Colvin's formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois, where she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She learned to play guitar at the age of 10. Her first public concert was at age 15 at the University of Illinois campus. Colvin cites Joni Mitchell as a primary influence on her music, and her initial performances closely mirrored Mitchell's inflections and guitar tunings.
Colvin began working in the music scene in earnest in the late 1970s, first in Austin, Texas and then nationally. She met music partner John Leventhal during this time; Leventhal would go on to be Colvin's producer on several albums. Colvin often lends her talent to contemporaries in the music business - she can be heard singing the backing vocals on the Suzanne Vega hit, "Luka" from 1987. Vega returned the favor, singing backup on Colvin's, "Diamond In The Rough", from her debut album, "Steady On". Colvin, again can be heard singing backing vocals on Mary Chapin Carpenter's, "The Hard Way" and "Come On Come On" and Mary Chapin returns the favor on Colvin's, "Climb On (A Back That's Strong)", from Colvin's "Fat City" album.
Colvin's first several albums were met with critical acclaim, but did not sell in substantial numbers. After several albums of original work, Colvin released "Cover Girl", a collection of cover songs, but the work was a departure for her and was not well received.
Colvin experienced breakthrough success with "A Few Small Repairs" in October of 1996. The single "Sunny Came Home" reached the US Top Ten, and won Grammy Awards for Song and Record of the Year. She has released several subsequent albums that were nominated for Grammys, and has also released a greatest-hits album and a collection of Christmas music.
A new album from Colvin, entitled "These Four Walls", was released on September 12, 2006.
She was the guest vocal artist on the Lisa Loeb single "Falling in Love" as well as appearing at various Lilith Fair music festivals. She also has been featured on the popular live music show Austin City Limits and played at the 2003 Austin City Limits Music Festival. She also appeared in a tribute to her idol Joni Mitchell in 2001 that was broadcast on the cable network TNT.
She has made two guest appearances on The Simpsons as Rachel Jordan, lead singer for a Christian rock band. She first appears in "Alone Again, Natura-diddly," where Rachel wins Ned Flanders' heart after the untimely death of his wife, Maude. Later, in the episode "I'm Going to Praiseland," Ned dates Rachel, only to scare her off when he tries to turn her into a version of Maude.
Colvin lives with her daughter, Caledonia, and husband, Mario Erwin in Austin, Texas, and still participates in the Austin music scene.
Close Your Eyes
Shawn Colvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close your eyes
Go to sleep now, my darling
There's a Sandman
Old and white
Bringing happy dreams to you
Tattle tail
Go to sleep
You are safe in my arms
In my arms all night through
Now the moon
Riding high
Turns the shadow to silver
And the night winds with a sigh
Whisper soft across the hill
It's a bright, enchanted land
Where the unicorn dances
'Til the stars disappear
And the whole world is still.
The song, "Close Your Eyes," is a gentle lullaby and a comforting message to a child or a loved one who's going to bed. The lyrics paint an idyllic picture of a peaceful night's sleep: "Go to sleep now, my darling...Bringing happy dreams to you...You are safe in my arms." The comforting words aim to soothe the worries that keep someone up at night. The song is full of hope and warmth, with the Sandman and a loving embrace promising that everything will be alright.
Line by Line Meaning
Close your eyes
Please shut your eyes
Close your eyes
Please shut your eyes
Go to sleep now, my darling
Fall asleep now, my affectionate one
There's a Sandman
There is a mystical character known as the Sandman
Old and white
Who is old and pale in color
Bringing happy dreams to you
Who delivers content and pleasurable dreams to you
Tattle tail
Sleep peacefully
Go to sleep
Go to sleep
'Til the quiet night passes
Until the stillness of the night has gone
You are safe in my arms
You are safeguarded in my embrace
In my arms all night through
All through the night you will be held by me
Now the moon
At this moment, the moon
Riding high
Sitting high in the sky
Turns the shadow to silver
Modifies the shadow colors to silver
And the night winds with a sigh
And the night breeze whistles despondently
Whisper soft across the hill
Make muted sounds through the hill
It's a bright, enchanted land
This is a vivid, bewitched place
Where the unicorn dances
Where the legendary animal called the unicorn dances
'Til the stars disappear
Until the stars are no longer visible
And the whole world is still.
And everything is tranquil in the entire world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHANNES BRAHMS, KOSUKE ONOZAKI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thang Leminh
on I Don't Know Why
....but I do !