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.
If I Were Brave
Shawn Colvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reminding me of when we got along
They're only renting time and space to fill up with their dreams
And dreams are what they'll have when they have gone
How could it be that I was born without a clue to carry on
And still it is the same now I am older
Armed with just a will and then this love for singing songs
And minding less and less if I am colder
But I have this funny ache and it's burning in my chest
And it spreads just like a fire inside my body
Is it something God left out in my spirit or my flesh
Would I be saved if I were brave and had a baby
It was never clear what would come but that's the risk and that's the test
And you were the only one so far to follow
And no one talks about when one might stop and need to rest
Or how long you sit alone before you stop looking back
It's like you're waiting for Godot
And then you pick your sorry ass up off the street and
Go...
And what the hell is this? Who made this bloody mess?
And someone always answers like a martyr
Is it something you should know, did you never do your best
Would you be saved if you were brave and just tried harder
So now I ride the ought one thirty five to New Orleans
I float a mile above life's toil and trouble
A thousand lonely lifetimes I still wait and then go on
A clown to entertain the happy couples
The lyrics of "If I Were Brave" by Shawn Colvin describe the internal struggle of the singer who feels like they were born without a purpose, without a clue to carry on, and yet they have a profound love for singing songs. The happy couples on their way to New Orleans remind the singer of the time when they used to get along with someone, perhaps a partner, who is no longer in their life. This only adds to their confusion about what they really want in life. They wonder if the funny ache in their chest, that spreads like a fire inside their body, is because something God left out in their spirit or their flesh, or is it because they are not brave enough to have a baby. The singer understands that having a baby is a risk, but also a test that they must take to find their purpose and move on with their lives.
The lyrics also reflect on the idea that the need to find purpose doesn't stop once you start on the journey. There will always be moments when one might stop and need to rest, or when they feel like giving up. It's like waiting for Godot, but eventually, they must pick themselves up and go on. They must accept that they have made mistakes and maybe have not done their best, but they must try harder and be brave to find their purpose in life. The song ends with the singer riding the train to New Orleans and waiting for their next calling, still a clown to entertain the happy couples who seem to have it all figured out.
Line by Line Meaning
All the happy couples on their way to New Orleans
Observing content couples heading to New Orleans reminds me of a time when we were happy and together.
Reminding me of when we got along
Those happy couples remind me of the time when we didn't have any issues and had a good relationship.
They're only renting time and space to fill up with their dreams
Those couples are just temporarily living their lives and occupying time and place with their dreams and aspirations.
And dreams are what they'll have when they have gone
After they're gone, their memories will continue to live on and their dreams will be their legacy.
How could it be that I was born without a clue to carry on
I question why I was born without any guidance or direction for what to do in life.
And still it is the same now I am older
Even now, as I am older, I still don't have any clear direction or guidance.
Armed with just a will and then this love for singing songs
All I have is my determination and passion for singing songs as my guide.
And minding less and less if I am colder
I am becoming more carefree about how others perceive me, and I am more okay with being emotionally unavailable.
But I have this funny ache and it's burning in my chest
There's a strange feeling in my chest that just won't go away.
And it spreads just like a fire inside my body
It's consuming me and spreading throughout my entire being like a wildfire.
Is it something God left out in my spirit or my flesh
I wonder if this feeling is something I was meant to have but was left out by a higher power.
Would I be saved if I were brave and had a baby
Maybe if I take the leap and have a child, it'll save me from this feeling.
It was never clear what would come but that's the risk and that's the test
The future has always been uncertain, but taking risks is part of life's test.
And you were the only one so far to follow
You were the only person to take a chance with me so far.
And no one talks about when one might stop and need to rest
No one discusses when it's time to take a break and rest from taking one leap of faith after the other.
Or how long you sit alone before you stop looking back
It's not clear how long it takes for someone to stop looking back and moving on from the past.
It's like you're waiting for Godot
It's like you're waiting forever for something that's never going to happen or arrive.
And then you pick your sorry ass up off the street and
At some point, you need to get over yourself and move forward.
Go...
Just keep going and don't look back.
And what the hell is this? Who made this bloody mess?
I don't understand how my life is such a mess or who is to blame for it.
And someone always answers like a martyr
Whenever I ask about it, someone always tries to be a martyr and take the blame for what's happening.
Is it something you should know, did you never do your best
Is there something I missed or should have known that would have helped me avoid this situation?
Would you be saved if you were brave and just tried harder
Maybe being brave and trying harder is the key to getting out of this situation and saving myself.
So now I ride the ought one thirty five to New Orleans
I'm heading to New Orleans on a train to escape my problems and find some peace.
I float a mile above life's toil and trouble
I feel disconnected from the problems in my life and like I'm floating above them.
A thousand lonely lifetimes I still wait and then go on
I've been waiting for so long and living lonely lifetimes, but I still keep going and haven't given up.
A clown to entertain the happy couples
I feel like a clown entertaining the happy couples, but at least it's something to distract me from my own problems and feelings.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWN COLVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joseph Araneta
All the happy couples on their way to New Orleans
Reminding me of when we got along
They're only renting time and space to fill up with their dreams
And dreams are what they'll have when they have gone
How could it be that I was born without a clue to carry on
And still it is the same now I am older
Armed with just a will and then this love for singing songs
And minding less and less if I am colder
But I have this funny ache and it's burning in my chest
And it spreads just like a fire inside my body
Is it something God left out in my spirit or my flesh
Would I be saved if I were brave and had a baby
It was never clear what would come but that's the risk and that's the test
And you were the only one so far to follow
And no one talks about when one might stop and need to rest
Or how long you sit alone before you stop looking back
It's like you're waiting for Godot
And then you pick your sorry ass up off the street and
Go...
And what the hell is this? Who made this bloody mess?
And someone always answers like a martyr
Is it something you should know, did you never do your best
Would you be saved if you were brave and just tried harder
So now I ride the ought one thirty five to New Orleans
I float a mile above life's toil and trouble
A thousand lonely lifetimes I still wait and then go on
A clown to entertain the happy couples
davidwinderbinder
Such an amazing lyricist. All her accolades over the years have been so well deserved. So many great songs to choose from and this is still one of my all-time favorites. And ironically, as great as the lyrics are...it's that little sigh at 2:25 that gets me every time I hear it...it makes the whole song. Beautiful.
anyviolet
That really is the best part of the whole (terrific) song. Unique and moving, part of the lyrics all by itself.
Benjamin Kromholtz
davidwinderbinder absolutely. I just recommended the song for the same sigh.
Jeff Kushner
How do you pour your heart out in a song like that? What a great tune! I can barely put two words together and Shawn Colvin spits them out like water from a faucet. Amazing.
James Dombroski
My favorite Shawn Colvin song, makes driving home at the dusk that much easier.
mikebtko
Shawn Colvin, achingly beautiful... A singer songwriter who can break my heart with such tender melodies, and thought provoking lyrics... Thank you Shawn!
Glen Scott
wicked tune! Awesome album.
Tomás Montes
This sad and nostalgic song, was played in the end of Desperate Measures, the 3x12 episode of Party of Five, and was really touching, one of the most heartbreaking moments i've seen in a TV series
Wil Mckillop
absolutely beautiful
Joseph Araneta
All the happy couples on their way to New Orleans
Reminding me of when we got along
They're only renting time and space to fill up with their dreams
And dreams are what they'll have when they have gone
How could it be that I was born without a clue to carry on
And still it is the same now I am older
Armed with just a will and then this love for singing songs
And minding less and less if I am colder
But I have this funny ache and it's burning in my chest
And it spreads just like a fire inside my body
Is it something God left out in my spirit or my flesh
Would I be saved if I were brave and had a baby
It was never clear what would come but that's the risk and that's the test
And you were the only one so far to follow
And no one talks about when one might stop and need to rest
Or how long you sit alone before you stop looking back
It's like you're waiting for Godot
And then you pick your sorry ass up off the street and
Go...
And what the hell is this? Who made this bloody mess?
And someone always answers like a martyr
Is it something you should know, did you never do your best
Would you be saved if you were brave and just tried harder
So now I ride the ought one thirty five to New Orleans
I float a mile above life's toil and trouble
A thousand lonely lifetimes I still wait and then go on
A clown to entertain the happy couples