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.
The Tide Pulls from the Moon
William Fitzsimmons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Father in the face and blood
Terrified and cold
And whispers
The coming of a cleansing flood
For you
You hide your
Still unseen and tied
What water
These killing hands could ever clean
Still you run
I want to be changed from
The shadow and the tomb
Like water rushing over us
The tide pulls from the moon
Your mother
The passing of a silver ring
Oversized and cold
This specter
Will walk the halls of every seed
From you
I want to be changed from
The shadow and the tomb
Like water rushing over us
The tide pulls from the moon
The tide pulls from the moon
The tide pulls from the moon.
The lyrics of William Fitzsimmons's song, "The Tide Pulls from the Moon" are evocative and emotional. The song explores themes of trauma, guilt, and the need for redemption. The opening lines of the song, "So like your father in the face and blood, terrified and cold," immediately signal that something traumatic has occurred. The following lines, "and whispers the coming of a cleansing flood for you," suggest that this trauma has been internalized and is affecting the singer's mental state.
The second verse paints a picture of the person who has experienced this trauma as someone who is hiding their "filthy hands" and running from their problems. The singer acknowledges that no amount of water can clean the person's "killing hands," but still longs for a change. The chorus of the song, "I want to be changed from the shadow and the tomb, like water rushing over us, the tide pulls from the moon," is a powerful metaphor for the need for a transformative experience.
The final verse of the song introduces the idea of generational trauma, with references to the "passing of a silver ring" and a "specter [that] will walk the halls of every seed." By the end of the song, the singer's longing for change has transformed into a desire for the next generation to experience healing and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
So like your
Father in the face and blood
You resemble your father both in appearance and lineage
Terrified and cold
And whispers
The coming of a cleansing flood
For you
You are frightened and apprehensive about a looming catastrophe that will wash away your sins.
You hide your
Filthy hands from all of us
Still unseen and tied
What water
These killing hands could ever clean
Still you run
You conceal your heinous deeds from society, but the guilt is still present. You recognize that regardless of how hard you try, your hands will always be stained with blood
I want to be changed from
The shadow and the tomb
Like water rushing over us
The tide pulls from the moon
The artist yearns for redemption and transformation, an escape from the darkness and morbidity. The ebb and flow of the tide, influenced by the moon, represent the cyclical nature of life and the possibility of renewal.
Your mother
The passing of a silver ring
Oversized and cold
This specter
Will walk the halls of every seed
From you
A silver ring, too large and unyielding to fit, represents an inheritance or legacy that imposes restrictions on future generations. The specter of this burden will haunt and affect all who come after it.
I want to be changed from
The shadow and the tomb
Like water rushing over us
The tide pulls from the moon
The tide pulls from the moon
The tide pulls from the moon.
The singer repeats his desire for a rebirth and deliverance, using the tidal forces as a metaphor for rejuvenation and revival.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lindarenninger5829
So like your
Father in the face and blood
Terrified and cold
And whispers
The coming of a cleansing flood
For you
You hide your
Filthy hands from all of us
Still unseen and tied
What water
These killing hands could ever clean
Still you run
I want to be changed from
The shadow and the tomb
Like water rushing over us
The tide pulls from the moon
Your mother
The passing of a silver ring
Oversized and cold
This specter
Will walk the halls of every seed
From you
I want to be changed from
The shadow and the tomb
Like water rushing over us
The tide pulls from the moon
The tide pulls from the moon
The tide pulls from the moon.
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: William Fitzsimmons
@Jurodrix
Everytime I listen to his songs, I close my eyes and imagine I'm in the passenger seat in a convertible driving on a beautiful road in the countryside, going nowhere, a nice breeze blowing my hair, the sun rays penetrating into a tunnel of trees, making shadows on the road... I dream... It's poetry! It's amazing!!!
@Octieve_San
so underrated and forgotten..
timeless tune
@BaseCreation
I found this song on the61 website 10 years ago... bookmarked it and had it since. Just came back to it to recall why I had saved it in the first place. Beautiful song.
@LycindaR
everything this guy does is gold. love his voice!!
@shantalamusic
Great voice, poetic lyrics, perfect vibe - definitely makes me want to hear more from him!!
@JesusGoesToTheGym
Dear William... You are a 'true artist'. I wish for your music to reach and touch as many lives as possible!!!
@emmapples
saw This Amazing man in Leeds on thursday, and he was kind enough to come out and chat and have his picture taken with us, and even signed some merch! his performance was as epic as his beard! such a lovely guy ! x
@Pillsline34
his sound is so whimsical... it makes me nostalgic
@aaronramsden1657
Such talent! Beautiful expression of musical genius.
@alinasin5
this is just...simply beautiful.