I don't really write story songs, I write about how we deal with life." Tod… Read Full Bio ↴I don't really write story songs, I write about how we deal with life." Todd Thibaud pronounced (Tee-bo) has released his fourth solo record, "Northern Skies" under the 95North label in March 2005.

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.

On My Own Again
Todd Thibaud Lyrics

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On My Own Again

Here?s a secret that they never tell
The old illusion I bet you know it well
And those sympathetic eyes don?t even cast a spell anymore on me

They say the good times might run their course
So hail the future and bury the remorse

?Cause time rolls by with legendary force but it won?t take me

I?m gonna give everything just one last goodbye
I?m gonna begin myself under northern skies
I?m gonna believe my heart and sanctify my soul
I?m gonna tell everyone, I?m gonna be on my own again

You think it?s in you but it never shows
Is that the real thing or just another pose?
And the wine goes down like water to a rose for me tonight

I?m gonna give everything just one last goodbye
I?m gonna begin myself under northern skies
I?m gonna believe my heart and sanctify my soul
I?m gonna tell everyone, I?m gonna be on my own again

And the blood that?s racing in my heart
Burns your hands, it burns your hands
And the one that?s tearing it apart never cared, she never cared

And the wine goes down like brandy to a fire
And a last request was never my desire but it might be time

I?m gonna give everything just one last goodbye
I?m gonna begin myself under northern skies
I?m gonna believe my heart and sanctify my soul

I?m gonna tell everyone, I?m gonna be on my own again
I?m gonna tell everyone, I?m gonna be on my own again

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Todd Thibaud's song "On My Own Again" introduce a secret that is supposedly never told. This is followed by an allusion to an old, familiar illusion that is known by the listener. The sympathetic eyes mentioned in the lyrics, meant to cast a spell on the singer, have ceased to have any effect on him or her. The narrative highlights that times, both good and bad, will pass, but the future must be embraced without regret. Although time moves with legendary force, it has no strength to take away the singer's drive and spirit.

In the chorus, Thibaud sings about pulling away from anything that distracts his heart's desire. He speaks of saying goodbye once and then re-establishing a connection under northern skies, believing his heart, and sanctifying his soul. It's obvious that he is determined to be free of anything that keeps him from being emotionally engaged and, in the end, separate from anyone else who may hold him back. The wine and brandy flowing throughout the song are metaphors for the pleasure and pain of love, and the songwriters pave the way for an emotional climax with this lyrical device.

Line by Line Meaning

Here?s a secret that they never tell
A fact that is not usually shared or discussed

The old illusion I bet you know it well
A deception that most people have experienced, and are well-versed in identifying

And those sympathetic eyes don?t even cast a spell anymore on me
Even compassionate glances from others no longer have an effect on me

They say the good times might run their course
It is rumored that periods of enjoyment may come to an end

So hail the future and bury the remorse
Welcome what is yet to come and leave behind regrets from the past

?Cause time rolls by with legendary force but it won?t take me
Although time can be incredibly powerful, it will not defeat me

I?m gonna give everything just one last goodbye
I will say farewell to everything I have known

I?m gonna begin myself under northern skies
I will start anew in a different part of the world

I?m gonna believe my heart and sanctify my soul
I will trust my instincts and become a better version of myself

I?m gonna tell everyone, I?m gonna be on my own again
I will inform others that I am choosing to be independent

You think it?s in you but it never shows
Others may believe that you possess certain qualities, but they are not apparent to those around you

Is that the real thing or just another pose?
Is this an authentic representation of oneself or merely an act?

And the wine goes down like water to a rose for me tonight
Drinking alcohol is easy for me tonight, like water flowing to a flower

And the blood that?s racing in my heart
The passionate emotions that are coursing through my body

Burns your hands, it burns your hands
It is so intense that it could potentially harm others

And the one that?s tearing it apart never cared, she never cared
The person responsible for causing these intense feelings did not care about me

And the wine goes down like brandy to a fire
Drinking alcohol feels like pouring gasoline onto a fire

And a last request was never my desire but it might be time
Although I did not want this in the past, it may now be appropriate to ask for something for myself

I?m gonna tell everyone, I?m gonna be on my own again
I will inform others that I am choosing to be independent

Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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