Sutton was born on t… Read Full Bio ↴Tierney Sutton (b. 1963) is a U.S. jazz singer.
Sutton was born on the 28th June 1963 in Omaha, Nebraska, and was educated at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut and the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sutton fronts the Tierney Sutton Band, featuring pianist Christian Jacob, bassists Trey Henry and Kevin Axt, and drummer Ray Brinker. The band is an incorporated unit and makes all musical as well business decisions together. They tour throughout the world, and have headlined in recent years at Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
For eleven years, Sutton taught in the Jazz Studies Department at the University of Southern California. In 2008 she became the Vocal Department Chair at Los Angeles Music Academy in Pasadena, California.
She has recently also been performing in a trio format with flautist Hubert Laws and guitarist Larry Koonse.
* Official site
Blue
Tierney Sutton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I've been to sea before
Crown and anchor me or let me sail away
Hey blue, there is a song for you
Ink on a pin underneath the skin
An empty space to fill in
Well, there's so many sinking now
You've got to keep thinking
Acid, booze and ass
Needles, guns and grass
Lots of laughs, lots of laughs
Everybody's saying that Hell's the hippest way to go
Well, I don't think so but I'm gonna take a look around it though
Blue, I love you
Blue, here is a shell for you
Inside you'll hear a sigh, a foggy lullaby
There is your song from me
The song "Blue" by Tierney Sutton is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to the color of sadness, the sea, and the power of music. The opening line "Blue, songs are like tattoos" compares the staying power of a song to the permanence of a tattoo. The singer has "been to sea before" and is looking to be anchored by the color blue or to sail away. The use of crown and anchor is a reference to the game of chance played on ships where a sailor would bet his wages against the crown or the anchor.
The singer speaks directly to blue as if it were a person, telling it that there is a song for it. The ink on a pin refers to a tattoo needle and the empty space to fill in could be either a blank canvas for tattoos or the emptiness within a person that can be filled by music. The line "there's so many sinking now" is a commentary on the state of the world and a call to keep thinking and trying to make it through.
The song goes on to list different vices such as acid, booze, and ass, and the imagery is shocking yet playful. Despite the darkness in the lyrics, the singer insists that "lots of laughs" are to be had. The chorus "Blue, I love you" is reaffirmed and the singer offers a shell with a foggy lullaby inside, a final gift to blue from the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue, songs are like tattoos
The color blue reminds me of how songs get stuck with us and stay as permanent as tattoos.
You know I've been to sea before
I have experienced rough times before and have been through difficult situations.
Crown and anchor me or let me sail away
Either give me direction and purpose or let me go free to find my own way in life.
Hey blue, there is a song for you
This is a song dedicated to the color blue, to convey my emotions and feelings.
Ink on a pin underneath the skin
Memories and emotions can be engraved deep within us and remain with us forever, like ink under our skin.
An empty space to fill in
We all have gaps or voids that we try to fill with love, emotions and experiences.
Well, there's so many sinking now
Many people in the world are lost and struggling, looking for guidance or a way out.
You've got to keep thinking
We must remain optimistic and keep our thoughts positive to stay afloat in difficult times.
You can make it through these waves
We have the strength and resilience to overcome challenges and rise above difficulties in our lives.
Acid, booze and ass
These vices and temptations can lead us astray and distract us from what truly matters in life.
Needles, guns and grass
These tools and substances can be used for good or bad, depending on how they are wielded and consumed.
Lots of laughs, lots of laughs
We can find joy and happiness in life, even amidst moments of darkness and uncertainty.
Everybody's saying that Hell's the hippest way to go
People often glorify dangerous and self-destructive behavior, thinking it's trendy or cool.
Well, I don't think so but I'm gonna take a look around it though
I don't subscribe to this ideology but I'm willing to explore and understand it to broaden my perspective.
Blue, I love you
This is a message of affection and appreciation for the color blue.
Blue, here is a shell for you
As a gift, I'm giving you something that represents the ocean and the essence of the color blue.
Inside you'll hear a sigh, a foggy lullaby
If you listen closely, you'll hear the tranquil and soothing sound of the sea, like a hazy melody.
There is your song from me
This is my way of expressing myself and sharing my emotions with you through music.
Writer(s): J MITCHELL
Contributed by Skyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.