand one last time
I'll hold onto you one more time
Set a still frame in my mind
I'll remember this moment in my heart forever
Of the laugh lines 'round your face
I'll remember the wrinkles on your face when you smiled
Magnified on the best of days
Remembered in the most beautiful way possible
It's time to go
It's compulsory to leave now
We loved, and we let go
We loved each other but now we're parting
And now it's time
We cannot delay any longer
Let your voice linger in my ears
I wish to hear your words forever
Drown out the silence of my tears
I do not wish to hear myself cry
And play back in my head
I want to remember
The everyday words you said
The ordinary things you said that I will cherish
So I'll turn reluctantly
I will turn but won't feel like leaving
Leaving behind a part of me
I'll be leaving my heart behind
And reach out to that day
Looking forwards to the day we meet again
When we'll no longer have to say
When we don't have to leave each other again
Oh...
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Voileen
this is ironic, because earlier this year a dear friend (named Sara Swenson) passed away from cancer. This is a beautiful song. It was indeed her time to go.
@JosephHainline
Great job! Really like this song.
@madmask1313
way to go sara!!!! keep it up!!!
@LanaMareeable
awesome Sara!
@TaylorMusic13
Hey Sara! I'm opening for you on May 13th in Wichita :D I'm really looking forward to it. I really like this song. I look forward to the concert - I'll be praying for you. God Bless
@Kanarichan245
Still my favourite song by you! (Sara) Hope to see you again sometime~ (Never forget all of us at PCHS!! We all miss you! )
@zbreitenstein
very cool.
@kevingallagher1997
Sara Swenson is awesome because she's nice and she goes to NCC <--- Northland Career Center
@jeanetteeastman1638
I'm here via Girl Unscripted