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.
Polaroids
Shawn Colvin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mother take care of me
Piece me together with a
Needle and thread
Wrap me in eiderdown
Lace from your wedding gown
Fold me and lay me down
On your bed
Blackened and spit-shined through
Kicking back home to you
Smiling back home
Singing back home to you
Laughing back home to you
Dragging back home to you
I was so wary then
The ugly American
Thinner than oxygen
Tough as a whore
I said you can lie to me
I own what's inside of me
And nothing surprises me anymore
But forests in Germany
Kids in the Tuileries
Broken-down fortresses
In old Italy
And claiming his victory
Shrouded in mystery
He went running away with me
Back in our home New York
Walking these streets forlorn
We all in our uniforms
Black and black
Doing that slouch and jive
The artist must survive
We've got all we need we cried
And we don't look back
Thinking we had it made
Poised for the hit parade
Knee deep in accolades
The conceptual pair
But ever the malcontent
He left without incident
Vanished into thin air
Now I am always amazed
Words can fill up a page
Pages fill up the days
Between him and me
But the vows that we never keep
From bedrooms to business-speak
Make me remember how cheap
Words can be
And the letters I wrote you of
Were those of the desperate stuff
Like begging for love in a suicide threat
But I am too young to die
Too old for a lullaby
Too tired for life on the ledge
But I had a dream last night
Of lovers who walked the plank
Out on the edge of time
Amidst ridicule
They laughed as they rocked and reeled
Over the mining fields
Coming to rest on this ship of fools
But he just took Polaroids
Of her smile in the light
Of the dawn of the menacing sky
And before they went overboard
She turned and held up a card
And it said Valentine
The song Polaroids by Shawn Colvin is a melancholic reflection on past experiences, love, and relationships. The song opens with the singer calling out for her mother to take care of her because she needs her desperately. She wants to be put back together and wrapped in safety while regaining a sense of security. She then moves on to describe herself as a "shoe, blackened and spit-shined through," implying that she has been through a lot but has survived. The chorus talks about dragging her way back home to where her heart belongs, and this hints at her desire to belong somewhere safe where she can find the love she needs.
The second verse talks about how the singer has become tough and almost immune to anything surprising because of all the different experiences and events she has been through. Nonetheless, she still remembers the beautiful moments she has spent in different parts of the world with a lover she still thinks of fondly. The third verse talks about how the singer has been writing letters to her ex-lover begging and pleading for them to return to her, but these letters only highlight how desperate and alone she is. The final lines describe a dream where a couple laugh as they walk the plank, and before they go overboard, she holds up a card saying Valentines.
Line by Line Meaning
Please no more therapy
I am tired of receiving treatment for my mental distress.
Mother take care of me
I need someone to nurture me and tend to my needs as a child.
Piece me together with a needle and thread
I am broken and need someone to sew me back together again.
Wrap me in eiderdown
I want to be comforted and protected from harm.
Lace from your wedding gown
I want to feel the love and warmth that my mother felt on her wedding day.
Fold me and lay me down on your bed
I seek safety and security in my mother's embrace.
Or liken me to a shoe
I am insignificant and worthless like a shoe.
Blackened and spit-shined through
My tough exterior belies the inner pain and turmoil I feel.
Kicking back home to you
I return to you, my mother, seeking comfort and safety.
Smiling back home to you
I am happy to be returning home to you, my mother.
Singing back home to you
I express my joy and relief through song on my way home to you.
Laughing back home to you
I find humor and happiness as I return home to you, my mother.
Dragging back home to you
I am exhausted and weary as I return home to you, my mother.
I was so wary then
I was skeptical and cautious at that time.
The ugly American
I was an unattractive representation of what it means to be American.
Thinner than oxygen
I was emaciated and weak, like there was no substance to my being.
Tough as a whore
I was hardened and resilient, like a prostitute who has learned to survive on the streets.
I said you can lie to me
I allowed others to deceive me because I had lost faith in the truth.
I own what's inside of me
I have complete control over my own thoughts, emotions and actions.
And nothing surprises me anymore
I have been through so much that there is nothing left that can shock or surprise me.
But forests in Germany
I have experienced the beauty of nature in Germany's forests.
Kids in the Tuileries
I have seen the joy of children playing in the Tuileries Garden in Paris.
Broken-down fortresses in old Italy
I have witnessed the ruins of ancient fortresses in Italy.
And claiming his victory
He believes he has won in some way.
