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.
Maryland
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been thinking I've been thinking too much
I just want to live now for a little while
And cast my dreams to the wind
Don't want to wonder
Don't want to wonder what it's all about
I'm just working for a living singing with my friends
Maryland, I'm coming home
Never worry about what I did wrong
And that I'll never be what my daddy wanted me to be
And I'll never see what my mama's dreams were
But I will sing
La la la la la la la la...
I want to fly
I want to fly down the highway to my home away from home
This funky funky club on Fairfax Avenue to see you
I'll never give up
Because what is there to give up anyway
I'm just working for a living working for my pay
In Maryland it's raining somewhere in some cafe
Maryland, I'm coming home
Never worry about what I did wrong
And that I'll never be what my daddy wanted me to be
And I'll never see what my mama's dreams were
But I can sing
La la la la la la la la...
The opening lines of Vonda Shepard's "Maryland" express the desire to stop overthinking and worrying about life and to simply live in the moment for a while. The singer wants to cast their dreams to the wind and enjoy life without questioning what it is all about. They're content to work for a living and enjoy singing with their friends, presumably in a band or musical group.
The chorus of the song finds the singer declaring their intention to return to Maryland, where they feel most at home. They're not concerned about what they did wrong in the past or about not living up to their parents' expectations. They're simply focused on singing and living their life how they see fit. The song ends with the singer expressing a desire to fly back down the highway to the cozy club in Maryland where they can continue to perform and live their life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been thinking
I've been pondering and dwelling on things lately
I've been thinking I've been thinking too much
I've been overthinking and need to relax
I just want to live now for a little while
I want to enjoy the present moment
And cast my dreams to the wind
And let go of my aspirations
Don't want to wonder
I don't want to question and speculate
Don't want to wonder what it's all about
I don't want to be burdened with existential thoughts
I'm just working for a living singing with my friends
I'm supporting myself by performing music with my companions
As I cast my dreams to the wind
While I disregard my ambitions
Maryland, I'm coming home
I'm returning to my birthplace
Never worry about what I did wrong
I won't stress over past mistakes
And that I'll never be what my daddy wanted me to be
And I won't live up to my father's expectations
And I'll never see what my mama's dreams were
And I'll never know my mother's aspirations
But I will sing
But I will use my voice
La la la la la la la la...
To make music with nonsensical syllables
I want to fly
I want to experience great freedom
I want to fly down the highway to my home away from home
I want to drive quickly to my beloved venue
This funky funky club on Fairfax Avenue to see you
This trendy club on Fairfax Avenue to visit you
I'll never give up
I won't quit
Because what is there to give up anyway
Because there's nothing worth renouncing
I'm just working for a living working for my pay
I'm simply laboring to earn a wage
In Maryland it's raining somewhere in some cafe
In Maryland, it's raining in a cafe somewhere
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GG-mh9of
I've been thinking
I've been thinking I've been thinking too much
I just want to live now for a little while
And cast my dreams to the wind
Don't want to wonder
Don't want to wonder what it's all about
I'm just working for a living singing with my friends
As I cast my dreams to the wind
Maryland, I'm coming home
Never worry about what I did wrong
And that I'll never be what my daddy wanted me to be
And I'll never see what my mama's dreams were
But I will sing
La la la la la la la la...
I want to fly
I want to fly down the highway to my home away from home
This funky funky club on Fairfax Avenue to see you
I'll never give up
Because what is there to give up anyway
I'm just working for a living working for my pay
In Maryland it's raining somewhere in some cafe
Maryland, I'm coming home
Never worry about what I did wrong
And that I'll never be what my daddy wanted me to be
And I'll never see what my mama's dreams were
But I can sing
La la la la la la la la...
@seane2388
By far one of my favourite Vonda Shepard songs! She is without a doubt one of the most talented female singer songwriters. Her paino playing is up there with Elton John! 💜
@gupndors
This song is part of the soundtrack to my life and in my all time top ten. Beautiful woman, stunning voice and I play her music almost daily as I drive to work and home. Thank you vonda for keeping me company so many hours of my life. A great talent.
@natez9738
This song has been special to me since I first heard it as a teenager. Even more so now that parts of it reflect my life in some funny ways.
@layne_aic
I feel in love with a wonderful man when this album came out. It's all I listened to at the time. Wonderful road trip memories. ❤
@thompo9603
Still wonderful 🫠
@blairbrown4812
It's always nice to hear the Old Homestead mentioned in a positive manner on a global platform.👍❤
@DeltaV2TLI
Vonda you are a priceless treasure. Beautiful and talented. If Helen of Troy was the face that launched a thousand ships your talent would launch ten times that many.
@meloniegeorge3310
As beautiful today as when I 1st heard it on my way home from the Lilith Festival! 😍
@Jonnymorton20
divine voice divine character divine women.
@lazp
Love this so much!