Fitzsimmons was raised in the outskirts of the steel city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the youngest child of two blind parents. Due to the family's inability to communicate through normal visual means, Fitzsimmons' childhood home was filled with a myriad of sounds to replace what eyes could not see. The house was suffused with pianos, guitars, trombones, talking birds, classical records, family sing-a-longs, bedtime stories, and the bellowing of a pipe organ, which his father built into the house with his own hands.
When his father's orchestral records were not resonating through the walls, his mother would educate him on the folk stylings of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel. By the completion of his youth and schooling, Fitzsimmons had become well-versed at a variety of instruments, at the minor expense of social standing, interactional skills, and a knowledge of proper shaving technique.
Fitzsimmons' path into music was likewise unusual, forsaking the hobby for many years to work with the mentally ill and pursue an education in the field of mental health. It was during his last semester of graduate school that William pooled money from past birthdays, holidays, and snow shoveling outings, and bought cheap home recording equipment to begin creating songs again (the first collection of which eventually became his debut album).
After finally achieving his goal of becoming a practicing therapist, William left, and returned again to his love of crafting and playing songs. He felt that is where he most belonged. Somewhere between a singing therapist, and a counselor who writes songs, is where Fitzsimmons endeavors to be. Using songs to address matters that he believes need to be addressed.
William draws from those early folks stylings of his mother's music, and the embellished instrumentation of his father's. He is often compared to contemporaries Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, and the late Elliott Smith, not only for his unique style and skill in writing and proclivity to deal with substantive and evocative subject matter, but also for his use of organic and colorful melodies and arrangements.
His first two records were completely self-produced, Until When We Are Ghosts and Goodnight. Fitzsimmons' friend Ingrid Michaelson joined him with vocals on Goodnight.
The Sparrow And The Crow, was his first studio recorded work, released in September 2008. The album debuted extremely well at #56 on the iTunes Top Albums Chart, and #1 on the iTunes Folk Chart.
While his lyricism deals often with darker undertones (The Sparrow and The Crow album was written following his divorce), a measure of hopefulness is always carefully blended in.
William candidly expresses the process of making The Sparrow And The Crow as follows: “I wrote it first and foremost as a confession and apology to my former wife. It was a way to say things that I needed her to hear that I didn't know how else to say. Second, as a way to exercise the pain from what I'd easily call the worst year of my life. And third, as a way to let others in pain have a way to express and deal with their trouble, and perhaps find some hope at the end of it. It's not a divorce record, or even a “break up" record in the traditional sense, although certainly it contains elements of both. Instead, it's a record about messing up everything, and trying to find a way back home." - AllAboutJazz.com 9/2008His latest album, Derivatives, a novel remix of The Sparrow and The Crow, was released in May 2010 through Mercer Street Records to strong reviews. Pink Ganter's remix of the song So This Is Goodbye is a critic favorite. Also of note, Fitzsimmons covers Kate Perry's I Kissed A Girl, called "a brave move, but a move that completely pays off." by TheFourOhFive.com's Leah Henson. More from Henson's review:
Before a second of music is played, Derivatives is already a fascinating album. The very idea of the delicate, heartfelt and evocative melodies of the previous album from William Fitzsimmons, The Sparrow and the Crow, being re-imagined and remixed to give them a positive spin is an idea that could possibly have terrible repercussions. Fortunately, the remixes are tastefully done and don’t squeeze every bit of essence from the original songs. Instead of unrecognisable songs being created, as so often is the way with remixes, Derivatives is an assembly of songs developed beautifully, creating a continuation from the songs on The Sparrow and the Crow. Electro blips, synths and heavy basslines now accompany Fitzsimmons’ mournful voice, adding to the songs rather than removing key elements from them. ... The intriguing thing about this album is the fact that the songs can be enjoyed on various levels. For a William Fitzsimmons fan who has listened to The Sparrow and the Crow and knows every little nuance of each song, Derivatives is a continuation, welcomed with open arms. - TheFourOhFive.com 5/2010With his expanding tenure as a songwriter, William has received mentions in noted publications such as Billboard, Paste Magazine, Pitchfork, Performing Songwriter Magazine, AllAboutJazz.com, among others. Fitzsimmons' music has been featured on several television programs such as Grey's Anatomy and Army Wives.
