Rolling Stone praised Just Believe It as "The hardy, heartbreaking sound of…a bar-band angel…in the prime of her singing and songwriting life." The Washington Post proclaimed "As good as Cowsill’s voice is, her smart, emotional songwriting is her biggest asset." All Music Guide raved "Cowsill has stories to tell and she tells them with a skill and vigor that never lets artifice get in the way of cutting to the emotional truth… Quite simply, debut albums are rarely as moving, as revealing or as accomplished as Just Believe It. This is masterful music from a major talent."
Not many people were singing on hit singles and touring the world when their friends were still in kindergarten, but The Cowsills became a cherished part of '60s pop culture. As the role model for television's Partridge Family, and a fine act in their own right, they had three top-ten singles with "Hair," "The Rain, the Park and Other Things (Flower Girl)," and "We Can Fly." Soon after those successes, Susan went into her first retirement at the tender age of 12.
The '80s found Susan working with cult figure Dwight Twilley, her harmonies adding sparkle to many of Twilley's greatest tracks, including his hit single "Girls." Pop lovers could also spot her guesting with Redd Kross and the Smithereens. In the early '90s The Cowsills launched a fullfledged reunion, with new songs in a solid powerpop vein, and released the Global album, becoming cult heroes all over again. More guest appearances by Susan during this time were on two Hootie and the Blowfish records, Jules Shear, Kate Jacobs, and Giant Sand.
Susan's life and music took a fateful turn when she joined the popular roots-pop combo, the Continental Drifters. Susan's exuberant stage presence and beautiful vocals proved an asset to the band. The Drifters made three critically-acclaimed albums, all of which recorded Susan blossoming as a songwriter. The 1999 disc Vermilion led off with Susan's country-pop gem, "The Rain Song." One publication gloated, "...vocal on the chorus...is the most heartbreaking musical moment of 1999." (Gambit Weekly, Dec. 28, 1999) The song has since been covered by both The Bangles and Hootie and the Blowfish. And 2001's Better Day album found her contributing four songs (one co-written with drummer, Russ Broussard). No Depression magazine noted on these songs, "...are the stuff big-time solo careers are made of."
Susan's Cowsill's solo album Just Believe It is the next logical step after the Drifters. Susan continues to write beautifully melodic songs, taking sympathetic looks at the imperfictions of life and love. Susan Cowsill's gumbo sound springs from '60s pop roots with seasonings of Louisiana groove, country, and rock. Whether she's doing her own material or covering the likes of Sandy Denny or Lucinda Williams, she can always connect with a haunting tune and emotive lyrics. As Bilboard Magazine expresses, "Cowsill...mines a child-like vulnerability, as she employs her achingly tarnished voice to a simple and moving effect." Susan's songs and voice have all the ingredients and delivery for her to easily be a hugely successful 'crossover' artist.
Palm Of My Hand
Susan Cowsill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was willing to ride into the night
I knew it was out there somewhere
And I would find it
In the palm of my hand
So I traveled for years
Far away on a river filled with tears
I was gone for so long
I grew older and older made me strong
Nothing could stop me now
And it never could anyhow
The palm of my hand
The palm of my hand
That's where we will land
After spinning around outside
The palm of my hand
I've been racing through time
With the winters that come and go
Looking into the eyes of the strangers
I used to know long ago
In my mind
All of this time
Now it's time to go home
You'll be there
You've been there all along
You'll never guess what I found
After searching this whole world round
The palm of my hand
The palm of my hand
That's where we will end
After spinning around outside
The palm of my hand
The palm of my hand
That's where we will stand
After spinning around outside
The palm of my hand
The palm of my hand
The palm of my hand
The palm of my hand
The Susan Cowsill song "Palm of My Hand" is a poignant reflection on the quest for meaning and purpose in life, and the ultimate discovery of that purpose within oneself. The first verse sets up this theme, as the singer declares their willingness to fight and ride into the night in search of some elusive goal, which they are confident they will eventually find in the palm of their hand. The subsequent verse describes the singer's journey through life, marked by sadness and introspection, as they seek meaning and connection with the people around them. However, the chorus offers hope and resolution, as the singer realizes that home and the meaning of their life has been with them all along, in the form of the palm of their own hand.
The song is a powerful reflection on the human experience, touching on themes of loneliness, struggle, and self-discovery that are universal to us all. It speaks to the power of hope and the light that we can find within ourselves, even in the darkest of times. Ultimately, "Palm of My Hand" is a song of hope and redemption, reminding us that we are never truly alone, and that the answers we seek are often closer than we think.
Line by Line Meaning
I was willing to fight
I had the courage and determination to fight for something I believed in
I was willing to ride into the night
I was willing to embark on a journey, even if it meant facing unknown dangers and challenges
I knew it was out there somewhere
I had a strong conviction that what I was looking for existed, even if I didn't know exactly where or what it was
And I would find it
I had unwavering faith in myself that I could achieve my goal
In the palm of my hand
I believed that I already had what I was looking for and that it was within my grasp
So I traveled for years
I spent years searching and exploring in pursuit of my goal
Far away on a river filled with tears
I traveled on a metaphorical river of sadness and hardship, encountering obstacles along the way
And every drop was salt that stung my heart
Every setback I faced was like a drop of salt that pained me emotionally
I was gone for so long
I was away from everything I knew for an extended period of time
I grew older and older made me strong
My experiences and challenges over time made me wiser and more resilient
Nothing could stop me now
I had overcome any obstacle that stood in my way and was unstoppable
And it never could anyhow
There was nothing that could prevent me from achieving my goal, no matter what
The palm of my hand
My end goal, what I was searching for, was something metaphorically small that I was already holding
That's where we will land
Achieving my goal will bring me to a place of stability and contentment
After spinning around outside
After experiencing many twists and turns along the way
I've been racing through time
I felt that I was running out of time to achieve my goal
With the winters that come and go
With the passing of time and the changes that come with it
Looking into the eyes of the strangers
Encountering people who used to be familiar to me but are now strangers due to time and distance
I used to know long ago
People who were once important to me but who I have not seen in a long time
In my mind
My memories of these people and times are kept alive in my thoughts
Now it's time to go home
It's time to return to a place of familiarity and belonging
You'll be there
There are people who I care about and who care about me waiting for me at home
You've been there all along
Even when I was far away, these people were still with me in spirit
You'll never guess what I found
I discovered something unexpected that I had been searching for all along
After searching this whole world round
After exploring the world in search of my goal
That's where we will end
Achieving my goal is the end of my journey
That's where we will stand
Once I have achieved my goal, I will have a sense of stability and purpose
The palm of my hand
My end goal, what I was searching for, was something metaphorically small that I was already holding
The palm of my hand
Achieving my goal is something that is personal and meaningful to me
The palm of my hand
The concept of achieving my goal is woven throughout my journey and is always at the forefront of my mind
Contributed by Addison N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Terry McManus
This is so good. The recording's immediacy reflects the nature of the lyrics... up front and personal. This has opened my eyes to another side of the family band.
countrypaul
Wow - she's one tuff rock & roll lady (meant as a very high compliment). The original band with her four brothers played at my college (Brown) for fraternity and dorm parties when they were something like 16, 14, 12 and 9, and they were really good. I love this album; hope Susan is still turning out music this good!
countrypaul
First release: 2005. Great rocker. Check out the album's title track - even better!
Rhonda Baroli
I love them but especially Susan s songs nanny song.