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.
Walk Away Renee
Vonda Shepard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lot we used to pass by every day
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
You're not to blame
From deep inside the tears I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain I chose to hide
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it cries
Your name and mine inside a heart upon a wall
Still find a way to haunt me though they're so small
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it cries
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blame
In Vonda Shepard's version of "Walk Away Renee," the singer is telling Renee to move on with her life, to leave everything behind and not look back. When the singer sees the sign that points one way, she remembers the lot they used to pass by every day, and she tells Renee to walk away from it all. She won't follow Renee back home. The empty sidewalks on her block are not the same. While she acknowledges that she does feel pain, it is not Renee's fault. The tears she is forced to cry come from deep inside, and the pain she chose to hide is also her own doing.
The rain beats down upon the singer's weary eyes, and for her it cries. She remembers when her name and Renee's were written inside a heart upon a wall. Though it is a small reminder, it still manages to haunt her. She again tells Renee to walk away; she won't follow her back home. The empty sidewalks on her block aren't the same as they used to be, but she knows that Renee is not to blame.
Overall, "Walk Away Renee" is about letting go of someone or something that you thought would be in your life forever, but has now gone away. The singer expresses a sense of loss and nostalgia, but ultimately knows it is time to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
And when I see the sign that points one way
When I come across the sign that directs me to move on with my life
The lot we used to pass by every day
The site we walked past all the time
Just walk away Renee
Please go away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
I won't come after you
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
The lonely streets in my neighborhood are different now
You're not to blame
You aren't responsible for the way I feel
From deep inside the tears I'm forced to cry
I can't help but cry from the sorrow deep within me
From deep inside the pain I chose to hide
I concealed my hurt for far too long
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
The rain falls heavily, making my eyes tired
For me it cries
It feels like the rain is weeping on my behalf
Your name and mine inside a heart upon a wall
Our names combined with a heart symbol is graffiti on a wall
Still find a way to haunt me though they're so small
It continues to torment me, even though it's a small reminder
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Tony Sansone, Bob Calilli, Mike Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
myriley15 Daisyantonio
LyricsAnd when I see the sign that points one way
The lot we used to pass by every day
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blame
From deep inside the tears that I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain that I chose to hide
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it cries
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it cries
Your name and mine inside a heart upon a wall
Still finds a way to haunt me, though they're so small
Just walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blame
Scooby Doo
Walk Away ReneeBy The Left BankeAnd when I see the sign that points one way
The lot we used to pass by every dayJust walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blameFrom deep inside the tears that I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain that I chose to hideJust walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it criesJust walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
Now as the rain beats down upon my weary eyes
For me it criesYour name and mine inside a heart upon a wall
Still finds a way to haunt me, though they're so smallJust walk away Renee
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my block are not the same
You're not to blameSongwriters: BOB CALILLI, MIKE BROWN, TONY SANSONE
reknujrm
One of my favorite songs!!! Different covers...doesnt matter. Love the instinctive harmonies. I do love the earthiness of this version...great job....thanks!
Kilian Russell
Brilliant guitar work coupled with that perfect voice gives one of the best covers of this classic track....
Jay Adler
I have not seen Vonda in awhile but I am sure when I see her she will be the top shelf recording artist she always will be, she is a gem.
Jim Wood
Very nice version of this great song. Plus, I believe that Vonda 'feels' it. Few covers achieve this.
Gold Hunter
Nice job, both vocals and instruments. Not an easy song to cover. You nailed it. Thanks.
fedtho
That unmistakable voice instantly sends me back to AllyMcBeal, a show that had a huge impact on me (was supposed to be a "girl" thing, so I didn't tell too many people how much I loved it... ;-) )
When I saw Vonda did a cover of this, I had my doubts - I'm not that much of a fan - but I'm quite impressed. She sounds more authentic here than in many of the AllyMcBeal covers or her own songs written for the show.
This is a true performer doing a convincing, soulful and original cover of what has been rendered by so many great artists. She pulls it off, and makes me want to listen to more of her solo work!
Great upload, thanks!
A Basco
glad you told us :)
Carol perara
Me too!!
Michael Nielsen
✔✔✔Just the same her 😙
Trinidad Apodaca
i use to watch that. good music