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
Taking Chances
Sharon Van Etten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Call to response now
Sitting on the porch, looking for a way out
You touched on me deep
That's why I'm still here
Why do we think that we've no plight?
Even I've taken my chances
On you, remember
In the dark
On the way out
It's even in old songs
It's the combination that takes emotions
Why don't we go now?
No need to think on our own now about it
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances
On you
When you love all of you
They know all of you
Be alone and take
And you break for whose sake?
About to leave, about to leave
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances
On you
The lyrics of Sharon Van Etten's song Taking Chances speaks of risking it all for the possibility of love, even when we are aware of the potential for heartbreak. The singer of the song is unsure of where their relationship is going and is sitting on a porch, analyzing the situation. However, they still decide to take the chance, turn on the charm, and respond to the person they love. It's evident that the singer is infatuated by their partner since the partners' touch has gone deep into their heart.
Through the lyrics, Van Etten touches on the universal human experience of contemplating the meaning of love and questioning its worth. Despite being aware of the risks and potential heartbreak, the singer admits to having taken their chances on their partner. The lyrics, "Even I’ve taken my chances on you, remember" highlight the vulnerability of the singer and their willingness to risk it all for the possibility of a fulfilling relationship, even if it may end in heartbreak.
Overall, the song speaks to anyone who has ever considered taking a chance on love, despite the potential for hurt. The chorus emphasizes that we have to take a chance on love to experience the best of it, even if we may get hurt in the process. The song's melody is a light-hearted, upbeat one, with a sing-along chorus that makes it easy to relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn on the charm
Try to be charming and attractive
Call to response now
Try to initiate a response
Sitting on the porch, looking for a way out
Feeling stuck or trapped, looking for an escape
You touched on me deep
You affected me deeply
That's why I'm still here
That's why I haven't left
Why do we think that we've no plight?
Why do we feel like we have no problems or struggles?
Even I've taken my chances
I have also taken risks
On you, remember
I took a chance on you, don't forget
In the dark
When things are unclear or uncertain
On the way out
Leaving or escaping
It's even in old songs
The concept of taking chances is present in older music
It's the combination that takes emotions
It's the mix of feelings that make taking chances emotional
Why don't we go now?
Why don't we take action or leave now?
No need to think on our own now about it
There's no need to ponder or reflect on it alone now
When you love all of you
When you accept and love yourself completely
They know all of you
Others can see and understand you completely
Be alone and take
Take the chance to be alone
And you break for whose sake?
And who benefits from your vulnerability or openness?
About to leave, about to leave
Getting ready to go or leave
Even I've taken my chances
I have also taken risks
On you
For the sake of our relationship or connection
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Sharon Van Etten
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@volcaniadread
Lyrics:
Turn on the charm
Call to response now.
Sitting on the porch, looking for a way out
Touched on me deep
That's why I'm still here.
Why do we think that we've no plight?
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances
On you and I know
In the dark, on the way out
It's even in old songs.
It's the combination that takes emotions.
Why don't we go now?
No need to think on our own now about it.
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances
On you.
When you love, all of you
They know, all of you,
Be alone and take, and you break
For whose sake?
About to leave, about to leave
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances
On you.
@CookieJoke
Turn on the charm
Call to response now
Sitting on the porch
Looking for a way out
Touched on me deep
That's why I'm still here
Why do we think that we've no plight?
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances on you
Remember?
In the dark
On the way out
It's even enough sounds
It's the combination that takes emotions
Why don't we go now?
No need to think on our own now about it
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances on you
When you love all of you, they know all of you
Be alone and take, and you break for your sake
About to leave, about to leave
Even I've taken my chances
Even I've taken my chances on you
@theneedledrop
One of the best voices out there right now.
@KellyOKellyComedy
Agreed!!!!!!
@ryankoch4573
I guess I should be lucky that she lives right across from me :p
@KellyOKellyComedy
Ryan Koch That's so cool! She's such a sweetie too. Met her a couple weeks ago
@ryankoch4573
KellyOKellyComedy She really is, that's great though. When I was in middle school, I used to hear her playing guitar outside all the time. Didn't know I'd be watching her on youtube one day!
@KellyOKellyComedy
Ryan Koch I'm super glad she made it. She really deserves it. Did you see her on Letterman last night?
@garyfischer2355
So proud of one of my former students! Great song.
@terrenceholmes2450
I think I am in love with Sharon van Etten.
@beeboy6967
+Terrence Holmes I was her first Terrence....ha ha, no seriously I saw her last year live, what a great intimate concert, believe me she's better in the flesh ( inside & outside ) & she seems like a really cool chick !
@ProfessorBooty69
+Beeboy69 So you're claiming you banged her? Classic internet user.