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.
Please Don't Go
William Fitzsimmons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scribbled all across the wall
Saying something bout the way that
You won't talk to us at all
And I don't believe your protest
That you swear you didn't know
How to even change a diaper
Please don't go
Please don't go
There were words you told my brother
How you never had the choice
To decide if you would father
Two rambunctious little boys
Please don't go
Please don't go
Now we're stuck in this together
And I don't think I can run
From the ties that you have started
From the sins that we've become
The lyrics of William Fitzsimmon's song Please Don't Go tell the story of a strained relationship between a father and his sons. The first stanza describes the bedroom, which is covered in words describing the father's absence and abandonment of his children. The second stanza touches on the father's excuses for not being present and involved in the lives of his sons. He claims that he was not capable of changing diapers or teaching his sons how to throw, but the singer does not believe him. The refrain of "Please don't go" is a plea for the father to stay, to not abandon them further.
The third and final stanza is a reflection on the current state of their relationship. The sons are now grown and cannot escape the impact of their father's absence and neglect. They are tied to this reality and the pain that it has caused them. The song is filled with the sadness and hurt of a parent-child relationship that has been damaged beyond repair.
Overall, Please Don't Go is a powerful plea for a father to reconsider his absence and the impact it has had on his children. Fitzsimmons' gentle voice and acoustic guitar complement the emotional weight of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
There are words inside my bedroom
My bedroom is filled with words.
Scribbled all across the wall
These words are hastily and messily written.
Saying something bout the way that
These words contain a message about
You won't talk to us at all
Your unwillingness to communicate with us.
And I don't believe your protest
I am doubtful of your claim
That you swear you didn't know
That you didn't realize.
How to even change a diaper
You didn't know how to perform basic parental duties.
Or to teach me how to throw
You didn't bother to teach me basic life skills.
Please don't go
I am begging you to stay.
Please don't go
I am pleading with you not to leave me alone.
There were words you told my brother
You spoke to my brother at some point.
How you never had the choice
You didn't have the ability to choose
To decide if you would father
Whether or not to take on parental responsibilities.
Two rambunctious little boys
Me and my brother.
Please don't go
I am still desperate for you to stay.
Please don't go
I can't stand the thought of you leaving.
Now we're stuck in this together
We are all in this situation, bound to each other.
And I don't think I can run
I am unable to escape this reality.
From the ties that you have started
From the connections and relationships you established.
From the sins that we've become
From the negative effects and consequences that we now face.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARL BELEW, W STEVENSON, W S STEVENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nagellacki
Im not sure what I feel when I hear his music. I would like to cry, and I want to smile. All the memories of the past, they come back and show me how everything has become so complicated these days.
@tiemenezesoliveira1737
well, if you though 9 years ago was complicated...
@jamaalmorris8107
I love when complete strangers are able to articulate a thought in my mind. It just goes to shows that we are all connected. And I hope everything you are going through makes you a better person in the long run.
@LjubaTv
This track is really quite brilliant. in a very understated way. Notice how many layers and details in the music...... besides the song itself being beautiful. The female vocal is also in balance. My fave part is 3:18-3:54. The drop out and the build....chills everytime.
@tokeepmeinsane
I was on my computer when this song started to play, without knowing where it came from. I WAS TOTALLY HYPNOTIZED, I COULDN'T THINK ANYTHING BUT THE SONG, I lost myself on it and when it finished, a tab appeared on my screen with his name and his song. THE MOST STRANGE AND WONDERFUL THING HAPPENED TO ME.
@ramses_is_numba_one
IM SO GLAD I FOUND THIS GUY Ive been in limbo for the last couple weeks, ive made up my mind
@davidwantsahug
I have only heard about five of William Fitzsimmons' songs so far and I can already tell he's going to be one of my favourite.
@TrittinsGesicht
How can someone put so much emotion into such a soft and gentle voice.
@NicoleHolt96
william fitzsimmons is so talented and his lyrics are so meaningful. i feel sorry for those who still have not discovered him and i know for a fact that i am lucky to have found him.
@Corimgn1982
This is possibly the best song i've ever heard... If I ever get married I want it to play at my wedding... or if I make it to paradise I want to hear it ; )