Schneiderman's entertainment career began in high scho… Read Full Bio ↴EARLY HISTORY
Schneiderman's entertainment career began in high school where she merged an interest in singing and theater, which included lead roles in musicals and plays, as well as mastering piano, guitar and french horn. By age 18 she was fronting a cover band and went on to perform with Body and Soul, the region's top Motown/old school funk act. Despite performing for crowds of up to 15,000, Schneiderman was dreaming about starting a solo career and in 1999 left to become a full-time singer/songwriter.
During that first year Schneiderman won the grand prize in The Lilith Fair competition and released
her self-titled acoustic debut to ecstatic reviews. The album remained on the Top Selling Northwest Bands Chart for over a year. She showcased at NACA and toured throughout Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Idaho, Washington, Utah, and Oregon. By the end or 2000 she was ready to go into the studio to record "Unbelievably Unbroken."
CURRENT STORY
In 1999 Stephanie Schneiderman began her solo career by beating
out hundreds of aspiring singer/songwriters to win a slot on
Lilith Fair. Since then the Portland, Oregon native has released
two critically received full-length albums and has developed a
riveting band presentation that continues to evolve and bring
her national attention.
Schneiderman's 2001 release, "Unbelievably Unbroken," drew major
label attention for her versatility and chameleon-like voice (with comparisons ranging Sheryl Crow, to Jeff Buckley to Patti Griffin). The first single, "New Skin Completed," was in regular rotation on KINK (Portland's leading Triple A station) and was featured on the WB's prime time show "Jack & Jill," and was the title track for the movie "Kat and Allison." Since then Schneiderman has released a 7-song EP and is set to release a brand new record, entitled Touch Down.
Dark Is Easier
Stephanie Schneiderman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tears are better stone dry
The heart is better shut tight
When the numbness is inside
when the numbness is inside
Words on a page
Words like a ghost from a grave
Words took you away
I know how to lie (in)
The dark is easer
The dark is easier
The dark is easier
In the night
In the night
Love will color your skin brown
Life to the river where you drowned
Soles never touched the ground
And I will lay my body down
I will lay my body down
Eyes are better off blind
Tears now the pain is mine
My heart is bleeding your bloodline
Living inside living inside
Stephanie Schneiderman's song "Dark Is Easier" explores the theme of emotional numbness and the use of darkness as a coping mechanism. The lyrics suggest that shutting oneself off from the world and emotions is easier than facing the pain, sadness or hurt. The line "eyes are better off blind" implies that it is easier not to see or acknowledge what's going on while "tears are better stone dry" suggests the desire to not feel anything, even if that means burying the pain deep down. The use of the metaphorical heart being "better shut tight" reflects the desire to close oneself off emotionally.
The second verse refers to the power of words and the idea that they can cut deep, take us away from what we know and even make us lie to ourselves. The chorus repeats "the dark is easier" three times, implying that the darkness is the easier, safer option for escaping reality. The following lines "love will color your skin brown, life to the river where you drowned, soles never touched the ground" suggest a loss or betrayal of love, leading to drowning or feeling overwhelmed.
The last line "living inside living inside" has been interpreted as a metaphor for being trapped in one's head and emotions. Overall, "Dark Is Easier" is a haunting and introspective song about the struggle with emotional numbness and the desire to escape it.
Line by Line Meaning
Eyes are better off blind
Closing your eyes is better than seeing the harsh reality of the world
Tears are better stone dry
Sometimes it's better to suppress your emotions and not show your vulnerabilities
The heart is better shut tight
It's safer to not open your heart and risk getting hurt
When the numbness is inside
When you're feeling emotionally numb, it's better to keep your heart closed
Words on a page
Reading written words can evoke deep emotions
Words like a ghost from a grave
Words can haunt you like ghosts from the past
Words took you away
Words can have a powerful impact and can cause someone to leave
And I know how to lie
I have learned how to deceive others
The dark is easer
It's easier to be in the dark, both physically and mentally
In the night
When it's dark out
Love will color your skin brown
Love can change your appearance, either by giving you sunburn or by mainly being with someone of a different skin color
Life to the river where you drowned
Sometimes life can feel like a river where you're struggling to stay afloat and not drown
Soles never touched the ground
Feeling weightless and disconnected from reality
And I will lay my body down
I am willing to sacrifice myself for someone I love
Tears now the pain is mine
I have taken on the burden of pain that was previously someone else's
My heart is bleeding your bloodline
My emotional pain stems from being connected to someone in the same family or bloodline
Living inside living inside
Feeling trapped inside my own emotions
Contributed by Thomas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.