Shrouded in mystery
There is a sense of secrecy surrounding him and his actions.
He went running away with me
He took me on a journey, both physical and emotional.
Back in our home New York
We have returned to our home in New York.
Walking these streets forlorn
We walked the streets feeling lonely and desolate.
We all in our uniforms
We dressed in our stereotypical artist outfits to fit in with the culture.
Black and black
We dressed in all black, in typical artist fashion.
Doing that slouch and jive
We moved around with a carefree, relaxed attitude.
The artist must survive
We must create and express ourselves to survive as artists.
We've got all we need we cried
We proclaim to have all we need to create our art and survive.
And we don't look back
We refuse to dwell on the past or regret our choices.
Thinking we had it made
We were convinced that we were destined for greatness.
Poised for the hit parade
We were on the verge of becoming successful and famous.
Knee deep in accolades
We were being showered with praise and recognition for our work.
The conceptual pair
We were known for our artistic ideas and concepts.
But ever the malcontent
He was always unhappy, despite our success.
He left without incident
He disappeared without any drama or confrontation.
Vanished into thin air
He completely disappeared from our lives and left us wondering where he went.
Now I am always amazed
I am constantly surprised and impressed by what I experience.
Words can fill up a page
I am aware of the power and impact of written words.
Pages fill up the days
Each day is filled with new experiences and opportunities to write more.
Between him and me
There is a gap or distance between us.
But the vows that we never keep
We made promises to each other that we never fulfilled.
From bedrooms to business-speak
We went from talking about personal matters to more business-like and formal conversations.
Make me remember how cheap
This makes me realize how insincere and worthless our promises were.
Words can be
Words can be meaningless, deceptive, or insincere.
And the letters I wrote you of
I wrote letters to you about my feelings.
Were those of the desperate stuff
My letters expressed desperation and sadness.
Like begging for love in a suicide threat
I was asking for love and attention in a manipulative way.
But I am too young to die
I am too young to give up on life or love.
Too old for a lullaby
I am too mature for simplistic or childish comforts.
Too tired for life on the ledge
I am exhausted and drained from living a high-risk or dangerous lifestyle.
But I had a dream last night
I had a vivid dream while I was sleeping.
Of lovers who walked the plank
In the dream, a couple walked out onto a wooden plank together.
Out on the edge of time
This couple was on the brink of a new era or phase in their lives.
Amidst ridicule
Other people ridiculed the couple as they stood on the plank.
They laughed as they rocked and reeled
Despite the ridicule, the couple laughed and enjoyed each other's company.
Over the mining fields
The plank was suspended above a large, industrial area.
Coming to rest on this ship of fools
The couple eventually ended up on a strange or foolish situation or journey.
But he just took Polaroids
Instead of engaging with the couple or enjoying the moment, he took photos.
Of her smile in the light
He focused on capturing her happiness and beauty in the moment.
Of the dawn of the menacing sky
He also captured the beauty and drama of the sky at sunrise.
And before they went overboard
Before the couple fell off the plank or moved on from this moment.
She turned and held up a card
The woman revealed a card or piece of paper to the camera.
And it said Valentine
The card was labeled as a Valentine, indicating love and affection.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWN COLVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cindyhardy915
Of all the bands, individuals that I have had the pleasure of seeing live, I thank Mother Earth the most for Shawn Colvin. Damn what a talent ❤❤❤
@done1675
Good lord, this song makes me weep. Literally. It reminds me of a relastionship I had in 1993 when I was young. I liked being young in New York City. I liked being young.
@paulelliott3220
Absolutely beautiful
As soon as Shawn's plays those notes and her voice starts, the world is a better place
Love this
@sudipchatterjee
This song is MONUMENTAL! It’s freakingly beautiful! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌷💗🙏
@SweetMamaMojo
Kudos to Larry Klein (bass) & Steuart Smith (guitar) for complementing Shawn exceptionally well on this stunning performance. LOVE IT! Oh, and Shawn is sublime perfection, as usual!
@LambentOrt
I love this song. I remember buying the cassette when the album came out and playing it over and over until the tape snapped.
@gumwap1
The poetry alone is next level.
@stewartmcardle8149
Colvin's control of her guitar patterns is equally as good as her fellow musicians, the great Klein and Smith.
@ravenwildspirit
Oh the memories. Love this woman's voice and songs. Wonderful 💞
@grahamsimpson5808
Sublime triumvirate, Shawn, Larry and Steuart are like the most exquisite delicacy..Love u Shawn, bless x!