There are a whole host of reasons why I like Indigo Girls as much as I do. Someone bought a CD of theirs once, on my recommendation, and said, "I expected much more than just two throaty-voiced women strumming guitars and singing, for all that you rave about them."
I said, "Mark. Did you *listen* at all? Not just to the music and the harmony (ed: and god, but the harmony can just be so soul-achingly beautiful sometimes), but to the lyrics? If not, then you're missing the point."
He was a convert, after that.
But, examples:
The paws of fear upon your chest, only love can soothe that beast. And my words are paper tigers, no match for the predator of pain inside her. 'Love Will Come To You'
Welcome me to the city of angels, devil prophets still hold my hand. I walked your stillborn streets for hours, ethnic echoes spitting out their trials. 'Welcome Me'
But the question drowns in its futility, even I have got to laugh at me. No one gets to miss the storm of what will be just holding on for the ride. 'The Wood Song'
You have spent nights, thinking of me, Missing my arms, but you needed to leave. Leaving my cuts, leaving my burns, Hoping I'd learn. 'Blood and Fire'
Really, the best way to experience any of these is to hear them--only reading the lyrics probably doesn't get the full effect.
I also admit that it doesn't have the same effect on everyone that it does on me. I've always been one of those people that finds meaning in song lyrics, though, so this particular field is ripe for the plucking...so to speak.
Plus, as mentioned, there's just the plain and simple fact that their voices meld together in such an achingly beautiful way. It's hard to describe, and it's even better live.
It's even better than *that* when you can go to a concert with one of your best friends on this earth, both of you singing to your hearts content (as you always did, when listening to this duo, with you taking the high parts and him taking the low)...and getting compliments from the people around you because of it.
Live music is always one of my best experiences. It just so happens that these ladies consistently put on one of the best shows that I've ever seen.
And now that I've rambled about *that*... I'll simply say that the concert was fucking amazing, and that just being there with Matt, just like old times, was probably one of the sweetest, most pleasurable moments of my life. Talk about being blessed by friendship. I don't know what I'd do without him.
Posted by Liz at November 19, 2003 09:15 PM