She is known for the emotional sound of her ballads. Some of her most popular songs include "Angel", "Building a Mystery", "Adia", "Possession", "Fallen", "I Will Remember You", and "World on Fire". Her best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four Juno Awards.
Her first album Touch was released in September 28, 1988, recorded in 1987-1988, Vancouver, Canada. The album received both critical and commercial success and included the hit song Vox. During this period she co-operated with Tom Ferris and Dean Russel of Moev, who discovered her as a singer. She contributed backing vocals their 1990 album Head Down and embarked on her first national concert tour as an opening act for The Grapes Of Wrath, another Tom Ferris's band.
Her second album Solace (1991) was a real breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles The Path of Thorns (Terms) and Into the Fire and being certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies in Canada.
In 1994 her third album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy quietly became Sarah's international breakthrough, scaling the charts in a number of countries. In the United States, the album was a steady seller that stayed in the middle ranges of the pop charts for almost two years.
Sarah's fourth album Surfacing, released in 1997, brought her international success, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Still in the spotlight from the album, Sarah launched the highly popular Lilith Fair tour, which helped launch the careers of several well-known female artists.
Her next record Afterglow came out in 2003; it contained the singles Fallen, Stupid, and World On Fire. It was her first album of new material in six years. Sarah took a few years furlough to start a family with her husband and drummer, Ashwin Sood.
Her Holiday album Wintersong came out in October 2006. The album consists of eleven new recordings of well known Christmas songs as well as seasonal favorites interpreted by Sarah. The title track Wintersong is an original work of Sarah.
McLachlan's first studio album of original material in seven years, Laws of Illusion, was released on June 15, 2010. It features 10 new songs in addition to the previously released tracks "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up on Us. The first single Loving You Is Easy was released on April 23, 2010. It was followed by Forgiveness, released on June 30, 2010.
Back Door Man
Sarah McLachlan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You feel the earth it wanders
Out from under your feet the ground
Is not firm but soft and weak like skin
Under the touch cannot stop to falter
Now the damage is done the certainties gone
The spirits altered
And now the angry morning
Gives the early signs of warning
You must face alone the plans you make
Decisions they will try to break
Our hands are tied on the table
Maybe you can try at the back door man
While the helpless line up on the doorsteps
'Cause its all they can do to try to get through
All of your life you've lived in a world as pure
As Eden's sixth day now all you've been allowed
Is taken away they will not let you be so proud
And you have felt the fear growing inside
Protest follows far and wide they'll see how long
It will take 'till you fall from so much denied
Your soul it aches relentless from the fear
That they will never guess so unfair they
They can make you feel so small
And the fear you know is real
[Chorus]
The song "Back Door Man" by Sarah McLachlan is a commentary on the power dynamics at play in our society. The opening verse speaks to the fragility of our existence - the ground beneath us is not solid but instead as soft and vulnerable as skin. This line is a metaphor for the delicate nature of our lives; we may feel secure and grounded one moment, but in reality, we are always at the mercy of external forces. The chorus alludes to the feeling of powerlessness that can result from this realization. The angry morning represents the harsh reality that awaits us when we wake up and it gives a warning of the challenges we must face alone. The decisions we make are constantly being scrutinized and can be easily broken.
The second verse paints a picture of helplessness and despair. The imagery of hands tied on a table and people lining up on doorsteps reeks of oppression and desperation. The line "all you've been allowed is taken away" denounces the violation of our basic human rights. This sense of victimization can lead to fear that grows inside and protests that follow. The last line of the verse "they'll see how long it will take 'till you fall from so much denied" speaks to the determination of oppressed people who are willing to fight and stand for what is right despite facing tremendous obstacles. The third verse is a reflection of the psychological toll that oppression takes on a person's soul. The fear is real, and it makes one feel small and insignificant.
Line by Line Meaning
You open your eyes look around
You become aware of your surroundings
You feel the earth it wanders
You realize the instability of everything around you
Out from under your feet the ground
The ground beneath you is no longer stable and secure
Is not firm but soft and weak like skin
The ground is weak, like skin, and could crumble at any moment
Under the touch cannot stop to falter
Despite feeling uncertain, you must continue moving forward
Now the damage is done the certainties gone
You have experienced a loss of security and certainty
The spirits altered
Your emotional state has been affected by these changes
[Chorus]
The tone of the lyrics shift to a warning about facing the consequences of your decisions
And now the angry morning
A metaphorical representation of the consequences of your actions becoming apparent
Gives the early signs of warning
The consequences of your actions are beginning to show themselves
You must face alone the plans you make
You must take responsibility for your own actions and the resulting consequences
Decisions they will try to break
The aftermath of your decisions may try to break you down emotionally
Our hands are tied on the table
We are powerless and unable to act
Maybe you can try at the back door man
Perhaps there is a loophole or alternate route you can take
While the helpless line up on the doorsteps
Others are also struggling and waiting for their chance to get through
'Cause its all they can do to try to get through
Others are doing all they can to get by and survive
All of your life you've lived in a world as pure
You have always known a world that was safe and secure
As Eden's sixth day now all you've been allowed
Now, that sense of security has been taken away
Is taken away they will not let you be so proud
You are forced to confront your own limitations and the harsh realities of the world
And you have felt the fear growing inside
You are becoming increasingly afraid of the unknown future
Protest follows far and wide they'll see how long
There is a widespread feeling of discontent and frustration with the current situation
It will take 'till you fall from so much denied
The pressure and struggle may be too much to handle, leading to a breakdown
Your soul it aches relentless from the fear
You are consumed by fear and anxiety
That they will never guess so unfair
Others may not understand the full extent of what you are going through
They can make you feel so small
The difficult circumstances can make you feel powerless and insignificant
And the fear you know is real
Your fears are not imagined, but rather based on the very real challenges you are facing
[Chorus]
The song ends with a final warning to prepare for the difficult path ahead
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SARAH MCLACHLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jaded Hart
on In The Arms Of The Angels
This will surely make you cry! Everyone can identify with this song! Hear it you won't regret it. And maybe you'll remember!