Raised in Burlington, Vermont, Thibaud moved to Boston in 1987 to master his craft and pursue his dream. "When I first got there, the music scene was mostly alternative rock and more hardcore stuff. I would get mislabeled as a 'Country Act', but by the 1990's it diversified and there was room for more rootsy Americana stuff."
Todd's songs are a slice of what life is really like...the pains and pleasures, love lost and life reborn. Thibaud recorded two critically lauded albums for Doolittle Records, 1998's Favorite Waste of Time (produced by Bostonian musician Kevin Salem) and 1999's Little Mystery. Using songwriters like Elvis Costello, Neil Finn, and John Hiatt for inspiration, Thibaud built a sound that is entirely his own.
Anywhere
Todd Thibaud Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wave down to a friendly crowd, they're screaming nice and loud, but
I think they're hoping for a fall
I said I'm sorry more than twice, kept the conversation nice
But it never got me anywhere
You do the best to wait your turn, until the day you finally learn
That never gets you anywhere, not anywhere
I count my blessings on a napkin ring, there's a notch for everything
It's the story of my life, and it's getting more absurd
I said I'm sorry more than twice, kept the conversation nice
But it never got me anywhere
You do the best to wait your turn, until the day you finally learn
That never gets you anywhere, not anywhere
Somewhere between suicide and total bliss, I called for Providence
And I asked her for a ride, she found me on the Interstate
And with a final twist of fate, I watched her drive right by
I said I'm sorry more than twice, kept the conversation nice
But it never got me anywhere
You do the best to wait your turn, until the day you finally learn
That never gets you anywhere, not anywhere
I said I'm sorry more than twice, kept the conversation nice
But it never got me anywhere
You do the best to wait your turn, until the day you finally learn
That never gets you anywhere, not anywhere, not anywhere, not anywhere
The lyrics to Todd Thibaud's "Anywhere" seem to be describing a feeling of being stuck in a stagnant place in life. The singer compares themselves to an acrobat on a tightrope, walking it nice and tall, but feeling as though the audience is waiting for them to fall. They apologize repeatedly and keep the conversation "nice," but nothing seems to move forward. The singer reflects on the things they've accomplished and the blessings they've received, but it feels meaningless as they carve these achievements with a rusty knife. The song ends with a sense of desperation as the singer calls out for Providence and sees her drive right by, leaving them stranded and alone.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the way things are going. The singer feels trapped in a cycle of trying to be polite and accommodating but never getting anywhere. They are aware of the good things in their life, but they feel meaningless and not enough to propel them forward. The use of acrobat imagery suggests that the singer is aware of the risks inherent in their situation, but they keep going anyway.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel like I'm an acrobat, I work the wire act, and I walk it nice and tall
I feel like I'm always juggling things, handling situations with care and precision, and carrying myself with confidence
I wave down to a friendly crowd, they're screaming nice and loud, but I think they're hoping for a fall
I acknowledge those who support me, but deep down, I feel like they may want to see me fail
I said I'm sorry more than twice, kept the conversation nice, but it never got me anywhere
I apologized repeatedly and tried to keep things civil, but it didn't lead to any progress or resolution
You do the best to wait your turn, until the day you finally learn, that never gets you anywhere, not anywhere
You try to be patient and wait for your time, but eventually realize that it won't lead you anywhere
I count my blessings on a napkin ring, there's a notch for everything you thought that I deserved, and I carve it with a rusty knife
I try to appreciate what I have and the recognition I've received, but I have to carve it out for myself with a worn-down tool
It's the story of my life, and it's getting more absurd
This is a recurring theme in my life, and it's becoming increasingly ridiculous and hard to cope with
Somewhere between suicide and total bliss, I called for Providence and I asked her for a ride, she found me on the Interstate and with a final twist of fate, I watched her drive right by
In my darkest moments, I called upon some higher power to help me, but it didn't come through and I was left feeling helpless
That never gets you anywhere, not anywhere, not anywhere, not anywhere
The message is repeated to emphasize the futility of certain actions or mindsets
Contributed by Luke G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@toddthibaud
Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by. I do appreciate it.
@jessicafleisher9134
My friend used to cover this song, I have had it in my head for over 17 yrs. Absolutely love love love it. Poignant and on point metaphorically with my "wire act" of a life. Thank you for a song I've been singing for years, beautiful!
@toddthibaud
Thank you, Jessica! I really appreciate you letting me know. A very nice way to start my day!
@JBron15
Todd, Such a special song. I never get tired listening to it. Touches me, thanks!
@toddthibaud
I hope you'll forgive the incredibly late reply. There were several comments on my page that I missed for some reason. I'm sorry that yours was one of them. Thank you for listening! I'm so glad you like this song!
@tedmedley9584
Loving this music Todd!
@toddthibaud
Thank you Ted! I appreciate it.
@tedmedley9584
Are you ever coming to the Pacific NW?
@JasonHickerson1
Great song!
@toddthibaud
Thanks Jason! Appreciate you stopping by.