… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four different artists who recorded under this name:
1. Sylvia Jane Hutton Kirby (born December 9, 1956), also known mononymously as Sylvia, is an American country music and country pop singer and songwriter. Her biggest hit (a crossover chart topper), was her single "Nobody" in 1982. It reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 9 on the Cashbox Top 100, and number 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. The song earned her a gold record certification and a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Her other country chart hits include "Drifter" (number one in 1981), "Fallin' in Love", "Tumbleweed" and "Snapshot". She was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music for 1982. She is also credited with making the first "concept" music video clip to air on Country Music Television (CMT), with "The Matador".
When her contract with RCA ended, Sylvia took a break from touring and recording to focus on developing as a songwriter. In 1988 and 1989, she guest-hosted TNN's Crook and Chase show and her own Holiday Gourmet cooking special. Sylvia's first independent album, The Real Story, was released in 1996 on her own label, Red Pony Records. In a May 1998 People magazine review, Ralph Novak wrote, "Sylvia always sang with more intensity and resonance than most country singers... and she can still sing a story song better than almost anyone around."
In 2002, she followed with Where in the World, a set that marked the culmination of an 11-year musical collaboration with John Mock. Songwriter Craig Bickhardt contributed the song "Crazy Nightingale". Bickhardt had previously performed with Sylvia from 1984, and wrote the title cut to One Step Closer. Also in 2002, Sylvia released, A Cradle in Bethlehem, her first Christmas album. In 2016, the album, It's All in the Family, was released on Red Pony Records. In 2018, Sylvia released Second Bloom: The Hits Re-Imagined, an album of some of her hits she re-recorded with a more acoustic yet fully produced approach and, in 2022, Sylvia's new album, Nature Child: A Dreamer's Journey, was released on February 22.
2. Sylvia Robinson Vanderpool (May 29, 1935 – September 29, 2011), known mononymously as Sylvia, was an American singer, record producer, and record label executive. Robinson achieved success as a performer on two R&B chart toppers: as half of Mickey & Sylvia with the 1957 single "Love Is Strange", and her solo record "Pillow Talk" (1973). She later became known for her work as founder and CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records.
Robinson is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the hip hop genre: "Rapper's Delight" (1979) by the Sugarhill Gang, and "The Message" (1982) by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, both of which she produced. At the 11th Annual Rhythm and Blues Awards Gala in 2000, she received a Pioneer Award for her career in singing and for founding Sugarhill Records. Several publications have dubbed her the "Mother of Hip Hop". In 2022, she was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Ahmet Ertegun Award category for being a major influence on the creative development of hip-hop's early successes, and is the first woman to receive the award unaccompanied by another person.
3. Sylvia Vrethammar is a popular vocalist from Sweden who made a big success with an English version of "Y Viva España".
4. Sylvia is also a black/thrash metal band from somewhere around Portland, Oregon, United States. Their current line up is Candy, Andrew, Sean and Reuben. They released a demo entitled 'Lizard Birdman', which is available on their Bandcamp website.
5. Sylvia was a progressive experimental band from Southern California. The band consisted of lead singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer Riz Story, drummer Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), guitarist Sean Murphy and Jon "Juano" Davison (Yes), and dissolved when Hawkins joined Alanis Morissette's band. This led to Story's formation of Anyone in 1995.
6. Sylvia is also the name of a northern soul singer ('It's A Good Life', 1968), possibly the same singer as the one listed as #1 (?).
Drifter
Sylvia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been cryin' every day
You knew that I loved you
But you drifted anyway
Drifter, I thought my kiss
Stopped all your restlessness
But you proved again
Drifter, please remember
No one loves you like I do
Drifter, I thought my kiss
Stopped all your restlessness
But you proved again
No one ropes the wind
Drifter, I'll be waitin'
Should you ever drift back in
Drifter, oh drifter
The song "Drifter" by Sylvia is a classic country break-up ballad where the singer expresses her sadness and hurt over her lover, who left her to drift away. The lyrics depict the pain, regret, and questions of a heartbroken woman who loved a man that was never able to settle down, no matter how much she tried. She begins by expressing her sorrowful state and how she has been crying every day since he left. Despite the love and affection she had for him, he chose to continue drifting away. The singer reminisces on how she believed that her love was enough to make him stay in one place, but she was wrong. The man was always restless and could never be tamed; no one could ever "rope the wind." The chorus repeats the same plea for him to remember that no one loves him like she does.
The singer's repetitive plea to the drifter to return to her shows how much she still loves and wants him to come back to her life. She wants to be the one that can finally settle him and give him the love and stability he needs. However, the lyrics portray a sense of resignation that highlights the futility of hoping for someone to change their ways. The song captures the pain that comes with loving a "drifter" who can never be tied down or made to settle in one place. The singer is left waiting, wondering if he will ever return to her. Her decision to wait for him even though he has left her hanging shows how deep her love for him is.
Line by Line Meaning
Drifter, since you left me
Ever since you've gone away, I've been struggling and feeling sad.
I've been cryin' every day
I've been upset and shedding tears each day since you left.
You knew that I loved you
You were aware of my strong feelings of affection towards you.
But you drifted anyway
Regardless of my love for you, you still left and moved on.
Drifter, I thought my kiss
I believed that my love for you and the affection I showed would have been enough to keep you satisfied.
Stopped all your restlessness
I thought that my love would have satisfied your wandering tendencies and made you stay.
But you proved again
However, you have once again shown that you are resistant to be bound by anyone or anything.
No one ropes the wind
No one can control or keep you, who are as unpredictable and free as the wind, tied down.
Drifter, please remember
Yet still, I hope for you to hold on to the memory of my love.
No one loves you like I do
I still love you more than anyone else and hope that you realize my deep affection for you.
Drifter, I'll be waitin'
If you ever come back or find yourself in need, I will be waiting for you.
Should you ever drift back in
If you ever return to me or come by chance, I will be here for you.
Drifter, oh drifter
Calling out to you, my wandering and unpredictable love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ARCHIE PAUL JORDAN, DON PFRIMMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard White
I love Sylvia and her incredible music. Back when country was Real Country music. Now you might as well call it pop music because it is not country. And may I say I love her voice and she is a gorgeous woman as well
Adrian Tomlin
Agreed sir..I always appreciated her music! The beats and tempo were one of kind
Jason MAthisen
And still is. Just watched a discussion on her new album Nature Child with Andrew Bruet. Might want to check it out.
Michelle Post
I had this LP that is pictured, because Drifter was a new hit, and awesome. I think it came out during 1980. The 1980s had THE best songs of country, and of light rock.
Shawn Crippen
She's Great!! Always Loved her and her class of 80's music!!!
lindacostner1
One of my favorite songs sung so beautifully
William Anderson
Hello Linda how are you doing 👋👋👋👋👋
Deborah Porter
Thanks for posting--loved this song in the 80"s and now that I play guitar and try to sing, learning it easier with videos! Thanks
William Anderson
Hello Deborah how are you doing 👋👋
Dana
Such a delight finding Sylvia on YT. Her voice and music are beautiful.