Vonda Shepard (born July 7, 1963) is a rock singer. She appeared regularly … Read Full Bio ↴Vonda Shepard (born July 7, 1963) is a rock singer. She appeared regularly in the television show Ally McBeal in which she played a resident performer at the bar where the show's characters drank after work. She plays piano, guitar, and bass.

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.

Roll In The Dirt
Vonda Shepard Lyrics

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I have built, built more bridges than I've burned, than I've burned
And I have helped, helped more people, than I've hurt, than I've hurt
But in my life, I'm still humbled by how little I have learned

You killed me baby, without pulling a trigger
You sold me darling, down the long and winding river

I have spent my lifetime seeking the truth

But I just wanna roll in the dirt of my youth

I have begged, begged forgiveness from a friend, from a friend
He doesn't feel, feel the urgency for our struggle, oh for it to end

You knocked me over, with a touch of a feather
You dragged me darling, through some treacherous weather

Oh darling when I'm feeling hurt
I just wanna roll in the dirt
I have spent my lifetime seeking the truth
But I just wanna roll in the dirt of my youth

You killed me baby, without pulling a trigger
You sold me darling, down the long and winding river

Oh darling when I'm feeling hurt
I just wanna roll in the dirt
I have spent my lifetime seeking the truth
But I just wanna roll in the dirt of my youth

I just wanna roll oh...

Overall Meaning

In Vonda Shepard's song, "Roll In The Dirt," she reflects on her life experiences, both positive and negative. She acknowledges that she has built more bridges than she's burned and helped more people than she's hurt, yet she still feels humbled by how little she's learned. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for something more primitive and simple. The line "I just wanna roll in the dirt of my youth" suggests that despite her accomplishments and knowledge gained over a lifetime, there is a part of her that yearns for the carefree days of her youth.

The song also touches on the pain caused by others. In the lines, "You killed me baby, without pulling a trigger, You sold me darling, down the long and winding river," she speaks to the hurt caused by someone she trusted. The line "You knocked me over, with a touch of a feather, You dragged me darling, through some treacherous weather" conveys a sense of betrayal and being pulled through difficult times by someone who was supposed to be there for her.

Overall, the lyrics of "Roll In The Dirt" capture a sense of disillusionment with life and a longing for a simpler, more carefree time. The song encourages us to reflect on our own experiences and to appreciate the positive relationships we have while learning to accept the negative ones.

Line by Line Meaning

I have built, built more bridges than I've burned, than I've burned
I have constructed more positive relationships than I have destroyed.

And I have helped, helped more people, than I've hurt, than I've hurt
I have provided assistance to a greater number of individuals than I have harmed.

But in my life, I'm still humbled by how little I have learned
Despite my experiences, I remain aware of how much I still have to learn.

You killed me baby, without pulling a trigger
Your actions have caused significant emotional pain for me.

You sold me darling, down the long and winding river
You have betrayed my trust and left me in a difficult situation.

I have spent my lifetime seeking the truth
I have dedicated my life to understanding reality.

But I just wanna roll in the dirt of my youth
Despite my search for knowledge, sometimes I yearn for the simplicity and spontaneity of my childhood.

I have begged, begged forgiveness from a friend, from a friend
I have pleaded with a companion to forgive me for a mistake.

He doesn't feel, feel the urgency for our struggle, oh for it to end
However, they do not seem to share my sense of urgency for resolving our difficulties.

You knocked me over, with a touch of a feather
Your seemingly minor actions have had a significant impact on me.

You dragged me darling, through some treacherous weather
You have taken me through a difficult and challenging experience.

Oh darling when I'm feeling hurt
When I experience emotional pain and distress,

I just wanna roll in the dirt
I feel a need to indulge in carefree, playful behavior.

I just wanna roll oh...
I simply desire to engage in this activity.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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