Harmer gained her first exposure to the musician's lifestyle as a teenager, when her older sister Mary started taking her to concerts by the then-unknown The Tragically Hip. At the age of 17, she was invited to join a Toronto band, The Saddletramps. For three years, she juggled The Saddletramps with her studies in philosophy and women's studies at Queen's University.
After leaving The Saddletramps, Harmer put together a band of her own with several Kingston, Ontario musicians, and settled on the name Weeping Tile. The band released its first independent cassette in 1994. Soon afterward, they signed to a major label, and the cassette was re-released in 1995 as eepee. The band quickly became a popular draw on the rock club circuit and on campus radio with their subsequent albums, but never broke through to the mainstream, and broke up in 1998 after being dropped from their label.
Also in 1998, Harmer recorded a set of pop standards as a Christmas gift for her father. After hearing it, her friends and family convinced her to release it as an album, and in 1999 she released it independently as Songs for Clem. Harmer quickly began working on another album, and in 2000, she released You Were Here.
A poppier, more laid-back effort than her work with Weeping Tile, You Were Here became Harmer's mainstream breakthrough, spawning the hits "Basement Apartment" and "Don't Get Your Back Up". The album also appeared on many critics' year-end lists, including TIME magazine, which called it the year's best debut album. It was eventually certified platinum for sales of 100,000 copies in Canada. Almost half of the album (including both of its major hits) consisted of songs she had previously recorded with Weeping Tile or The Saddletramps.
In 2004, she released All of Our Names. The album included the singles "Almost", which made the top 20 on Canadian pop charts, and "Pendulums". The album has a rustic earthy live-of-the-floor sound with some of the instrumentation, programming pre-production recording conducted in her home Northeast of Kingston, Ontario. The album was co-produced by Gavin Brown [Metric, Billy Talent, The Tragically Hip,]
Her fourth album, I'm A Mountain, was released in Canada on November 8, 2005. Sarah has performed and canvased in support of the NDP and Marilyn Churley, her friend in the fight for the protection of the Niagara Escarpment. The album states that it has been: "Engineered, mixed and produced by Sarah Harmer and Martin Davis Kinack at her house."
In 2010, Sarah released her fifth release, Oh Little Fire, which was co-produced by Gavin Brown, who assisted with her earlier All Our Names and features Neko Case on guest vocals.
Sarah, during her five year break between her last two recordings, appeared as a guest vocalist on other artists' albums, including Blue Rodeo, Neko Case, Bruce Cockburn, Great Big Sea, Rheostatics, The Skydiggers and The Weakerthans.
Discography
1999 - Songs for Clem
2000 - You Were Here
2004 - All of Our Names
2005 - I'm A Mountain
2010 - Oh Little Fire
Came On Lion
Sarah Harmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If she hasn't yet got in it
It started out like any show
Up from the dark to the light's warm glow
Did you hear the dedication
When I came up on the stage
And you came on lion
And I stepped up to your cage
Just to see if we would go
I crossed the bridge
I thought you'd know
Now my sun is up
Already hot
With two rays on
Two straying thoughts
But each one warm to make me glow
Or burn me if I'm not careful
It's not hard
It's too easy
I get it and I get to be
Closer than a girl can get to trouble
If she hasn't yet got in it
So now can I step lightly back between
Where you are and where I've been
Back into that thing we do
Where it's me and it's jst you
And it's not hard
It's to easy
I get it and I get to be
Close than a girl can get to trouble
Without getting in it
The lyrics of Sarah Harmer's song "Came on Lion" could be interpreted in various ways. It can be seen as a reflection of the relationship between two people who are hesitant but desire to take things to the next level. The singer is intrigued by a person who is like an untamed lion, strong-willed and wild. The line "closer than a girl can get to trouble, if she hasn't yet got in it" suggests that there is an irresistible danger in the attraction, but because it is not yet acted upon, the chaos or trouble has not yet set in.
The lyrics also describe a person who is contemplating whether to cross a boundary and take a risk or remain in their comfort zone. She is cautious whilst taking the step and doesn't want to get too close to harm or trouble, indicating a desire to maintain control of the situation. The lines, "I get it and I get to be, closer than a girl can get to trouble, without getting in it," further emphasize that the singer is more interested in indulging in the thrill of the instant attraction than getting into trouble.
Line by Line Meaning
Closer than a girl can get to trouble
Being close to trouble without actually getting into trouble, but still in a risky position.
If she hasn't yet got in it
If she has not yet made a mistake or become involved in something dangerous.
It started out like any show
This situation began like any other ordinary event or performance.
Up from the dark to the light's warm glow
Emerging from the darkness into the warmth, light, and visibility of the spotlight.
Did you hear the dedication
Did you hear the words of appreciation or respect that someone declared before her performance?
When I came up on the stage
Refers to the moment when the singer went up on stage.
And you came on lion
Refers to another person who entered the situation with bold and courageous intentions, like a lion.
All courageous
Very brave or daring in taking risks.
And I stepped up to your cage
Refers to the moment when the singer approached the other person with courage, yet still recognizing the danger or boundaries that separate them.
Just to see if we would go
Taking a risk to see if both people would be willing to join together and move forward as a team.
I crossed the bridge
Taking a risky decision or action to move forward or progress to a different stage.
I thought you'd know
Assuming the other person would understand the risk involved in crossing the bridge, indicating mutual trust or understanding.
Now my sun is up
Refers to the present moment when the singer has achieved a level of success or recognition.
Already hot
A sense of excitement or enthusiasm about what she has achieved.
With two rays on
Two conflicting thoughts or moods affecting her current mood or state of mind.
Two straying thoughts
Thoughts or ideas that are causing her to lose focus or become distracted.
But each one warm to make me glow
Although the two thoughts or ideas are conflicting, they both provide some level of warmth, emotion, or passion that makes her feel alive.
Or burn me if I'm not careful
These conflicting thoughts and emotions can also be dangerous, and could lead her to serious trouble if she is not mindful or aware of the situation.
It's not hard
The situation she is in should not be difficult, but she still feels a level of vulnerability and risk.
It's too easy
At the same time, the situation seems too easy to fall into trouble, suggesting her own sense of fear or caution.
So now can I step lightly back between
She now wants to step back and regain some sense of control or security, while still being close to the other person and the situation.
Where you are and where I've been
Moving back into the space that separates them, where she feels more comfortable and less exposed to danger.
Back into that thing we do
Referring to their interaction or relationship that they share, which can be fulfilling yet also risky.
Where it's me and it's just you
Emphasizes the relationship between two people as a unit or team, and the responsibility they share for their success or failure.
Without getting in it
Being close to the danger without actually risking their lives, and maintaining a sense of security in their relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind