The Wilson sisters and Phillips were friends from childhood, growing up in southern California in the 1970's and 1980's. The three shared a love of music and songwriting, and developed their own style of vocal harmonies. In 1989, producer Glen Ballard and SBK Records signed the trio to a record deal.
Wilson Phillips released their debut album Wilson Phillips in 1990. They shot to fame with their debut single, the # 1 hit "Hold On". The album was a hit, producing three number one singles and selling 10 million copies worldwide.
They released their follow-up album Shadows and Light in 1992. It was much less successful, producing no top ten singles and selling one million copies. Shortly after, the group decided to split up.
During the next decade, the group went their separate ways. Chynna Phillips released a solo album, "Naked and Sacred" in 1995, while the Wilson sisters released a Christmas album in 1993 and an album "The Wilsons" in 1997. Carnie also went on to host her own television talk show, while Phillips married actor William Baldwin. A "Greatest Hits" album was released in 2000, although the group did not officially reunite for this release. Carnie made headlines in 1999 when she underwent gastric bypass surgery live on the internet and lost over 20 dress sizes.
Wilson Phillips reunited in 2004 to release California, an album of cover songs. A single, 'Go Your Own Way,' a remake of the original by Fleetwood Mac, peaked at #13 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The album debuted at #35 on the charts with 31,000 copies sold but due to the lack of promotion the album has yet to reach sales of 100,000 copies. In New Zealand the album was a surprise hit, reaching the top 10 and amassing gold sales following 'Go Your Own Way' topping the adult contemporary radio chart for several weeks.
Where Are You?
Wilson Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But somehow, it feels like I'm pretending
Visions of my younger years, they are buried
But the scenes that play inside of me, are impending
They are never ending...
[Chorus]
Where, where, where, where, where are you?
You can just come back to yourself, you can come back to this world.
Where are you? Tell me who heard you. And where are you?
He led me into his room, and had me lay down
My heart, and my soul, and anything else that you could own,
When you're six years old.
But now I'm older
[Chorus]
Such a quiet secret, it hurt too much trying hard to keep it.
Oh, and I looked up to you... I wanted so much to believe in you.
I wanted so much for you to believe it me.
Oh I tried, I tried.
Where, where, where, where, where are you?
You don't have to look out anymore.
I don't have to look out of that window anymore.
I can just, come back to myself, I can come back this world
Where are you? Tell me who heard you? And where are you now?
Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?
Tell me who hurt you.
The lyrics to "Where Are You?" by Wilson Phillips speak to the emotional scars left by childhood trauma and the struggle to come to terms with those experiences as an adult. The singer is reflecting on their past and how it feels like they are pretending to be a grown-up when they still carry the weight of their younger years. Despite burying those memories, the scenes continue to play out in their mind, haunting them endlessly.
The chorus repeatedly asks "where are you?" and "tell me who heard you?" which could be interpreted as a cry for help or a desperate plea for someone to acknowledge and validate their pain. The second verse references a traumatic experience where the singer was taken advantage of at a young age, leading to the loss of their innocence and trust in the person who hurt them. The pain was so intense that it became a "quiet secret," but the singer looks up to this person and wants desperately for them to believe their story.
Overall, the song resonates with anyone who has gone through a traumatic experience and is struggling to come to terms with it. The lyrics offer a glimpse into the inner turmoil of someone trying to heal and move forward, but feeling trapped in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm all grown up
I am an adult now
But somehow, it feels like I'm pretending
However, it seems like I am acting or not being authentic
Visions of my younger years, they are buried
Memories of my childhood are hidden
But the scenes that play inside of me, are impending
The memories keep coming back to me
They are never ending...
And they seem to go on forever
Where, where, where, where, where are you?
I want to know where you are
You don't have to look out that window, anymore.
You do not have to constantly look for something/someone anymore
You can just come back to yourself, you can come back to this world.
You can focus on yourself and come back to reality
Where are you? Tell me who heard you. And where are you?
Where are you now? Who knows what happened to you? And where are you physically at this moment?
He led me into his room, and had me lay down
He took me to his room and made me lie down
My heart, and my soul, and anything else that you could own,
He took everything that I possessed, including my emotions and spirit
When you're six years old.
This happened when I was very young
Such a quiet secret, it hurt too much trying hard to keep it.
It was a painful secret that was hard to keep to myself
Oh, and I looked up to you... I wanted so much to believe in you.
I respected and admired you, and wanted to trust you
I wanted so much for you to believe it me.
I wanted you to believe my story/experience
Oh I tried, I tried.
I did my best to make you believe me
Where are you? Tell me who heard you? And where are you now?
Where are you physically? Who else knows what happened? And where are you mentally now?
Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?
Again, I ask where you are located
Tell me who hurt you.
Please disclose who caused you pain
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GLEN BALLARD, CHYNNA PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carolsanders3979
Love this song I always loved Wilson Phillips back in the '90s and I just recently watched China talk about something that was very serious and she talked about this song and so I had to find it and I did and I love it I knew I would though because anything they made I loved all their music and this is very close to my heart this is very something that touches my heart and I'm glad that they made a song like this I didn't even know they had this song and I always listen to their music it's up until just today that I realized they had this song LOL but I'm glad I found it.
@Muirmaiden
This song is about the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. It's a grown woman trying to reach out to and find the child she once was.
@matthewbolton1383
Absolutely LOVE this track. I haven't heard it for over 20 years!!! BRILLIANTLY performed, produced & arranged, and a powerful subject .....Had the CD of this album but long gone.
@Rightdie1
This and Flesh and Blood are two of my favorite songs! I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless Them. God Bless You All!
@Ashleynicole6593
I cry when i hear this song because it makes me think of my father. How can a father do that to a child, like he did to me.
@Shred_The_Weapon
This is a brilliant song, and it is both well written and well performed. I’m very proud of these gals for having opted in this context to attempt addressing social issues which could be “never ending”.
@Beepbopboh
Chyna's vibrato is in FULL effect in this song....sounds great, especially the line THEY ARE NEVER ENDING...always noticed that as a kid....
@rhymeandreasoning
i always felt a deep connection to this song in a lot of ways...no matter how older you get, the memories are always there...
@beljicko9842
THIS SONG IS GENIUS!
@lux4us
This is my favorite Wilson-Phillips track. As a father of three girls (now grown up), it brings me deep memories of their growing up into what they are now.