Fitzsimmons' music is available on iTunes and from his web store and myspace page.
Goodnight
William Fitzsimmons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you packed my lunch for wednesday's shift, i laid out my clothes
i took my time to say goodnight before you closed your eyes
the hallway light reveals how you were taking up my side
that dress you wore is faded to the ivory that remains
the frame of wedding pictures looks ten years out of date
the toaster's been replaced since we even thanked them for the thought
what about now she says to herself and what about now?
what about now she says to herself, she says to herself.
the council of the wise can be the only way you go
(aunt gina cleansed)? in alcohol will somehow let us know
your mom and dad were right to tell us maybe we should wait
yet ten years down the road it seems maybe it's too late
what about now she says to herself and what about now?
what about now she says to herself she says to herself
goodnight
goodnight
i wish you'd stay
i wish you'd stay
The lyrics to William Fitzsimmons's song “Goodnight” exude bittersweet emotions, as they speak to a relationship that has grown stale over the years. Fitzsimmons sings about the mundane things that couples do, like watching TV, packing lunches, and getting dressed for work, but in doing so, he also points out the ways in which the relationship has lost its spark. The dress his partner wears is faded, their wedding photos are out of date, and the last time they kissed, she was checking the clock. At the same time, he is wrestling with the realization that it may be too late to fix things. The council of the wise may be the only way to go, and perhaps they should have listened to their parents' advice to wait.
As the song progresses, the phrase “what about now” becomes a refrain, and it seems to reflect both a desire for change and a fear of it. The repetition of “she says to herself” emphasizes the loneliness and isolation that the singer feels within the relationship. The final lines of the song, “goodnight, goodnight, I wish you’d stay, I wish you’d stay,” are heartbreakingly poignant, as the singer tries to hold onto what he knows is slipping away. Overall, the lyrics of “Goodnight” capture the complicated emotions that come with the dissolution of a long-term relationship, as well as the struggle to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night we watched our favorite tv shows
We spent time together doing something we both enjoy
you packed my lunch for wednesday's shift, i laid out my clothes
We care for each other and help out with practical tasks
i took my time to say goodnight before you closed your eyes
I value our time together and want to cherish it
the hallway light reveals how you were taking up my side
We are close and share a deep connection
that dress you wore is faded to the ivory that remains
Things change and time goes by, but memories remain
the frame of wedding pictures looks ten years out of date
Our relationship has been going on for a long time
the toaster's been replaced since we even thanked them for the thought
Small changes can accumulate over time
the last time that we kissed, i saw you checking out the clock
Our relationship may not be as strong as it used to be
what about now she says to herself and what about now?
She is questioning the state of their relationship at present
the council of the wise can be the only way you go
Sometimes it's helpful to seek advice from others
(aunt gina cleansed)? in alcohol will somehow let us know
Others may have insights about our relationship that we don't
your mom and dad were right to tell us maybe we should wait
We may have rushed into this relationship too quickly
yet ten years down the road it seems maybe it's too late
It may be difficult to fix what has been broken for so long
goodnight
Saying farewell for now
i wish you'd stay
Expressing a desire for closeness and connection
Contributed by Jayce E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Regularb519
I love this song, despite its sad meaning. So raw, yet completely innocent at the same time.
@pauliefromphilly
Took forever but I wasn't giving up finding this song
@danraul9759
2020 😁
@jfrohll10101
Great song full of meaning big fan
@nedplimptonzissou98
Very soothing, I really enjoy the lyrics too. Well done!!!
@lilnemwest
Perfect. awesome. so beatiful.
@PoetlaureateNFDL
This is a great song!
@TheDrivingRoom
Calming song
@winukomi
so nice!!
@Kenzie282
Very cute.