Rachael Yamagata - Little Life
I came across Rachael Yamagata when I was starting to get into Sara Bareilles. At the time, Rachael was touring with Sara, opening for her during her shows. Curious, I decided to check out Rachael’s songs, which I immediately took a liking to. Soon afterwards I bought Rachael’s album and have been listening to her ever since.
Rachael is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Virginia. She is one-third Japanese, hence the last name. Rachael’s music is pretty much folk-rock, often crossing over to pop. I had the pleasure of seeing her live and it was a real pleasant experience. Rachael was simply wonderful to the crowd, joking around and giving insight behind her songs. She even flirted with a few people, male and female alike (she was really tempted by a female in the crowded, which the crowd thought was pretty funny). One of my favorite songs by her is Little Life from her second and latest album, Elephants … Teeth Sinking Into Heart. The song is about a woman dying and Rachael wondering how she will be remembered. The track really captures what it’s like to watch a loved one die and have all of the anger, hurt, and uncertainty that ensues. If I’m not mistaken, Rachael said that she wrote the song with her stepmother in mind, who passed away during the making of her second album.
When all of this
Makes the news
Will they remember to tell it right
Or will devils make off in the night
Can you tell me why
I got so high as…. ??
As she lays in bed
In her piece of ground
Will they remember how
Blessed soul
Or just that she lost all control
Can you tell me why she had to die alone
And people wake up
People get movin’
There’s a life waitin’ here
Get up
People start doin’
There’s a life waitin’ here
When all our time
Spent away
We remember the loves of our past
Or just that love never lasts
Can you tell me why
This little life goes so fast
- moises
