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Post by alikat on Mar 5, 2007 4:14:32 GMT -8
Since Nancy has recently posted the PBS Exclusive clip about this song, I thought that I'd post some comments on this. I know that in the PBS clip Martie says that the lyrics are something they cannot relate to, and yet in the AOL Music sessions, Natalie states that it is about one of the four songwriters, although this is a bit odd as both Linda Perry and Dan Wilson are listed as the writers along with the Chicks. Interestingly, though, Natalie also says that it is NOT about an ex, which would seem the obvious answer, so I'm a bit baffled about the meaning behind the lyrics of the song, especially as "I've got a husband and a child" doesn't seem to directly fit either Dan or Linda, who, I gather, is a lesbian. So I wonder whether the song may be written from the perspective of a third party? I have a possible theory, which I'm not going to post as it's probably well off the mark!! I know that Natalie says on AOL Music Sessions that it is one that they would prefer not to spell out, so I fully respect that, but wouldn't it just be nice to know the story behind the lyrics . I guess only a few people will ever know. On another note, I'm intrigued as to why, on the AOL Music Sessions, at the end of the track, something certainly seems to have amused Emily. It may have something to do with the fact that Natalie also says that, for those sessions, they have to go through all of the takes to find the one that Emily messed up the least on that song So, perhaps, that was the only take where Emily didn't play a bum note?! Finally, I'd just like to add that, on the first few listens of TTLW, this was not one of my favourite songs off the album. Now, however, it definitely is. I feel that Natalie's voice is absolutely exquisite on it (yes, I know that this can be said about most DCX tracks as well!) and the harmonies, especially on the 30 second or so "aah" in the middle of the track, are just heavenly.
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Lianne
Adult Chick
Posts: 1,234
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Post by Lianne on Mar 5, 2007 4:32:42 GMT -8
Someone else posted that they thought the song was about someone having an abortion or adoption..... when I went back and listened to the song after hearing that I tend to agree. It is a beautiful song and could have many meanings. I think it is one of the best and I wish they had played it at the shows!
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Post by alikat on Mar 5, 2007 4:44:50 GMT -8
Someone else posted that they thought the song was about someone having an abortion or adoption..... when I went back and listened to the song after hearing that I tend to agree. It is a beautiful song and could have many meanings. I think it is one of the best and I wish they had played it at the shows! Thanks for that, Lianne. In fact, while you were posting, I was searching previous posts and there is indeed one where there is a link which includes the following statement: "“Voice Inside My Head”, on the other hand, deals with a woman being haunted by the decision to give up a child because she wasn’t ready to have one". countryuniverse.wordpress.com/2006/12/24/best-country-albums-of-2006/#more-250Whether this statement is true or not, it is, of course, impossible to say, as it doesn't come directly from the Chicks. But it's certainly a possibility. And I agree with you about the song - it is great and it would be great at the concerts. Hopefully this year or next?
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Post by Tony on Mar 5, 2007 5:21:56 GMT -8
My wife reckons it's adoption because "I was only a kid , when I said goodbye to you", which She suggests that these two people actually met. I love this song , but as Nat said , She'd prefer people to make the song what they want to make it , rather than get too deep with it.
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urban
Baby Chick
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Post by urban on Mar 5, 2007 5:24:47 GMT -8
I've been intrigued by the meaning of the song as well and what they meant in those interviews. I thought it had something to do with choosing between going to college and going somewher else, or something of that sort, but the abortion thing makes a lot more sense. Since she said none of them can relate to it, I guess it must have been about Linda Perry.
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Post by bobbyrawls on Mar 5, 2007 7:06:15 GMT -8
I agree with you alikat about those harmonies before the last chorus. I don't know how they came up with that delivery or whose idea it was, but it is so beautiful that it gives me chill bumps everytime I hear that specific harmony.
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Post by drizzletown on Mar 5, 2007 9:36:28 GMT -8
Hard to say, I'd guess like most of you, either adoption or abortion. The "you should be with me instead" seems more like adoption. ??
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Post by mtchick on Mar 5, 2007 10:11:47 GMT -8
My vote is for adoption. I love this song and wish that they would have played it on tour.
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Post by virginie on Mar 5, 2007 10:13:19 GMT -8
I have also tried to figure out what the lyrics mean. After reading all the above posts, I think it could be about a woman feeling a great sense of guilt about giving up her child: 'I want, I need, somehow to believe in the choice I made. Am I better off this way?'. Adoption seems to be a plausible explanation for the 'Voice Inside my head' lyrics. At least it makes more sense to me. Whatever it means' Voice inside my head 'is one of my favourite songs from TTLW. The music is great and I like what sounds like a sitar when Natalie sings the chorus.
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Post by Kent67b on Mar 5, 2007 10:59:20 GMT -8
I asked them this very question at the XM Radio taping last May in NYC. Natalie said that it is up to the listener to decide what it means to them. I think it could mean either adoption or abortion depending on how you look at it. I'm leaning toward adoption because because there is a positive tone to the song especially when she sings about thinking about the child when she's down. I think she is saying that the thought of the child being alive and well with some other parents gives her a positive feeling.
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Post by HippieChick7 on Mar 5, 2007 11:44:43 GMT -8
I still think its about abortion for some reason.
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Post by james on Mar 5, 2007 12:13:48 GMT -8
Is that the song that Emily and Martie say that it was personal to Natalie. Or words to that affect.
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ker8
Adult Chick
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Post by ker8 on Mar 5, 2007 12:19:52 GMT -8
I still think its about abortion for some reason. I think it's abortion too. I'm not sure why, just feels more like that to me for some reason.
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scout
Adult Chick
Posts: 1,755
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Post by scout on Mar 5, 2007 12:22:42 GMT -8
I think it's about adoption as well. I recall a scene in SUAS where Natalie is singing a few bars of that song for Rick Rubin and she seems dissatisfied with it and says, "I just can't connect to it." I thought her comment was interesting.
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robbi
Teen Chick
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Post by robbi on Mar 5, 2007 12:33:34 GMT -8
I agree it could be either...adoption or abortion...for some reason in my head I thought of adoption..I have a good friend who gave up a baby when she was young and when I heard that song I thought of her..I played it for her and she said it could have been written about herself. It was very emotional for her...but she loved the song..
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scout
Adult Chick
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Post by scout on Mar 5, 2007 15:33:30 GMT -8
My favorite part of this song -- especially on the AOL Sessions version -- is when they do the syncrinized humming and then Natalie's hum rises above and turns into a plaintive wail. OMG. Sends chills down my spine every time.
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Post by IfYouDon'tLubbock-LeaveIt on Mar 5, 2007 15:43:16 GMT -8
This is one of my top favorites on the album. If not, my most favorite (I can't pick a top favorite yet!).
I think it's about abortion, but now that you guys mentioned in, it could be adoption.
I don't know if any of you guys know who Pinmonkey is, but the music in "Voice..." really reminds me of their music lol, which is really cool.
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Post by Bingo on Mar 5, 2007 16:04:11 GMT -8
Interesting - I hadn't thought of comparing it with Pinmonkey!
Now that you mention it - I think the music is certainly on the same tack!
(And Pinmonkey are a contemporary group. Thinking of comparisons in general, in the published reviews of the Chicks album, it's amazing how many times a comparison of some sort is drawn - usually with a much earlier group - everyone it seems from The Mamas and the Papas to the Beatles.
I've sometimes found that a slightly alarming feature - why the frequent "retro" references? Maybe the reviewer is coming new to the Chicks; maybe they think the reader needs some reassurance or known point of reference - but it's not something I remember being done so much with earlier Chicks' albums.)
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tasha
Baby Chick
Rehab Is For Quitters!! (**,)
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Post by tasha on Mar 5, 2007 16:06:33 GMT -8
My favorite part of this song -- especially on the AOL Sessions version -- is when they do the syncrinized humming and then Natalie's hum rises above and turns into a plaintive wail. OMG. Sends chills down my spine every time. omg, i love that bit too, and emily's little solo at the end!! ;D I still think it could be about abortion although she says 'you should be with me instead', that could mean someting other than a child bein out there in the world somewhere. I read on the chicks sony site (i think) martie said that natalie had a hard time with that song...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2007 16:49:55 GMT -8
Not sure if this contributes to the understanding of the song, or just adds confusion. Perhaps one should consider the time-scale, since it's mentioned in the first verse:
I was only a kid when I said goodbye to you Ten summers ago, but it feels like yesterday
So you could either decide how old the singer might be (I've got a place, I've got a husband and child) and work back to what may have happened a decade earlier. Or start with what you think happened and see if it still fits.
My initial fairly romantic interpretation (yearning for a lost love - crops up all the time!) was knocked on the head by:
I'm forever changed by someone I never knew
together with the comments about the subject by Martie etc. Definitely a "women's song" which most men would be incapable of appreciating as fully.
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Post by kawgirl12 on Mar 5, 2007 16:55:48 GMT -8
My favorite part of this song -- especially on the AOL Sessions version -- is when they do the syncrinized humming and then Natalie's hum rises above and turns into a plaintive wail. OMG. Sends chills down my spine every time. I love that part too, Scout!! Definitely a goosebump moment.
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Post by IfYouDon'tLubbock-LeaveIt on Mar 5, 2007 21:11:08 GMT -8
Interesting - I hadn't thought of comparing it with Pinmonkey! Now that you mention it - I think the music is certainly on the same tack! I'm so glad someone else recognized that too haha. A lot of people forgot who they were! The two main songs I think that remind me of them would be "Augusta" and their version of "I Drove All Night" .
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Post by alikat on Mar 6, 2007 0:25:04 GMT -8
My favorite part of this song -- especially on the AOL Sessions version -- is when they do the syncrinized humming and then Natalie's hum rises above and turns into a plaintive wail. OMG. Sends chills down my spine every time. This is precisely what I was referring to in the last part of my original post, except that I'd still call it an "aah" rather than an "um" - but let's not "um" and "aah" about that It's simple, but IMO it's musical genius. Did anyone else spot Emily laughing to herself at the end of the AOL Sessions recording of this song? Any other thoughts as to what had "tickled her fancy" apart from the suggestion in my first post? I also noticed Natalie looking at her, either trying to contain her own laughter or thinking "What the hell's got into you, Emily?"
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Post by Tony on Mar 6, 2007 6:46:00 GMT -8
Emily's smile is one of relief. After several previous takes , She finally got it right this time. Nat's look toward Her I think is most endearing. It's like She doesn't want Emily to notice Her, so as not to add any more pressure on Her. Yet She is willing Emily on to nail it.Beautiful.
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jgap
Baby Chick
No Worries!
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Post by jgap on Mar 6, 2007 21:55:52 GMT -8
"On another note, I'm intrigued as to why, on the AOL Music Sessions, at the end of the track, something certainly seems to have amused Emily. It may have something to do with the fact that Natalie also says that, for those sessions, they have to go through all of the takes to find the one that Emily messed up the least on that song So, perhaps, that was the only take where Emily didn't play a bum note?! "
When and where did Natalie say this?
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