Vonda Shepard was born in New York but her family relocated to California when she was fairly young. She played piano from an early age. Her father is Richmond Shepard, a mime and improv actor. Vonda has three sisters: Rosetta, Luana, and Brianna. Her mother left the family when Vonda was ten, and her father raised the four girls by himself.
After performing as a backing singer for many years she was eventually given her own recording contract. Shepard's first chart appearance was in 1987 when she recorded a duet with Dan Hill entitled 'Can't We Try'. She released her first self-titled album in 1989 with little fanfare. The album did yield one chart single, Don't Cry Ilene, a mid-tempo, piano-driven jazz-RnB flavored song dealing with the break-up of a relationship between a black woman and a white man, arising from adult peer pressure. The track is sung from the perspective of the woman's white female friend, who harbors a desire to have the man for herself, but keeps her distance out of respect for her friend. The song peaked at 17 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary chart and stayed on the charts for 12 weeks.
After her third album, Shepard was signed up to appear on Ally McBeal after being spotted by the show's creator David E Kelley. While on the show she recorded two full soundtrack albums and was featured on two other Ally McBeal compilations. The songs Shepard recorded for Ally McBeal soundtrack albums were mainly covers of old songs with lyrics that paralleled what was happening in the title character's life onscreen. Since appearing in the show, Shepard has released two more studio albums and a live album.
Shepard is married to music producer Mitchell Froom and they had their first child, Jack Froom, on 15 April 2006.
Like a Hemisphere
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He sees what I'm needing and he gives me love without my pleading
I see where his worries lie and I help him to decide
He sees what I'm missing, that sometimes I need to be alone, but sometimes I need him to listen
Like a hemisphere he surrounds me with a wisdom that astounds me
Like the horizon, he draws my eye to him and he makes me see just how lonely I have been
I know what he's asking, in our love there ain't no masking, no disguise
I know what he's after, it's the truth and the laughter
Why can't we see in ourselves, all the beauty we see in everybody else?
Like a hemisphere he surrounds me with a wisdon that astounds me
Like the horizon, he draws my eye to him and he makes me see
Like a radio he calls out to me in the middle of the night
Like a hemisphere he is perfectly clear and he makes me see just how lonely I have been
I don't want to go through this life just getting by, I want to fly
I don't want to go through this life not asking why
I need to know why we are here, we are here together now
I don't want to go through this life just to die
Well, you made me see just how lonely I have been
Like a hemisphere he surrounds me with a wisdom that astounds me
Like the horizon, he draws my eye to him and makes me see
Like a radio he calls out to me in the middle of the night
Like a hemisphere he is perfectly clear and he makes me see just how lonely I have been
The lyrics to Vonda Shepard's song "Like a Hemisphere" describe the connection and understanding between two people in a relationship. The first verse depicts how one partner is able to perceive what the other needs without having to ask, and vice versa. They understand where each other's worries lie and support each other's decisions. The second verse speaks to the level of intimacy between the two, how they can read each other's thoughts and feelings without any pretense or deception. The last verse expresses a desire to truly live and understand the purpose of our existence, and how being with this person has made the singer realize how lonely she has been without them.
The title of the song is a metaphor that refers to how the partner surrounds the singer with a sense of clarity and understanding that "astounds" her, much like the way a hemisphere surrounds the earth. The horizon and radio metaphors similarly emphasize the idea of the partner drawing the singer's attention and making her see things in a new way.
Line by Line Meaning
He sees what I'm lacking and he tells me without attacking my life
My partner identifies areas where I need to improve and communicates them kindly
He sees what I'm needing and he gives me love without my pleading
My partner is attuned to my emotional needs and provides support without me having to ask
I see where his worries lie and I help him to decide
I understand my partner's concerns and am a source of advice and guidance for him
He sees what I'm missing, that sometimes I need to be alone, but sometimes I need him to listen
My partner recognizes when I need space versus when I need emotional support and listens to me accordingly
Like a hemisphere he surrounds me with a wisdom that astounds me
My partner's insights are so astute that it feels like I am enveloped by his intelligence
Like the horizon, he draws my eye to him and he makes me see just how lonely I have been
My partner is so compelling that he attracts my attention and makes me realize how much I have missed having him in my life
He knows what I'm thinking without a sign, without blinking my eyes
My partner intuitively understands my thoughts and needs without any overt communication
I know what he's asking, in our love there ain't no masking, no disguise
My partner and I communicate honestly with one another, without hiding our true intentions or feelings
I know what he's after, it's the truth and the laughter
My partner values honesty and humor in our relationship
Like a hemisphere he surrounds me with a wisdon that astounds me
My partner is so wise that it feels like I am enveloped by his intelligence
Like the horizon, he draws my eye to him and he makes me see
My partner captivates my attention and helps me see things in a new light
Like a radio he calls out to me in the middle of the night
My partner reaches out to me when I need him, even late at night
Like a hemisphere he is perfectly clear and he makes me see just how lonely I have been
My partner's insights are so clear and direct that they make me realize how much I was missing before I met him
I don't want to go through this life just getting by, I want to fly
I don't want to live my life passively - I want to reach for my dreams and achieve my full potential
I don't want to go through this life not asking why
I want to have a sense of purpose and meaning in my life
I need to know why we are here, we are here together now
I am searching for a deeper understanding of the meaning of life, and I find solace in being with my partner in this journey
I don't want to go through this life just to die
I want to make the most of my time on earth and have a fulfilling existence
Well, you made me see just how lonely I have been
My partner has helped me realize how much I was missing before I met him, and for that I am grateful
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind