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.
Looking For Something
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
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When you're leaving all you had 'cause your love has run dry
Is there a good way to be a bad girl
When you're taking all that's given from the world
Is there a good way to move ahead
Without selling out your soul for some water or some bread
Is there a good way to learn your lesson and stay alive
[Chorus]
I've been looking for something all of my life
Maybe in some other city I'll see the light
Is there a good way to say goodbye
To this fantasy world, to this lie
Is there a good way to get out before you're jaded
I need to find a good way to say goodbye
Is there a good way to say goodbye
[Chorus]
I've been looking for something all of my life
Maybe in some other city I'll be alright
Is there a good way to leave him alone
When you find his love just hits too close to home
Is there a good way to deny everything you thought you needed
I need to find a good way to say goodbye
Is there a good way to say goodbye
[Chorus]
I've been looking for something all of my life
Maybe I'll find somebody who'll make things alright
I've been looking for something all of my live
Maybe in some other city I'll be alright
I've been looking for you
The lyrics to Vonda Shepard's "Looking For Something" speak to the difficulties of letting go of what was once cherished, and moving on to something new. The first verse specifically talks about the pain of leaving a relationship that has run its course, and the feeling of being alone after everything has been taken away. The second verse touches on the struggle of finding success without sacrificing one's morals, and the fear of being jaded. The chorus, reiterated throughout the song, emphasizes the search for fulfillment and the hope that it may be found somewhere else. The final verse brings up the struggle to let go of someone who is too close, and the realization that maybe what was once thought to be necessary, really wasn't.
The song is ultimately about the search for something more in life, and the difficulties that come with it. It is a common theme in many songs, but Vonda Shepard's voice gives the lyrics an extra layer of emotion and depth. The musical arrangement is also worth noting, with its mellow and slightly melancholic tone complementing the lyrics perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there a good way to say goodbye
Is it possible to part ways respectfully and compassionately?
When you're leaving all you had 'cause your love has run dry
When your relationship crumbles due to the exhaustion of love, leaving behind everything you built together.
Is there a good way to be a bad girl
Is being a rebel without a cause and taking what you want from the world a respectable way of life?
When you're taking all that's given from the world
When you seize opportunities life offers you.
Is there a good way to move ahead
Can you progress without sacrificing your values for basic necessities?
Without selling out your soul for some water or some bread
Without compromising your identity and values for survival.
Is there a good way to learn your lesson and stay alive
Can you learn from your mistakes without jeopardizing your existence?
I've been looking for something all of my life
I am searching for a purpose or meaning in my life.
Maybe in some other city I'll see the light
Maybe a change in location will enlighten me with new ideas and emotions.
To this fantasy world, to this lie
To this delusion and falsehood I have fabricated for myself.
Is there a good way to get out before you're jaded
Can you escape a situation before it completely drains you of your vitality and enthusiasm?
I've been looking for something all of my life
I am searching for a purpose or meaning in my life.
Maybe in some other city I'll be alright
Maybe a change in location will make everything okay for me.
When you find his love just hits too close to home
When their love resonates too much with your own personal life.
Is there a good way to deny everything you thought you needed
Can you reject all that you believed you wanted without any regret or hesitation?
Is there a good way to leave him alone
Is there a way to abandon him without causing too much harm?
I need to find a good way to say goodbye
I need to find a respectful way to end things.
Maybe I'll find somebody who'll make things alright
Perhaps I will find someone who makes my life complete.
I've been looking for something all of my live
I am searching for a purpose or meaning in my life.
Maybe in some other city I'll be alright
Perhaps a change in location will improve my life.
I've been looking for you
I am looking for the person who makes my life whole.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: VONDA SHEPARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind