Sonya has appeared on numerous late night TV shows including Late Night with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CNN, CBS and garnered rave reviews from the LA Times, Boston Globe, NY Times & NPR; gracing venues such as Carnegie Hall & The Hollywood Bowl amongst numerous notable stages around the world. In 2007 she joined forces with Herbie Hancock singing on his Grammy winning Joni Mitchell record titled, “River: The Joni Letters”. Herbie Hancock invited Sonya to join him on tour to sing in his band, in support of the record for the following year. During this time she worked alongside such greats as Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, Milton Nascimento, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, and many more.
Shortly after her year spent touring with Herbie Hancock, Sonya released her second album, "This Storm" on Decca Records produced by Malcolm Burn (Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, 2008) in collaboration with renowned rock band, The Slip, to much critical acclaim.
In 2009, Sonya joined forces with long-time friend and collaborator Garth Stevenson and together they created a collection of string-quartet based music, releasing “Convict of Conviction” in 2010 with producer Stewart Lerman (Antony and the Johnsons, David Byrne). Sonya Kitchell & The Brooklyn Strings were born and Sonya spent the next year performing with a string quartet ensemble exploring a more dramatic, cinematic side to her music.
Her songs have appeared on numerous TV shows and films including Perfect Stranger (Bruce Willis, Halle Berry), Private Practice and The Unit.
She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY and is working on her fourth album.
Words
Sonya Kitchell Lyrics
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Now I'm lost and they're out at sea
Sailing away
They come and go, like the breeze
Whisper sweet, burn like disease
They change with the day
All the wrong things on the right day
And I seem to do
All the wrong things on the right cue
At least most of the time
My words took me down the wrong track
And now I want to take it back
So I'll run away
If only I could be free
Of the plague that my words seem to be
I'd thank the day
For I seem to say
All the wrong things on the right day
And I seem to do
All the wrong things on the right cue
At least most of the time
And Life can be
Such a give or take
Some laugh while they're dying
Some cry when they wake
But there are some words
That I could never do without
That paint pictures on polished walls
And dance away with doubt
My words came back to me
They stayed awhile, we had some tea
While time whiled away
I said, Please be kind and please don't go
They said, We'll try, but you never know
Depends on the day
And I seem to say
All the wrong things on the right day
And I seem to do
All the wrong things on the right cue
At least most of the time
The song "Words" by Sonya Kitchell is a reflection on the impact of words and the struggles that come with using them wisely. The opening lines describe the singer's realization that their words have gotten away from them and are out of their control. They compare their words to a ship sailing away at sea, indicating that once words are said, they cannot be taken back. The next verse speaks to the ambiguity and power of words, how they can both "whisper sweet" and "burn like disease."
The chorus reflects the singer's frustration with their own words, the way they always seem to say or do the wrong thing at the wrong time. However, they acknowledge that this is not always the case and that they at least get it right "most of the time." The final verse offers a glimmer of hope that the singer can learn to control their use of language. They want to be "free of the plague that my words seem to be" and even request that their words be kind and stay with them.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the power of words and the struggle to wield them responsibly, a message that is particularly relevant in our current age of constant communication.
Line by Line Meaning
My words ran away from me
I cannot control what I say, and my words seem to have a mind of their own.
Now I'm lost and they're out at sea
Sailing away
I am no longer in control of my words, and they have taken on a life of their own.
They come and go, like the breeze
Whisper sweet, burn like disease
They change with the day
My words are unpredictable and can either be gentle and pleasant or harsh and hurtful, depending on my mood.
And I seem to say
All the wrong things on the right day
And I seem to do
All the wrong things on the right cue
At least most of the time
I tend to say or do the wrong things at the worst possible moment, but sometimes, I get it right.
My words took me down the wrong track
And now I want to take it back
So I'll run away
My words have caused me trouble, and I regret speaking them. I wish I could escape from the consequences of what I said.
If only I could be free
Of the plague that my words seem to be
I'd thank the day
I wish I could rid myself of the destructive power of my words so that I could live without regret and pain.
And Life can be
Such a give or take
Some laugh while they're dying
Some cry when they wake
Life is unpredictable, and it can have its ups and downs. People react differently to the same events.
But there are some words
That I could never do without
That paint pictures on polished walls
And dance away with doubt
Despite the troubles that my words cause, they are still important to me because they can create beauty, evoke emotions, and express complex ideas.
My words came back to me
They stayed awhile, we had some tea
While time whiled away
After trying to control my words, they have now returned to me, and I am trying to make peace with them.
I said, Please be kind and please don't go
They said, We'll try, but you never know
Depends on the day
I am making a plea to my words to be kinder, but I know that they are unpredictable and can surprise me anytime.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sonya Kitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind