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.
sister
William Fitzsimmons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She stopped in for a spell
I found the true
Like she had always knew
She visits me
On Sunday afternoon
A firmament
Sister dressed in mourning hue
Fall to me sent of better rooms
Leave me in water colored plumes
And melodies
Traces of a girl that I once knew
In evening now
She shadowed in the grey
Her covenant
To slowly slip away
Oh sister dressed in mourning hue
Fall to me sent of better rooms
Leave me in water colored plumes
And melodies
Traces of a girl that I once knew
In William Fitzsimmons's song "Sister," the singer is describing the overwhelmed feeling he experiences when visited by his sister. He refers to her as "she stopped in for a spell" and discovers the truth he had always known but never fully realized until she arrived. The sister visits him on Sunday afternoons and is a kind of firmament or foundation in his life, someone whom he is comfortable with and welcomes into his room.
The sister is dressed in a mourning hue and the singer seeks to fall to her scent of better rooms. This might suggest that her presence is comforting to him because it reminds him of a time when things were better, such as before a loved one passed away. The sister seems to leave traces of melodies and water colored plumes, which could be an indication of her creative talents, or perhaps it's the creative influence that she has on the singer.
In the later part of the song, the sister is shadowed in the grey of the evening as she has made a covenant to slowly slip away. It's unclear what this means, but it could be interpreted as an impending departure, whether physical or emotional. Overall, William Fitzsimmons's "Sister" is a poignant reflection on the power of familial bonds and how certain people can have a profound impact on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm overwhelmed
Feeling completely overcome with emotion and thoughts.
She stopped in for a spell
She made a brief visit.
I found the true
I discovered the truth.
Like she had always knew
As if she had known it all along.
She visits me
She comes to see me.
On Sunday afternoon
During a particular time of the week.
A firmament
A steadfast and stable presence.
I welcome to this room
I invite her into this space.
Sister dressed in mourning hue
My sister is wearing clothes that symbolize grief.
Fall to me sent of better rooms
She brings with her the scent of nicer places.
Leave me in water colored plumes
The memories of her presence seem to linger in the air like a colorful mist.
And melodies
Her essence inspires a musical quality.
Traces of a girl that I once knew
She reminds me of a version of herself from the past.
In evening now
It is now nighttime.
She shadowed in the grey
She appears to be blending into the dreary environment.
Her covenant
Her promise or agreement.
To slowly slip away
To gradually depart.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MICHEAL EDWARD FLYNN, WILLIAM RICHARD II FITZSIMMONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Max-rx8ri
I can't even tell you how much I love you William, your music is like god sending an angel to sing and that's you!!
@skorepova2000
You have a beautiful voice, your songs are something amazing. I have no words..just wooow.
@annleane
One of my favorites.
@thomasolk5921
Thank You my master