In 1985, she signed to A&M Records, who released her debut album Union in 1988. She had previously provided backing vocals on David & David's album Boomtown. Later that year, she was nominated for two Grammy Awards, Best New Artist and Best Rock Vocal Performance (female). Her first national tour was opening for Bob Dylan. Her follow-up album House of Hope yielded a large hit in Australia with "I've Got To Go Now", but did not sell well in the US and was dropped from the A&M label. DGC Records, a subsidiary of Geffen Records, signed her and released her third album, The Woman's Boat. Although she was nominated for another Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance, the album sold poorly, and Childs was again left without a recording label. She recorded another album in 1996, but could not find a label to release it. Also in 1996, "The Very Best Of Toni Childs" was released, becoming the fifth biggest-selling album of 1996 in Australia. She retired from touring in 1997 after contracting a serious illness and starting the "Dream a Dolphin" charity. Childs released a song entitled "Because You're Beautiful", which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music & Lyrics in 2004. She has recorded a new album entitled Keep the Faith, which is expected to be released in Australia in 2006 and in the US and UK in 2007.
Sacrifice
Toni Childs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for an answer today
But though I cannot find some peace of mind
I know that I will be fine
As I find my way, to motherhood
Motherhood the question of a life
To be the window here into the world
It requires, that mother sit
And mother sow the wheat
And as the grain comes down
Mother surely feast
It's the story of the land
It's the heart
It's the soul of the man
It's the life
It's the god
It's the need
It's the life
It's the seed that we seek
But though I cannot find some peace of mind
I know that I will be fine
As I find my way
It requires, that mother sit
And mother sow the wheat
And as the grain comes down
Mother surely feast
It's the story of the land
It's the heart
It's the soul of the man
It's the life
It's the god
It's the need
It's the life
It's the seed that we seek
How can I turn it away?
How can I say no to what I am
The woman, the door, the woman
Now I sit with my child
Living out my life
I sit with my child
The sacrifice
The lyrics of Toni Childs's song "Sacrifice" convey a powerful message about the transformative nature of motherhood. The singer starts by expressing her search for answers and a sense of peace of mind under a tree, but she realizes that she will find fulfillment in motherhood. Motherhood is portrayed as a spiritual and elemental force that connects women to the land and to the cycle of life. The metaphor of sowing and harvesting wheat suggests that motherhood requires patience and nurturing, but also brings abundance and satisfaction. The lyrics emphasize the importance of the mother as a custodian of the land and the soul of the community.
The singer's decision to embrace motherhood is depicted as a sacrifice that requires a deep commitment and a sense of purpose beyond individual desires or ambitions. The word "sacrifice" has a double meaning here, as it can refer both to the act of giving up something for a noble cause and to the ritual offering of oneself to a higher power. The singer acknowledges the challenges of motherhood, but also the profound joy that comes from raising a child and being part of a larger cycle of life. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer has found her true calling and is content to sit with her child and live out her life, fully immersed in the experience of motherhood.
Overall, Toni Childs's "Sacrifice" celebrates the transformative power of motherhood and the spiritual connection between women, the land, and the cycle of life. It portrays the decision to become a mother as a heroic act of selflessness and devotion, and emphasizes the vital role of mothers as caretakers of the earth and the community.
Line by Line Meaning
I could be under a tree
I could be searching for answers in nature
Looking for an answer today
Seeking answers and direction
But though I cannot find some peace of mind
Struggling to find inner peace
I know that I will be fine
Confident in future outlook
As I find my way, to motherhood
Moving towards motherhood as a guiding force
Motherhood the question of a life
The ultimate life question: to be a mother or not
To be the window here into the world
Being the connection between life and the world
It requires, that mother sit
The important role of mothers in nurturing
And mother sow the wheat
Metaphor for the work of a mother to produce and care for the next generation
And as the grain comes down
Symbolic of the fruition of a mother's efforts
Mother surely feast
Celebrating the joys of motherhood
It's the story of the land
Reflecting on the history of motherhood as a cultural and social phenomenon
It's the heart
Motherhood is at the emotional center of many people's lives
It's the soul of the man
Centrality of motherhood in human civilization
It's the life
A celebration of life, particularly through motherhood
It's the god
Recognizing the divine aspects of motherhood
It's the need
Motherhood is a human need and desire
It's the seed that we seek
The starting point for life is motherhood
How can I turn it away?
Rhetorical reflection on how one could reject the desire for motherhood
How can I say no to what I am
Identifying the importance of motherhood as a core identity
The woman, the door, the woman
Referencing the connection between motherhood and female sexuality
Now I sit with my child
Celebrating the joys of motherhood
Living out my life
Embracing a life of motherhood
The sacrifice
Recognizing the sacrifices required for motherhood
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY SMYTH, TONI CHILDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Grenader
One of the best albums of the 90s. A masterpiece for all involved with added applause to David Bottrill for an exemplary production. I own the CD, but no longer have a player and i miss it. $22 for a digital download on the Child's site. That is crazy.
Ray Wright
Get yourself a cheap cd player my friend 😁
Peter Grenader
@Ray Wright i understand, but it's not the point. $22 for a digital download is ridiculous.
Ray Wright
@Peter Grenader I do agree. Digital downloads should be cheaper. For me, I prefer physical releases that include credits and lyrics. I like to see who the musicians are and the production crew
Peter Grenader
@Ray Wright I agree that "physicalness" is better, but we're not a majority here.