Since releasing her first EP less than a year ago she has added opening for Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Sugarland, Colbie Caillat, Erykah Badu, Tom Cochrane, Colin James, and Men Without Hats to her repertoire of performances.
Steph recently completed an October tour of BC & Alberta and performed at the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards Showcase – BreakOutWest to promote her EP To You. Steph’s folk/pop album “To You” has had airplay on CBC Radio One, CBC Radio 3, Vancouver’s Peak 100.5 FM, Alberta’s CKUA, Evolution 107.9 (BCIT), CJSF (SFU) and CJUM (UofM); she has also received interviews and/or on-air performances with CTV News, eTalk Daily, The Peak 100.5, CBC Radio 3 and Calgary’s Mix 97.7.
The BC born Kiwi-Canadian singer-songwriter began her endeavor into the world of music at the early age of four. After seeing The Little Mermaid for the first time, she knew she wanted to be a singing mermaid. When she failed to grow a fin, she picked up a guitar, turned to songwriting, and began pursuing music as a human in her hometown of Victoria, B.C. She has since showcased on stages along side the likes of Jesse Winchester, Leeroy Stagger, Greg Macpherson, Kinnie Starr, Raising the Fawn, and Yukon Blonde (formerly Alphababy), as well as local loves Aidan Knight, Vince Vaccaro, Maurice, and Acres of Lions. She also sang backing vocals on friend and fellow Peak Performance Project musician Vince Vaccaro's album, Animals.
Steph has toured from the West Coast of Canada, to Montreal and written/recorded two E.P.'s: To You (2009), recorded at Infinity Studios Victoria, B.C. with friend and producer Jason Cook (also produced or engineered: Tal Bachman, Wil & Theset) and "Shapes Only You Can Make" (2005) recorded/produced by Ryan Hauschild (Hannah Georgas, Hey Ocean!, Elias) of Vancouver B.C.
Steph now calls Vancouver home.
The Verdict
Steph Macpherson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sidetracked by the fork before my toes
All I'd learned and all I'd ever known
Couldn't bear the distance left to go
But you know what they mean
Cause you're so in between
How can anybody be on your side.
Lost my faith in piles of broken bones
Of my kind, though never of my own
Tried to draw a line, so I would know
What to bury, what to hide below
But you know what they mean
Cause you're so in between
How can anybody be on your side.
And now,
What's the verdict, what's the verdict,
What's the verdict now... now...
What's the verdict, what's the verdict,
What's the verdict now... now...
'Cause you know what they mean
You've been so in between
How can anybody be on your side.
Yeah, you know what they mean
You've been so in between
How can anybody be on your side.
What's the verdict, what's the verdict,
What's the verdict
What's the verdict now...
What's the verdict, what's the verdict,
What's the verdict
What's the verdict now...
Oh now...
Steph Macpherson's song "The Verdict" is a contemplative and introspective piece that reflects on the difficult and often confusing journey of self-discovery. The first verse refers to the challenge of staying focused on one's goals when faced with distractions and unexpected obstacles. Despite one's best efforts, it's easy to lose track and feel overwhelmed when faced with the enormity of the journey ahead. The second verse delves deeper into the struggle of self-discovery, as the singer confronts their own doubts and insecurities. They feel lost in a sea of contradictions, unsure of which direction to take and what parts of themselves to reject or embrace. The chorus repeats the titular question "what's the verdict?" suggesting the singer is seeking outside validation or guidance but ultimately finding that their journey is a solo one; the verdict is theirs to make.
Throughout the song, the lyrics hint at a sense of isolation and a lack of external validation, with the repeated refrain "how can anybody be on your side" suggesting a feeling of disconnectedness from others. The use of the second person "you" in the chorus feels like a direct address to the listener, inviting them to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery and the challenges of finding one's own truth. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song creates a sense of circularity, suggesting that the journey is ongoing and that the search for answers may never truly be resolved.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost my count at twenty-one or so
I lost track of how much I had accomplished
Sidetracked by the fork before my toes
I got distracted by a choice that was right in front of me
All I'd learned and all I'd ever known
Everything I had ever been taught or experienced
Couldn't bear the distance left to go
I couldn't handle how far I had yet to travel
Lost my faith in piles of broken bones
I stopped believing in the fate of others that had met their demise
Of my kind, though never of my own
I never suffered the same fate as those around me, but I feared it
Tried to draw a line, so I would know
I attempted to create a boundary to understand what was below it
What to bury, what to hide below
What to set aside and what to keep hidden
What's the verdict, what's the verdict,
What's the verdict now... now...
What is the conclusion or decision, what is it now
'Cause you know what they mean
You've been so in between
How can anybody be on your side.
You understand the situation, but are unsure how to proceed and feel alone
Oh now...
An additional, emotional emphasis on the previous statements
Contributed by Jake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christopher Carlone
I would buy your album. Do you have one? Another great song!