Currently based in Brooklyn, NY, USA, van Etten débuted with single Much More Than That (2007, Abaton Book Company). Her album Are We There was released on 14 May 2014 on Jagjaguwar).
van Etten moved to Tennessee to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where she discovered a variety of influential music. After moving back home to New Jersey, she was encouraged by Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio to pursue a career in music.
van Etten undertook her first UK tour with Meg Baird in Jan 2008. She toured with Great Lake Swimmers on their European tour in May 2009, kicking it off with a show in London with Beirut and Shearwater. She again toured with them in September/October 2009.
On May 26th, 2009, she released her "Because I Was in Love" single on 12" vinyl, CD and MP3 on Language of Stone.
She was the first artist to record in 2010 for the Weathervane Music's Shaking Through video series.
On September 21, 2010, her sophomore album, "Epic" was released on Ba Da Bing. The powerful 7-track album featured much more instrumentation than her first, primarily-acoustic affair. The evolution of her sound proved that she is much more than a traditional folk singer-songwriter.
The release of Epic coincided with a difficult break-up of a relationship. She busied herself with touring for the record, but when the singer completed her schedule a year later, she found herself homeless in New York. After a period of sleeping on friends' couches, recovering from her heavy touring schedule, she hooked up the National's guitarist Aaron Dessner to record her third album, Tramp, which was released on February 7th, 2012.
May 2014 brought about the release of Van Etten's fourth record, Are We There, on Jagjaguwar. Van Etten self-produced the record with Stewart Lerman, with the guidance of bandmate and manager Zeke Hutchins. Most of the recording was done at Hobo Sound Studios in Weehawken, New Jersey, with piano tracks being recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The record features musicians Zeke Hutchins, Doug Keith, Heather Woods Broderick, Dave Hartley, Adam Granduciel, Marisa Anderson, Stuart D. Bogie, Mickey Free, Mary Lattimore, Little Isidor, Jacob Morris, Torres' Mackenzie Scott, Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg, Lower Dens' Jana Hunter, and Efterklang touring member Peter Broderick.
In 2015, the EP I Don't Want to Let You Down was released on Jagjaguwar. It is composed of the songs that did not make it onto Are We There.
On October 2, 2018, Van Etten released a new track entitled "Comeback Kid" and announced her next album Remind Me Tomorrow, which was released on January 18, 2019. On February 28, 2019, Van Etten appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to perform the single "Seventeen".
Sites: MySpace
No One's Easy to Love
Sharon Van Etten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As you open the door and told me how you love me so much
The resistence to feelings was something that you've put down before
But keep quiet of it, as you could not face it anymore
Too much has changed, I can't let you walk in in the night
I wish away my love, leave with the dawn
Acting as if all the pain in the world was my fault
No one's easy to love
Don't look back, my dear, don't be surprised
No one's easy to love
Don't look back, my dear, just say you tried
There was a question you asked: is your father a man?
No, but I think you should do ask of yourself the same
What is the difference between now and then I'm not sure
Prove me wrong, my dear, don't say I lied
No one's easy to love
Don't look down, my dear, don't be surprised
No one's easy to love
Don't look back, my dear, just say you tried
Ooh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Sharon Van Etten's song "I" is a melancholic reflection on a past relationship. The opening lines of the song suggest that the relationship has been lost for years, and that the two people getting together again is a result of "japes" (a joke or prank) recalling the past. The singer expresses their love for their partner, but also acknowledges that there has been resistance to feelings in the past. They urge their partner to keep quiet about it, as they can no longer face the pain that the relationship brings.
The chorus of the song, "No one's easy to love, don't look back my dear, just say you tried," could be interpreted as the singer's acceptance that the relationship is not easy, but that they have both given it their best efforts. The bridge of the song introduces a question that the partner asks the singer, "Is your father a man?" to which the singer responds that he's not. This question may be a metaphor for a deeper understanding of the partner - that he or she is not the person that the singer thought they were. The song ends with the repeating "oohs" from Sharon Van Etten, leaving a feeling of unresolved emotion.
Overall, "I" is a poignant reflection on a relationship that has been lost, but is still held close to the singer's heart. The lyrics are introspective, and the melody is haunting and evocative of the pain and sadness that comes with a lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes there were japes recalling the years of lost paths
Memories of our past failures and mistakes were brought up humorously
As you open the door and told me how you love me so much
You expressed your love for me as you welcomed me inside
The resistence to feelings was something that you've put down before
You've struggled with acknowledging and expressing your emotions in the past
But keep quiet of it, as you could not face it anymore
However, you've reached a point where you can no longer suppress your feelings
Too much has changed, I can't let you walk in in the night
Our relationship has changed too much, and I can't just let you come and go as you please
I wish away my love, leave with the dawn
I wish I could just make my feelings disappear and let you go in the morning
Acting as if all the pain in the world was my fault
I've been shouldering all the pain and blame, even if it's not entirely my fault
Leave me here, my love, don't say goodbye
Just leave me alone and don't bother with formal goodbyes
There was a question you asked: is your father a man?
You asked me a strange question about my father's gender
No, but I think you should do ask of yourself the same
My father is not just a man, and you should question your own assumptions and beliefs
What is the difference between now and then I'm not sure
I'm not exactly sure what's changed between us
Prove me wrong, my dear, don't say I lied
Instead of just telling me I'm wrong, try to show me otherwise
No one's easy to love
It's not easy to love anyone, including you or me
Don't look back, my dear, don't be surprised
Don't dwell on the past or be surprised by its effects on the present
Don't look back, my dear, just say you tried
Instead of getting lost in regrets, just acknowledge that you gave it your all
Ooh oh
Vocalization
Oh oh oh oh
Vocalization
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Sharon Van Etten
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eln0v4
[Verse 1]
Yes, there were jerks recalling the years of love's past
As you opened the door and told me how you loved me so much
The resistance to feeling something that you put down before
But keep quiet of it as you could not face it anymore
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Too much has changed, I can’t let you walk in in the night
I wish away my love, leave with the dawn
Acting as if all the pain in the world was my fault
Leave me here, my love, don't say goodbye
[Chorus]
No one's easy to love
Don’t look down, my dear, don't be surprised
No one's easy to love
Don't look back, my dear, just say you tried
[Verse 2]
There was a question you asked, "Is your father a man?"
No, but I think you should do ask of yourself the same
[Pre-Chorus 2]
What is the difference between now and then? I'm not sure
Prove me wrong, my dear, don't say I lied
[Chorus]
No one's easy to love
Don't look down, my dear, don’t be surprised
No one’s easy to love
Don't look back, my dear, just say you tried
@kychan9475
Yes, there were jerks
Recalling the years of love's past
As you opened the door and told me
How you love me so much
The resistance to feeling something
That you put down before
But keep quiet of it as you
Could not fell fit anymore
Too much has changed
I can't let you walk in in the night
I wish away, my love, leave with the dawn
Acting as if all the pain in the world was my fault
Leave me here, my love, don't say goodbye
No one's easy to love
Don't look down, my dear, don't be surprised
No one's easy to love
Don't look back, my dear, just say you tried
There was a question you asked, "Is your father a man?"
Know what I think you should do? Ask of yourself the same
What is the difference between now and then? I'm not sure
Prove me wrong, my dear, don't say I lied
No one's easy to love
Don't look down, my dear, don't be surprised
No one's easy to love
Don't look back, my dear, just say you tried
Oh ohhh
Oh oh oh
@MrNunescj
Obra de arte!
@MarkConnely
I always admire the self-assurance that comes from doing the hard work of really thinking it through.
@mendoncandressa
This album is soooo good, Sharon!
I love you, your work, your art!
You're increndible!
Success!
@paco3824
Great songs, great album
@tiagom.4530
It's so easy to love Sharon's music though
@ravenflies5765
She's by far, my favorite female artist 💜
@write-to-recover
Sharon Van Etten is a living legend! I'm completely obsessed <3
@izbethbm2640
Amooo todas sus canciones.
@KalanidraSuryaSunyata
Great song from a great album from a great artist!
@megan3206
Both Sharon and Katherine are so talented! This video is amazing - perfectly captures the rawness of the song. When I saw her live a couple of months ago, this song was so powerful and emotional 😭 🥰😍