Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
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Paper and Ink
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
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Broke the surface of the water
Saw my true self
All illusions shattered
Money's only paper only ink
We'll destroy ourselves if we can't agree
How the world turns
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Sat down up close to the colored black hole
Like they'd always told me not to
Saw the one dimension polka dot pacifier
And all illusions shattered
Money's only paper only ink
We'll destroy ourselves if we can't agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Bared myself wholly heart and body unadorned
Stripped down solely
To the evil and the good
Felt no shame
Naked to the world
And all illusions shattered
Money's only paper only ink
We'll destroy ourselves if we can't agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Faced towards the sea
Looked to heaven up above
Felt the world revolve around me
No one could tell me otherwise
But the turbulent waters won't reflect this life
Only the sun the moon and sky
And all illusions shattered
Money's only paper only ink
We'll destroy ourselves if we can't agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece
Money's only paper only ink
In Tracy Chapman's song "Paper and Ink," the lyrics are a reflection on life and its significance in the grand scheme of things. The singer is confronted with their own image in the mirror and the reflection of the world around them. They come to the realization that everything is temporary and nothing is as it seems. They view money as simply paper and ink, and the struggles that humans have over it as a destructive force that could lead to our own downfall.
The use of imagery and metaphors in the song is compelling. The broken surface of the water and the colored black hole represent a breaking down of illusions and the acceptance of reality. The one dimension polka dot pacifier is symbolic for the idea that we are too easily distracted by material things that have no real meaning. The act of baring oneself physically and emotionally is the ultimate form of honesty, and the singer is not ashamed to show their true nature.
The final verse is a realization that no matter how important we think we are, the world will continue to turn without us. The turbulent waters symbolize the chaotic nature of life, and the sun, moon, and sky represent the steady forces of nature that are constant despite the struggles of humanity. The message is clear; we must focus on what truly matters in life, which is not material possessions, but rather the connections and experiences we have with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Touched the mirror
I peered into a mirror and touched it, breaking through the surface of the reflection.
Broke the surface of the water
I broke the surface of the water with my hand, revealing the true depths beneath.
Saw my true self
I saw my true self, stripped of any illusions or masks I may have been hiding behind.
All illusions shattered
I realized that all my beliefs and assumptions had been shattered, leaving me with a new and humbling perspective.
Money's only paper only ink
Money is nothing more than a physical representation of value, made of paper and ink.
We'll destroy ourselves if we can't agree
If we cannot come to a mutual understanding and find common ground, we risk tearing ourselves apart as a society.
How the world turns
The fundamental workings of the world around us are obscure and mysterious, beyond our full comprehension.
Who made the sun
Looking at the majesty of nature, one cannot help but contemplate the question of whether a higher power created the universe.
Who owns the sea
The ocean is vast and awe-inspiring, making us question who truly has the right to claim ownership over it.
The world we know will fall piece by piece
The world as we understand it is constantly changing and eroding, and we must adapt and evolve with it or risk being left behind.
Sat down up close to the colored black hole
I defied conventional wisdom and sat near a black hole, observing the beauty and terror of it up close.
Like they'd always told me not to
Despite being warned against it, I chose to ignore convention and expose myself to something new.
Saw the one dimension polka dot pacifier
I saw an object that challenged my perceptions of reality, and forced me to reconsider what I thought I knew about the world.
Bared myself wholly heart and body unadorned
I stripped myself of all pretenses and exposed my true self, emotionally and physically.
Stripped down solely to the evil and the good
I stripped away all the extraneous aspects of myself, leaving only my innate morality and ethics.
Felt no shame
I experienced no embarrassment or remorse about exposing myself in such a raw and authentic way.
Naked to the world
I laid myself bare and vulnerable to the world, with nothing to hide behind or protect myself with.
Faced towards the sea
I turned myself towards the vast and mysterious ocean, symbolizing my willingness to explore the unknown and challenge my preconceptions.
Looked to heaven up above
I gazed towards the heavens, searching for answers to the eternal questions of the universe.
Felt the world revolve around me
In this moment, I felt like the center of the universe, with everything revolving around me and my experiences.
No one could tell me otherwise
I was confident in my beliefs and my place in the world, and nothing could persuade me otherwise.
But the turbulent waters won't reflect this life
Despite my sense of self-importance, the churning and chaotic waters of the ocean did not care about my individual experiences or perspectives.
Only the sun, the moon and sky
The grandeur and vastness of nature dwarfs any individual human experience, reminding us of the limitations of our own power and control.
And all illusions shattered
This new realization and understanding completely shattered any illusions or false beliefs I may have had about my place in the world and my relationship to nature.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TRACY L CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind