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.
I Can't Help Myself
Vaughan Penn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lookin for favorite jeans, lookin for my favorite jeans
You were gonna take me out, where we used to go
Every Friday night around the corner I used to meet you
How I wish we were right there, right now
[Chorus:]
I know what's wrong, I know what's right
And, I can't help, I can't help myself
I realize just what I miss every time I feel like this
Cause you and me need to be together
I can't help myself
You were wild and I was too
Cause I was really into you
You were really into me
We used to get real high on each other
When we'd go flying in your car
I swear we'd chase the moon down
Til the sun came up
[Chorus]
Cause I was really into you
I can't help, I can?t help
I can't help myself
Lookin for my favorite jeans
[Chorus]
Cause I was really into you
The lyrics of Vaughan Penn's song "I Can't Help Myself" convey the singer's yearning for a past relationship. The singer begins by searching for their "favorite jeans," a likely symbol for their former self, as well as their youth and happiness. They then express a desire to revisit a particular location they used to frequent with their ex-partner. The chorus then declares the singer's feelings of being pulled between what they know is right, and what their emotions are compelling them to do. The second verse emphasizes the intensity of the relationship, with both parties being "wild" and "into" each other, conveying the sense of them being almost intoxicated by each other's presence. The repeated 'can't help myself' throughout the song can be interpreted in two ways - as a plea to their ex-partner to come back, or as an acknowledgment that they are unable to resist the pull of these emotions and memories. Either way, the song poignantly captures the agony of nostalgia and love that lingers beyond the end of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I looked in my closet, I looked in my drawer
I searched through my closet and drawers
Lookin for favorite jeans, lookin for my favorite jeans
Specifically, I was looking for my favorite jeans
You were gonna take me out, where we used to go
You had plans to take me to our usual spot
Every Friday night around the corner I used to meet you
We would meet every Friday night at a location nearby
How I wish we were right there, right now
I am nostalgic and longing for the past
I know what's wrong, I know what's right
I have a clear understanding of morality
But I know how I feel tonight
However, my emotions are overwhelming me at the moment
And, I can't help, I can't help myself
Despite my knowledge, my feelings are too powerful for me to resist
I realize just what I miss every time I feel like this
In these moments, I fully comprehend what I am missing
Cause you and me need to be together
I firmly believe that we need to be in each other's lives
You were wild and I was too
We were both adventurous and daring
We used to get real high on each other
Being with each other was a euphoric experience
When we'd go flying in your car
Driving around in your car was a thrilling experience
I swear we'd chase the moon down
We felt like we could achieve anything together
Til the sun came up
We would stay up all night enjoying each other's company
Cause I was really into you
I had strong feelings for you
Lookin for my favorite jeans
Again, I was searching for those specific jeans
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GEORGE WEISS, HUGO PERETTI, LUIGI CREATORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind