1996 to present: Terri Hendrix has always preferred to celebrate the light … Read Full Bio ↴1996 to present: Terri Hendrix has always preferred to celebrate the light rather than wallow in the blues — but she’s no stranger to facing the dark head-on. On her new album, Cry Till You Laugh, the award-winning Texas songwriter spins sorrow into joy and wrings wisdom from the blues with the poetic grace and uplifting melodic flair that has long been her trademark. As Jim Beal of the San Antonio Express-News observed in his review of the album, “Part of the beauty of Terri Hendrix’s music is she’s among the best at recognizing, writing about and celebrating resilience and common ground, the things we can all cry, and laugh, about.” A classically trained vocalist and deft multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin and harmonica), Hendrix is a firm believer in the theory that “life’s too short for one genre,” dodging musical pigeonholes alongside legendary producer Lloyd Maines (guitar, dobro, pedal steel), by weaving folk, pop, country, blues and swinging jazz into an eclectic style all her own that plays like a carefully compiled mix-CD. Add to that her charismatic stage presence and reputation for always delivering an energetic and spiritually uplifting live show (from intimate listening rooms to huge outdoor festivals), and it’s no wonder why the Terri Hendrix “experience” has been embraced by three generations of loyal fans across the country and around the globe. To date, Hendrix has released 14 albums on her own Wilory Records label. In the fall of 2011, she published the second edition of her first book; a tie-in with her latest album featuring song lyrics, photos and essays on life, health, business, music and “owning your own universe” called Cry Till You Laugh — The Part That Ain’t Art.

Sister
Terri Hendrix Lyrics

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Sister's movin into
Your sister's apartment
Dad he's upset and Mama's a cryin'
Dogs are barkin' at the wind
Trees are bendin' with this
Storm rollin' in
Neighbors are a gossipin'
Kids at school are gigglin'

Cause sister's
Movin' into your sister's apartment
Sister's movin' into your
Sister's apartment
She's tired of the lyin'
She's tired of the hidin'
All hell is breakin' loose
Mama took me to a doctor
To check if I was one too
Neighbors are a gossipin'
Kids at school are gigglin'
Cause sister's
Movin into your sister's apartment
Sister's movin' into your
Sister's apartment
Sister's movin' into your
Sister's apartment
I'll tell you once I'll tell you again
Tell you one more time and maybe
Somethin' will sink in
Neighbors are a gossipin'
Kids at school are gigglin'
Cause sister's movin into
Your sister's apartment
What do what do what do we do

What do what do what do we do
Tell me tell me what do we do

Overall Meaning

The song "Sister," written and performed by Terri Hendrix, tells the story of a family's turmoil as one sister moves into another sister's apartment. The opening lines set the scene for the chaos that follows - the father is upset, the mother is crying, and even the dogs are barking at the wind. The storm rolling in is a metaphor for the emotional turmoil within the family.

The sister who is moving has had enough of the lying and hiding that has been going on, though it is not specified what exactly that is. The rest of the family is left to deal with the fallout. The line "Mama took me to a doctor to check if I was one too" is particularly poignant, suggesting that the family's problems run deep.

The song ends with a plea for help: "What do we do?" The family is clearly in crisis, and the gossiping neighbors and giggling school children only add to their pain. It is a powerful portrayal of the difficulties that can arise within a family, and the toll that it takes on everyone involved.

Line by Line Meaning

Sister's movin into
The singer's sister is moving into a new place.

Your sister's apartment
Her sister is moving into the apartment that belongs to another sibling.

Dad he's upset and Mama's a cryin'
The singer's parents are upset about the situation, causing distress for both of them.

Dogs are barkin' at the wind
The pets sense the incoming storm and are responding to it accordingly.

Trees are bendin' with this storm rollin' in
The weather is changing with strong winds and the trees are bending with the impact.

Neighbors are a gossipin'
The neighbors are talking about the situation with the sister moving into someone else's apartment.

Kids at school are gigglin'
The children at school are gossiping and laughing about the situation.

She's tired of the lyin'
The sister is tired of hiding the truth and is moving to a new place to escape it.

She's tired of the hidin'
The sister is tired of keeping secrets and hiding things, which has prompted her decision to move.

All hell is breakin' loose
The situation has escalated and things are becoming chaotic.

Mama took me to a doctor to check if I was one too
The mother is worried about her child and took her to a doctor to confirm if she was going through the same situation as her sister.

I'll tell you once I'll tell you again / Tell you one more time and maybe / Somethin' will sink in
The artist is reiterating the situation and hopes that by repeating it, it will help others understand and take the situation more seriously.

What do what do what do we do / Tell me tell me what do we do
The singer is unsure of what to do in this situation and is seeking advice or assistance from others.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HENDRIX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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