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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Wedding Song
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
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In them you are always standing
Right beside me
I reach out for your hand
To see your arms extending
outstretched towards me
For you I don the veil
Others pale by comparison
I place my faith in love
My fate in this communion
I've been having dreams and visions
In them you are always standing
Right beside me
I reach out for your hand
To see your arms extending
Outstretched towards me
To you I give my pledge
I honor all that's good
In this life we're living
To think not only of myself
But of the greater union
Can I get a witness
There is salvation and rapture for the lonely
Can I get a witness
Bless this day sacred and holy
Sacred and Holy
I've been having dreams and visions
In them you are always standing
Right beside me
I reach out for your hand
To see your arms extending
Outstretched towards me
With you I am revealed
All my shame all my faults and virtues
Behold body mind and spirit
Heart and soul devoted all to you
Can I get a witness
There is salvation and rapture for the lonely
Can I get a witness
Bless this day sacred and holy
Sacred and Holy
Tracy Chapman's "Wedding Song" is a moving and emotional love song about two people joining in a sacred union. The song is a beautiful expression of the love and commitment that exists between two people in a marriage. The first verse describes the singer's dreams and visions of her partner standing beside her and extending his arms towards her. The imagery in this verse is powerful and conveys a sense of unity and connection between the two lovers.
In the second verse, the singer dons a veil as a symbol of her commitment to her partner. She recognizes that their love is special and that it outshines all others. The singer places her faith in love, recognizing that it is the foundation of their relationship. The last two lines of this verse convey her willingness to sacrifice her own needs for the greater good of their union.
The chorus of the song expresses the singer's desire for witness and recognition of the sacredness of the day. She recognizes that this union is not just for her, but for those who are lonely and seeking salvation and rapture. Through her words, she seeks to bless the day as something sacred and holy.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been having dreams and visions
I've been imagining and hoping for something greater than myself
In them you are always standing
In these dreams and visions, you are always present and supportive
Right beside me
You are always there for me, closer than anyone else
I reach out for your hand
I ask for your support when I reach for something beyond my grasp
To see your arms extending
I am inspired by your encouragement and love
outstretched towards me
In my imagination, you offer me a way to feel secure and content
For you I don the veil
I commit myself completely to you
By your light
Because of your love and guidance
Others pale by comparison
No one else seems as significant or worthwhile
I place my faith in love
I believe that love can overcome any obstacle
My fate in this communion
I trust that our relationship will be fulfilling and long-lasting
To you I give my pledge
I promise to be faithful and devoted to you
I honor all that's good
I respect and hold in high esteem what is righteous and moral
In this life we're living
In the present moment, in our shared experience
To think not only of myself
To be selfless and considerate towards others
But of the greater union
To prioritize the well-being of our partnership and its future
Can I get a witness
Can someone else vouch for the truth of my feelings?
There is salvation and rapture for the lonely
Even those who feel alone can find redemption and joy in love
Bless this day sacred and holy
May this day be consecrated and pure
With you I am revealed
In your presence, I feel free to be my true self
All my shame all my faults and virtues
Without fear or insecurity, I can share with you all of my flaws and strengths
Behold body mind and spirit
See me in my entirety, not just my physical presence or my thoughts and feelings, but my very essence
Heart and soul devoted all to you
I offer you my whole being, completely and unreservedly
Sacred and Holy
Pure and divine, sanctified by our love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TRACY L CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind