Her singing talent has lent itself to a wide range of genres, although earlier works, such as 'Angel With a Lariat' and 'Absolute Torch and Twang' (the last of which won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance) were predominantly country, with hints of jazz and salsa. Later works, including Ingénue and All You Can Eat, were more pop-ish in execution. No matter the genre, all left her talent undeniable. She has since garnered four grammys and many other awards, and was even made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1996, Canada's highest civilian honour.
Outside Myself
k.d. lang Lyrics
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Covers my soul
My body's frozen and my heart is cold
And still
So much about me is raw
I search for a place to unthaw
Something in me
It veils my vision leaves my thoughts unclear
My eyes
From blue turn to grey
Hoping to mask what they say
I've been outside myself for so long
Any feeling I had is close to gone
I've been outside myself for so long
I have been
In a storm of the sun
Basking, senseless to what I've become
A fool to worship just light
When after all, it follows night
I've been outside myself for so long
Any feeling I had is close to gone
I've been outside myself for so long, so long
I've been outside myself for so long
Any feeling I had is close to gone
I've been outside myself for so long
The opening lines of k.d. lang's song, "Outside Myself," set a melancholic tone as she describes feeling frozen and cold on the inside. Her soul is covered in a thin ice, and despite her physical body, she feels numb and unfeeling. The imagery used in these lines highlights a sense of detachment from oneself, as if lang is an observer of her own life rather than active participant. She continues to admit that her emotions are raw and unfiltered, but she is looking for a way to thaw out and feel something again.
In the next verse, lang delves deeper into the source of her emotional numbness. She describes how her fear is crowding out her love and how this fear has clouded her thoughts, leaving her unsure of which direction to take. Her eyes, once blue, have turned grey as a way of concealing her emotions, but it also hides her vulnerability. The repetition of the line "I've been outside myself for so long" reinforces the idea of lang feeling disconnected and removed from her own emotions.
The chorus serves as a summary of lang's emotional state. She has been outside of herself for so long that any feelings she once had are almost gone entirely. The repetition of this line throughout the song highlights how lang continues to struggle with feeling detached and unable to connect with herself and the world around her.
Overall, "Outside Myself" is a poignant exploration of lang's struggle with emotional numbness and disconnection from her own life. The imagery she uses throughout the song underscores her feeling of separation from herself and others, leaving her searching for a way to reconnect.
Line by Line Meaning
A thin ice
My emotions and soul are frozen, fragile, and delicate, like a thin sheet of ice.
Covers my soul
My innermost being or essence is completely frozen, representing my inability to experience emotions and connect with others.
My body's frozen and my heart is cold
My physical and emotional state is completely numb and unfeeling due to prolonged isolation and detachment.
And still
Despite everything, I am still searching for a way to thaw myself and feel alive again.
So much about me is raw
There are still parts of me that are sensitive and vulnerable, despite my overall feeling of numbness and coldness.
I search for a place to unthaw
I am actively seeking a way to break free from my isolation and connect with others to rediscover my emotions and warm up my frozen heart.
Something in me
There is a part of me that is causing internal conflict and turmoil.
Broods love into fear
My desire for love and connection is being overshadowed and consumed by my fear of vulnerability and emotional pain.
It veils my vision leaves my thoughts unclear
My fear and confusion are affecting my ability to see things clearly and make decisions confidently.
My eyes
My physical eyes, which also represent my ability to see and perceive things emotionally.
From blue turn to grey
My emotional state is shifting from sadness (blue) to a lack of feeling or emotion (grey).
Hoping to mask what they say
I am deliberately hiding my true emotions and feelings behind a facade of numbness in order to protect myself from being vulnerable.
I've been outside myself for so long
I have been emotionally and physically detached from myself and others for an extended period of time.
Any feeling I had is close to gone
I am struggling to remember what it feels like to experience emotions and connect with others.
I have been in a storm of the sun
I have been caught in the midst of a destructive and tumultuous environment that is draining me of my life and energy, even though it is supposed to be a source of light.
Basking, senseless to what I've become
I have been absorbing the negativity and damage of my surroundings without realizing how it has changed me for the worse.
A fool to worship just light
I have been foolishly believing that superficial sources of happiness and positivity will fulfill me and solve my problems.
When after all, it follows night
In reality, the sources of light and positivity are fleeting and temporary, and will eventually give way to darkness and negativity.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: K. D. LANG, BENJAMIN MINK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind