In LA, she made a living working on movie sets and television shows while honing her songwriting skills, performing her original music, and learning life's lessons. While in LA, she caught the attention of high profile publishers and was also nominated for Acoustic Artist of the Year by the National Academy of Songwriters.
She made her way to Nashville and began focusing on her music career and songwriting full time. In Nashville, she found another love, recording. "I had a studio in the basement of the house where I lived so I got comfortable working anytime I felt inspired. I had no pressure to be creative so the muse really flowed. I started assigning all the parts I heard in my head to the different instruments on the tracks. I developed a passion for orchestration, overdubs, and the vast choices of melodies that can work together. Producing gives me more room to be creative on a multi-faceted level."
She was invited to perform at MIDEM, the world's largest independent music festival in Cannes, France. From there, she toured Europe and promoted her self-produced recordings compiled on her first release, "The World's Alright." It was distributed and supported by MD Records, one of Scandinavia's most successful independent labels. "Eye for an Eye" served as a catalyst to generate airplay and build a respectable Scandinavian fan base. Critics from leading newspapers in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway loved the recordings and gave the record outstanding reviews. As a result of the sudden notoriety, she was asked to be a featured artist and perform live on the very popular primetime talk show in Norway, Vera Vera.
Back in the US, she continued to write fervently, this time with more of a pop-rock feel that led her back into the studio to begin recording. She spent the next few years as a writer and producer and had the privilege of co-producing some of her songs with Ben Keith (musician and producer for Neil Young and Jewel's "Pieces of You").
After spending four years focusing on writing and recording, Vaughan has returned to the place that it all began, the stage. It seems to be the most natural and obvious progression for Vaughan to really come into her own and show people what she is truly made of. Vaughan has created her own unique brand of folk-pop-rock music that combines meaningful songwriting with strong, positive messages and a powerfully melodic sound; which is a rare thing these days in music. With strong rhythmic textures, interesting chords and memorable orchestrations her songs scream out "Hit Song" when you hear them, while all at the same time, they pour out pure emotional honesty; both musically and lyrically.
Hey You
Vaughan Penn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Hey you
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Wait for me
That's what you asked me to do
Pray for me
That's what I did
You could have had most anything you wanted
But you didn't know what you wanted
[Chorus:]
You did a lot of livin' to get here
Now what 'cha gonna do with your life?
I know the world might have hurt you
But two wrongs don't make it right
Time is spinnin' by
Oh my my
This time you could fly
Hey you
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Hey you
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Cause you're way too nice
Oh I've been tellin' you that for years
You carry the weight of the world on you
And you sacrifice yourself
Always tryin' to find the answers
In the name of love
Don't worry about it now
Everything's gonna be alright
Cause now there is more to you on the inside
[Chorus]
But you hold it all inside you
Looking for something to blame
And you're holding back the anger that is running through your veins
But one day you'll understand it all
Cause it's not your fault
No it's not your fault
You're a lucky girl
Not many people get a second chance
Much less all the chances that you do
They love you
They love you
I swear that they love you
They love you
They love you
I swear they love you
Hey you
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Hey you
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Now that you're here at my door
The song “Hey You” by Vaughan Penn has a very straightforward message about making the most of your life. The song starts off with the lyrics “Hey you, what 'cha gonna do with your life?”. The opening lines set the overall tone for the music that is about to be heard. The singer of the song is asking a person what he or she intends to do with their life. The person whose life is being questioned is someone who has experienced a lot of pain and suffering, and has been through a lot of difficult situations.
During the chorus, the singer tells the listener that they have “done a lot of living to get here”, and that they have to now think about what they want to do with their lives. The song urges the listener to make the most out of their lives and not to be held back by their past experiences. The song continues to encourage the listener to take action, and to not let their past experiences hold them back from achieving their goals.
Overall, “Hey You” is a powerful song that encourages people to take control of their lives and make the most out of their experiences. The singer of the song tells the listener that they have the power to create their own destiny, and that they should not let their past hold them back.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you
Asking the listener what their plans are for their future
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Further emphasizing the need for the listener to consider their future
Wait for me
Asking the singer to be patient in their friendship/relationship
That's what you asked me to do
The listener has requested that the singer hold on and not move forward without them
Pray for me
The listener has asked the singer to pray for them
That's what you said
The listener explicitly requested the singer to pray for them
That's what I did
The singer fulfilled the listener's request by praying for them
You could have had most anything you wanted
The listener had many opportunities to obtain what they desired
But you didn't know what you wanted
Despite having many options, the listener did not understand their true desires and goals
[Chorus:]
The start of the chorus
You did a lot of livin' to get here
The listener has experienced a lot to reach their current point in life
Now what 'cha gonna do with your life?
Reiterating the need for the listener to determine their future plans
I know the world might have hurt you
The listener may have endured hardships and struggles
But two wrongs don't make it right
Reminding the listener that revenge or negative actions will not solve their problems
Time is spinnin' by
Time is passing quickly
Oh my my
Emphasizing the fleeting nature of time
This time you could fly
The listener has the potential to achieve great things and excel
Cause you're way too nice
The listener is a kind and caring person
Oh I've been tellin' you that for years
The singer has been emphasizing the listener's kindness for a long time
You carry the weight of the world on you
The listener takes on a lot of responsibility and burden
And you sacrifice yourself
The listener puts others before themselves and give up their own needs
Always tryin' to find the answers
The listener is constantly searching for answers and solutions
In the name of love
Their search is driven by love
Don't worry about it now
The singer wants the listener to stop worrying
Everything's gonna be alright
Reassuring the listener that everything will work out
Cause now there is more to you on the inside
The listener has grown and developed on a personal level
[Chorus]
The second chorus repeats the message of the first
But you hold it all inside you
The listener hides their emotions and feelings
Looking for something to blame
The listener is searching for someone or something to hold responsible
And you're holding back the anger that is running through your veins
The listener is suppressing their anger and frustration
But one day you'll understand it all
The listener will eventually comprehend their situation
Cause it's not your fault
The listener is not to blame for the circumstances they find themselves in
No it's not your fault
Further emphasizing that the listener is not responsible for their hardships
You're a lucky girl
The listener is fortunate in many ways
Not many people get a second chance
The listener has been given an opportunity to start anew
Much less all the chances that you do
The listener has multiple chances to succeed and improve their life
They love you
Many people care deeply for the listener
I swear that they love you
The singer is certain of the love and support the listener receives
Hey you
Repeating the initial line, directing attention back to the listener's future plans
What 'cha gonna do with your life?
Final plea for the listener to reflect on their future goals and ambitions
Now that you're here at my door
Referencing the listener's physical presence and the urgency to decide their next steps
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind