Teng’s musical style incorporates folk, pop, classical piano, and a cappella influences. She uses piano as her primary instrument and charges her lyrics with emotion, narrative, and personal history. Teng is a baseline alto but sings over a wide range.
Reaching the national spotlight at the end of 2002, pianist Vienna Teng had been an important part of the California singer/songwriter scene for a few years before then. A pianist since the age of five, Teng took piano lessons before moving on to improvisation. Writing feverishly throughout her youth, she eventually had a full album's worth of instrumentals by the age of 16.
Going to Stanford to further her education, she released an EP while going to school and recorded most of Waking Hour before she graduated. After releasing the record independently and taking it on the road with her, she scored an agreement with Virt Records and got national distribution in the fall of 2002. Comprised of many intimate songs that detailed the issues of a young adult, her music fell between the uptempo approach of Ben Folds and the theatrical chamber pop of Rufus Wainwright.
She followed up in early 2004 with the matured and critically acclaimed effort Warm Strangers, which charted on three separate Billboard charts. Touring with musicians like Joan Osborne, Shawn Colvin, and Patty Griffin over the years.
Teng next hooked up with producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Madeleine Peyroux) for her next album, Dreaming Through the Noise, issued in July 2006. That summer, she began to tour with Duncan Sheik and continued a heavy concert schedule throughout 2007.
After relocating from California to New York City in 2008, Teng began work on her fourth full-length album, Inland Territory, which was released on Zoë/Rounder in 2009.
Cannonball
Vienna Teng Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
there's still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
it's still a little hard to say what's going on
there's still a little bit of your ghost your weakness
there's still a little bit of your face i haven't kissed
that I can´t say what´s going on
stones taught me to fly
love, it taught me to lie
life, it taught me to die
so it's not hard to fall
when you float like a cannonball
there's still a little bit of your song in my ear
there's still a little bit of your words i long to hear
you step a little closer to me
so close that I can´t see what´s going on
stones taught me to fly
love, it taught me to lie
life, it taught me to die
so it's not hard to fall
when you float like a cannon..
stones taught me to fly
and love taught me to cry
so come on courage
teach me to be shy
cause it's not hard to fall
and i don't wanna scare him
it's not hard to fall
and i don't wanna lose
it's not hard to grow
when you know that you just don't know
The lyrics to Vienna Teng's song "Cannonball" tell the story of someone who is struggling to move on from a past relationship. The remnants of their former partner are still present, both physically and emotionally. The singer is unable to fully articulate what they are feeling and what is going on, which suggests that they are still grappling with their emotions.
The first verse describes the lasting impact that the former partner has left on the singer. Their taste is still in their mouth and their doubt remains, suggesting that the relationship left a bad taste in their mouth and made them question themselves. The second verse describes the close proximity of the former partner - they are like a ghost that the singer cannot shake. The repeated line "that I can't say what's going on" indicates that the singer is still struggling to understand their feelings.
The chorus of the song references flying and falling as metaphors for love and life. The stones that taught the singer to fly are a reference to the challenges they have faced and overcome. Love taught them to lie, and life taught them to die, implying that they learned to protect themselves and cope with loss. The floating cannonball represents the paradox of feeling light and free in love, but also vulnerable to falling.
The bridge of the song introduces the idea of courage and shyness, suggesting that the singer wants to move on but is afraid of getting hurt again. They don't want to scare off potential partners, but they also don't want to lose the chance for love again. The final line emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty and not knowing everything.
Overall, "Cannonball" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of moving on from a past relationship and learning to embrace vulnerability and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
there's still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
I still remember the way you used to taste
there's still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
I still have doubts about you and your intentions
it's still a little hard to say what's going on
I am still uncertain about the state of our relationship
there's still a little bit of your ghost your weakness
I still see your flaws and vulnerabilities, even though you're not here
there's still a little bit of your face i haven't kissed
There are still parts of you that I haven't fully experienced
you step a little closer each day
You are gradually becoming more involved in my life
that I can´t say what´s going on
But I still can't articulate what this all means
stones taught me to fly
I have learned to be strong and independent
love, it taught me to lie
But I have also learned to be deceitful and dishonest, especially in relationships
life, it taught me to die
I have experienced loss and grief, and have become aware of my own mortality
so it's not hard to fall
With all of this emotional baggage, it's easy for me to get swept up and fall for someone
when you float like a cannonball
Especially when you feel weightless and out of control, like a cannonball flying through the air
there's still a little bit of your song in my ear
I still hear echoes of your voice and the things you used to say to me
there's still a little bit of your words i long to hear
I still crave your attention and affection, even though it's not always healthy
you step a little closer to me
You keep coming closer, and I keep letting you in
so close that I can´t see what´s going on
Until I'm so deep in this that I can't even see what's happening anymore
and love taught me to cry
Despite all of the pain and heartbreak, I still believe in love
so come on courage
But I need to find the courage to be vulnerable and honest with myself and with you
teach me to be shy
To let go of my defenses and self-protective tendencies
cause it's not hard to fall
Because when you're caught up in love and emotion, it's not hard to lose yourself and fall completely
and i don't wanna scare him
But at the same time, I don't want to push you away
it's not hard to lose
I know that I am vulnerable and could easily lose you
it's not hard to grow
But at the same time, I know that growth and self-discovery are important and necessary
when you know that you just don't know
Even when you think you know everything, there is always more to learn and discover
Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
the deeliciousplum
This is such a beautiful rendition. Vienna's breathy tones are such a joy to listen to.
Johnna Jordan
I love Vienna and Damien. To have the two of them do a duet would be a dream of mine, but I will take what I can get. This is so beautiful!!!!!! Thank you for posting this.
hugsohugs
I have yet to find a song of Vienna Teng's that I did not fall in love with.
Jess Fuoco
I randomly picked this song from the recommended list when I was listening to one of her other songs, and I realised a couple of the lyrics sounded familiar, then the chorus came on and I smacked myself on the head and went "OH YEAH!".
genstar92
Beautiful :D
Laneperson13
all this time I thought it was "Storms taught to me to fly" don't see why it's stones but oh well :/
LilyRose91
Vienna Teng is great ♥
hiperson641
vienna and damien duo on this song, now.
FireofSekhmet
Hang on, are we sure this is in "Inland Territory"? Don't remember it being on my copy...
Laneperson13
there are so many covers on youtube s.s who wrote it originally??