Vanessa's sixth studio album, Love Is An Art, releases on March 27th, 2020 through Dine Alone Records.
Vanessa's fifth studio album, Liberman, was released on October 23 2015, through Dine Alone Records. It marks her first release since signing with Dine Alone Records. The title of the album comes from an oil painting made by Carlton's late maternal grandfather, whose given surname was "Liberman".
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Vanessa Carlton first began playing the piano as a toddler, continuing on an artistic road with her attendance at the School of American Ballet in New York, a path she would eventually abandon in favor of songwriting. She re-embraced the piano and began performing in bars and clubs across Manhattan. While studying at Columbia University, Carlton was signed to Interscope Records, but made her formal debut on A&M under veteran producer Ron Fair.
Her debut album in April 2002, Be Not Nobody, resonated with audiences of all ages world-wide, especially the hit piano single “A Thousand Miles,” which reached the Top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart, #1 in Australia, and Top 10 in the UK. Carlton went on to earn 2003 Grammy nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist (“A Thousand Miles”). The album witnessed global success, reaching Gold status in over 10 countries, and Platinum status in Asian territories, such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Her second album Harmonium (2004), which yielded the single “White Houses,” continued to inspire an increasingly loyal global fan base and garnered some the best reviews of her career.
Her record release in 2007, Heroes & Thieves “might be my first thematic record,” Carlton says, adding that the songs reveal themselves like chapters in a book, one that fans can crack open (Vanessa has often explained during her live shows that the second single from "Heroes & Thieves" entitled "Hands On Me" is the second chapter to the album). Paying homage to the area of Manhattan where most of its songs were written, the first single off of the 2007 record, appropriately dubbed “Nolita Fairytale,” is a syncopated, upbeat piece that paints a dramatic musical landscape. “ That song is really about finding joy in unexpected environments. How sometimes losing things makes you realize what you have, which is like a quasi fairytale,” says Carlton. Heroes & Thieves was recorded in the San Francisco studio of Third Eye Blind founder Stephan Jenkins and the Los Angeles studio of producer/songwriter Linda Perry.
Vanessa's fourth studio album, "Rabbits On The Run" was released on July 26th, 2011. Material for this album was produced by Steve Osborne (U2, B-52’s, KT Tunstall), and was recorded in the UK at Peter Gabriel's well-renowned Real World Studios.
Speaking with Songfacts about the lead single Carousel in a 2011 interview, Carlton explained that she wrote the song in a dream where the "da na na na na" tune was floating around.
Other facts:
Vanessa's uncle is jazz musician Larry Carlton.
In 2003, Vanessa portrayed Dusty Springfield on the television show "American Dreams" on Heartache (episode #1.14) and performed a cover of the song "Wishin' And Hopin'".
One of Vanessa's touring guitarists, Ari Ingber, (other than being credited as a group vocalist on "More Than This) is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band The Upwelling. Ari also co-wrote the song "About to Break" from Third Eye Blind's "Ursa Major".
One of Vanessa's touring bassists, Jon Evans, (other than being credited as bassist on Heroes & Thieves and bass guitarist on Third Eye Blind's "Ursa Major") is part of the band Redfish, Bluefish and has also performed with Tori Amos.
One of Vanessa's touring guitarists, Mark Beauchemin, (other than performing with Vanessa on the song "More Than This (Campfire Take)" for the album "Songs For Tibet - The Art of Peace") used to be part of the band SR-71 and currently has his own band.
Besides having Stevie Nicks do backing vocals on her song "The One" and Stephan Jenkins (of Third Eye Blind) do backing vocals on select songs on Heroes & Thieves, Vanessa has made several contributions to works of other artists and bands including: Vocals on the song Big Yellow Taxi with Counting Crows; backing vocals on the song Moving On by Kimya Dawson; piano on the song Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime by Zucchero; vocals on the song M A K E L O V E T O M E with 7 Aurelius; co-writing 3 songs with The Matrix; Providing vocals on the various artist compilation song "Put A Little Love", created for a Gap clothing company campaign which also featured Al Green, Melissa Etheridge, Kelly Rowland, Stephan Jenkins, Ginuwine, Musiq, Heather Headley and Gavin DeGraw; Providing vocals and piano on the various artist compilation song "Love Revolution", a cover of Lenny Kravitz's song, created for a Kohl's clothing company campaign which also featured Avril Lavigne, Lenny Kravitz, Plain White T's and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; Performing live with artists/bands including a cover of Elton John's song "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" with Elton John's band, duets with Shlomo, Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra, Stevie Nicks, Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows and backing vocals on select songs with Counting Crows.
Vanessa is credited with providing piano on the track "Company" and backing vocals on "Faster" from Third Eye Blind's album "Out of the Vein".
Vanessa is also credited as being a performer on The Upwelling's debut album "An American Stranger" which Stephan Jenkins also produced.
The Marching Line
Vanessa Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't slip on the leaves
Smile at the strangers
Won't know what you mean
Clouds like cathedrals
Night hits the sea
And I walk to the high light
Storms sounding out like an overture
It's time to join the marching line
Take back your list
You don't know what love is like
A bullet in the chest
And I never say yes
Never known a day without a quiet regret
So I walk to the high light
Ships gonna take me at midnight
Storms sounding out like an overture
It's time to join the marching line
Leave it all behind, and join the
Marching line and there's no captain
Who calls "what's your name?"
An army of one
It's just me and a drum
Do you know a love like a bullet in the chest?
Ships on gray seas
Waves keep the time like my heartbeat
It's an overture
It's time to join the marching line
Leave it all behind and join the marching line
"The Marching Line" is a beautiful song by Vanessa Carlton that resonates with the listener on a personal level. The lyrics are about embarking on a journey and leaving the past behind. The singer walks on concrete, carefully avoiding the leaves, smiling at strangers, and taking in the beauty of nature, including the clouds that look like cathedrals and the night that hits the sea. The use of imagery in these lyrics creates a vivid picture of a person in motion, walking toward a brighter future.
The song's chorus is a call to join the marching line and leave everything behind. The singer is taking back their list and is unsure about what love truly is, having only experienced it as a bullet in the chest. They are ready to move on, leaving behind any regrets or hesitation they may have. The ship will take them at midnight, and the storms surrounding them are like an overture, dramatizing the journey that lies ahead.
Overall, "The Marching Line" is a beautiful metaphor for leaving behind the past and moving forward with strength and resolve. It encourages the listener to take that step towards self-discovery and personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Boots on concrete
I am walking on the street
Don't slip on the leaves
Be careful not to fall on the leaves
Smile at the strangers
I am trying to be friendly and open
Won't know what you mean
People may not understand or appreciate my kindness
Clouds like cathedrals
The clouds look majestic and impressive, like a cathedral
Night hits the sea
The darkness of the night is reflected on the sea
And I walk to the high light
I am drawn towards the light, both literally and figuratively
Ships gonna take me at midnight
I am leaving at night on a ship
Storms sounding out like an overture
The thunderstorm sounds like an overture, signaling a beginning
It's time to join the marching line
It's time for me to move forward and take action
Take back your list
Reclaim control over your life and desires
You don't know what love is like
You don't understand the intensity and complexity of love
A bullet in the chest
A metaphor for the pain of love
And I never say yes
I am cautious and guarded with my heart
Never known a day without a quiet regret
There is always something to regret or reflect upon in life
Leave it all behind, and join the marching line
Forget the past and take action towards the future
Marching line and there's no captain
You are in charge of your own life and direction
Who calls "what's your name?"
No one is asking for your identity or background
An army of one
I am independent and self-sufficient
It's just me and a drum
I am starting a journey with only my own willpower and determination
Do you know a love like a bullet in the chest?
A rhetorical question asking if you've experienced the pain of love
Ships on gray seas
The ship is navigating through rough waters
Waves keep the time like my heartbeat
The rhythm of the waves mirrors the rhythm of my own heartbeat
Leave it all behind and join the marching line
Emphasizes the theme of moving forward and taking action
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VANESSA CARLTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind