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Dar Williams — Are You Out There
Album: End Of The Summer
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 690









Released: 1997
Length: 2:57
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Perhaps I am a miscreation
No one knows the truth, there is no future here
And you're the DJ speaks to my insomnia
And laughs at all I have to fear
Laughs at all I have to fear
You always play the madmen poets
Vinyl vision grungy bands
You never know who's still awake
You never know who understands and

Are you out there, can you hear this?
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis,
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time

Last night we drank in parking lots
And why do we drink? I guess we do it 'cause
And when I turned your station on
You sounded more familiar than that party was
You were more familiar than that party
It's the first time I stayed up all night
It's getting light, I hear the birds
I'm driving home on empty streets
I think I put my shirt on backwards

Are you out there, can you hear this
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time

And what's the future, who will choose it?
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the tables
Indie versus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
Oh...

Corporate parents, corporate towns
I know every TV set that has them lit
They preach that I should save the world
They pray that I won't do a better job of it
Pray that I won't do a better job
So tonight I turned your station on just so I'd be understood
Instead another voice said I was just too late
And just no good...

Calling Olson, calling Memphis
I am calling, can you hear this?
I was out here listening all the time
And I will write this down
and then I will not be alone again, yeah
I was out here listening
Oh yeah, I was out here listening
Oh yeah, I am out here listening all the time
Comments (94)add comment
26-ish yrs since release &, still sounds "freshly" produced! Amazing! Thnx B & R! LLRP!! 
 kingart wrote:
This would play before or after Springsteen's Radio Nowhere. 
 

what he said

I saw Dar years ago at a Lilith Fair - suffice to say she blew the crowd away.  Her warmth, charm, and stage presence is amazing.  
"I think I put my shirt on backwards"

This happens to me all of the time-- especially with tank tops that have the bigges neck opening in the world 
This would play before or after Springsteen's Radio Nowhere. 
 deepwoodskev wrote:
This is a mess.

 
I like the lyrics.
I love this song, but not the studio album version of it.  It's much better live.
 deepwoodskev wrote:
This is a mess.

 
yep, so stressful and frantic, like a mom with kids in a minivan or a dad with money on a losing football team

         I Knew You Even Before I Saw You.
                 
               
This is a mess.
Sorta cool that Bill played a song by 'Cry Cry Cry' a little bit ago. Ms. WIlliams is in that group. Coincidence? Unlikely.
 james_of_tucson wrote:

She's on my list of songwriters whose songs have more influence than the singer did.  I hope she continues to write songs, even if she doesn't want to perform them.  
 
Looking back with hindsight of 4 years, I think that 2011 just happened to have been a period when Williams was busy writing In the Time of the Gods and taking care of her 2 small children.  She's toured extensively since In the Time of the Gods came out in 2012, including a tour promoting the 20th anniversary of the release of The Honesty Room and she's touring right now in support of her new album, Emerald.
First class songwriter and performer. 
good stuff
Aaaa, gotta dig this CD out of storage.
Thanks for playing Dar again.
/Now, if only she could tour in Canada again, I'd be a happy boy.
Listening to this earlier this evening, I felt compelled to raise my rating from 8 to 9.  And then, Bill segued from this song to Regina Spektor's ON THE RADIO!  What a treat!

 PeaceInIraq wrote:

Dar Williams is most excellent. I've had the pleasure of meeting her, and she's very down-to-earth. Sadly, she hasn't done much musically since she done got married. I think she's now writing childrens' books.


 
She's on my list of songwriters whose songs have more influence than the singer did.  I hope she continues to write songs, even if she doesn't want to perform them.  

 thewiseking wrote:
painful
 
A comment with no hint of irony...  not sure what to make of that!  As for me, this unfamiliar tune perked me up!  Love it!
{#Bananasplit}

painful
lol, that is exactly what i thought as well and was wondering if Bill would ever do that do us....{#Headache}

 
rtwingo wrote:
Shakira-ish...
 


I still have my t-shirt from a Dar concert that reads I think I put my shirt on backwards. {#Mrgreen}


It's lyrics-time again...
Perhaps I am a miscreation
No one knows the truth there is no future here
And you're the DJ speaks to my insomnia
And laughs at all I have to fear
Laughs at all I have to fear
You always play the madmen poets
Vinyl vision grungy bands
You never know who's still awake
You never know who understands and

Are you out there, can you hear this?
Jimmy Olson, Johnny Memphis,
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time

Last night we drank in parking lots
And why do we drink? I guess we do it cause
And when I turned your station on
You sounded more familiar than that party was
You were more familiar than that party
It's the first time I stayed up all night
It's getting light I hear the birds
I'm driving home on empty streets
I think I put my shirt on backwards

Are you out there, can you hear this
Jimmy Olson , Johnny Memphis
I was out here listening all the time
And though the static walls surround me
You were out there and you found me
I was out here listening all the time

And what's the future, who will choose it?
Politics of love and music
Underdogs who turn the tables
Indie versus major labels
There's so much to see through
Like our parents do more drugs than we do
Oh....

Corporate parents, corporate towns
I know every TV set that has them lit
They preach that I should save the world
They pray that I won't do a better job of it
Pray that I won't do a better job
So tonight I turned your station on just so I'd be understood
Instead another voice said I was just too late
And just no good....

Calling Olson, Calling Memphis
I am calling, can you hear this?
I was out here listening all the time
And I will write this down
and then I will not be alone again yeah
I was out here listening
Oh yeah I was out here listening
Oh yeah I am out here listening all the time


Love me some Dar. It's been way too many years since I've seen her perform in person.
I'm a total admirer of Dar Williams. She always makes me listen more closely, because her lyrics take so much room in the song that she could probably just sing a cappella.  Still trying to decipher "Alleluia," and there are a half-dozen other songs I love, but haven't had time to really hear in detail, so I just go to the darned lyrics-search page to read what she's singing, and then I realize that the fact that she puts these amazing lyrics to music is just icing on the cake and....

I'm babbling, aren't I?  I should have just stopped with the first sentence, but I so love Dar Williams' music that I feel like I should explain myself in detail and... Guh. Doing it again.

Shutting up now. (And where is that stupid DOH icon?) {#Sunny}
No, I think not.  Sorry, Dar.
an horrendous assault on my senses... —-> 1
The lyrics are either obnoxious or brilliant, I can't tell which.
Shakira-ish...
Wow...she talks too much.
Its Dat Der Dar Williams again...Good song though :)
 peter_james_bond wrote:
She has a good pirate name...Darrrrrr. 
 
{#Lol}

She has a good pirate name...Darrrrrr. 
Just saw her at Bele Chere here in Asheville, NC. Lovely.
 beardp wrote:
driving to work at 5am on a saturday with the aurora blazing across the sky and no one else (except for maybe a moose) on the road
 
I can relate to that! {#High-five}
Bill must not play this very often!  I like it but I swear I have never heard it before!  I think I would have noticed had it come on!

Dar Williams is most excellent. I've had the pleasure of meeting her, and she's very down-to-earth. Sadly, she hasn't done much musically since she done got married. I think she's now writing childrens' books.


Probably one of my favorite Dar songs of all time!!!  {#Hearteyes}
Wash your hands before dinner!
This isn't doing so well on the first impression.
Just an all-around good old girl. No sexism implied. {#Angel}
This blows.
 Dave_Mack wrote:
I don't know what it is about this one, but it gives me chills. Think I'll bump it up to 9. A remarkable song.
 

i agree. driving to work at 5am on a saturday with the aurora blazing across the sky and no one else (except for maybe a moose) on the road helps...
Die-aye-aye-aye, ay carumba, my head hurts :(
Yup.  A girl I like.  It's a miracle.
I don't know what it is about this one, but it gives me chills. Think I'll bump it up to 9. A remarkable song.
burdell wrote:
Does anyone else hear Shakira? That mini-chorus sounds awfully familiar.
Ay. Ay. Ay. Ay. Whenever! Wherever! -yeah i hear it too.
Dar, she blows. Arrrr.
This is the Soundtrack of RP =)
Does anyone else hear Shakira? That mini-chorus sounds awfully familiar.
...i think i figured out whose hands are on the cover of jeff beck's last album...
Fantastic song. First heard it driving I40 between Tucumcari and Amarillo years ago around sunset. Its an amazing tune for those attached to the radio....and says a lot about RP too. Great album.
stevo_b wrote:
Real good in concert...
bragger!!
enidualc wrote:
i bet she's good in concert
Real good in concert...
Contaminator wrote:
Great lyrics!!!
the intro on "out there live" adds to them....
Great lyrics!!!
pannaramma wrote:
I like the song, especially the lyric. But not the "eye yi yi eye yiiii"
I thought that was the best part of this otherwise unnotable song.
i bet she's good in concert
I like the song, especially the lyric. But not the "eye yi yi eye yiiii"
We always go see Dar when she's in town. Always an enjoyable evening. She looks like she should have a pair of little shiny wings.
As someone below mentioned as well, I keep thinking she's Suzanne Vega...
Love this album. Great for driving.
Generally, I get burned out on the "chicks with guitars" genre pretty quickly (mostly because my wife listens to it obsessively) but I gotta say that Dar is very talented, both musically and lyrically. Took my wife to see her last summer when she was in Portland, and it was a great show. And nothing's worse than saying you don't care for something, only to later develop an appreciation for it and have your wife razz you about it... hopefully she won't read this sinful little confession...
Please Listen to her... "out There Live" was the only album I'd ever had of hers. What she slightly lacks in pitch or strength of voice is made up for in melodic sensibility and sincere phenominal lyrics!
topherg87 wrote:
im not 100% sure, but i think i really liked that. I think it'll take a second listen to be absolutely positive.
yeah-- I'm right with you on that.... it just seeeped into my brain and demanded attention! A lot going on there..... I think.... !
im not 100% sure, but i think i really liked that. I think it'll take a second listen to be absolutely positive.
they preach that i should save the world they pray that i won't do a better job of it pray that i won't do a better job
I always love to hear some Dar.
Go Dar Go! I'm glad any time I find a woman's singing voice I like
Cool song with great vocals. The guitar sounds like a Robert Fripp/Andy Summers-influenced soundscape.
she's a world of talented.
magicnumber wrote:
Are you out there, can you hear this, Jimmy Olsen, Johnny Memphis I was out here listening all the time, And though the static walls surround me You were out there, and you found me, I was out here listening all the time.
Welcome to the River Sound Cafe, I'm Johnny Memphis. The first question I ask all my guests is, 'what did you have for breakfast this morning'?
Granted, I haven't actually heard this song on RP but I have listened to it many many times, one of my favorites by her. I also have very little of her music, though it's not really intentional... Dar went to my university a few years before I did, and then lived out in western MA. This song is about her finding a radio station that specialized (still does) in folk, indie, acoustic, progressive music, not too unlike RP, music she probably didn't hear much of anywhere else at the time. Maybe I like it so much because it reminds me of my own years in college in that area: feeling rough at dawn after a long night out, not sure if anyone else thought like you did, having the weight of a forthcoming future on your mind, finding a refuge in music... Perhaps I am a miscreation, No one knows the truth, There is no future here. And you're the deejay speaks to my insomnia And laughs at all I have to fear, Laughs at all I had to fear. You always play the madmen poets, Vinyl vision grungy bands, You never know who's still awake, You never know who understands and Are you out there, can you hear this, Jimmy Olsen, Johnny Memphis I was out here listening all the time, And though the static walls surround me You were out there, and you found me, I was out here listening all the time. Last night we drank in parking lots, And why do we drink, I guess we do it cause. And when I turned your station on, You sounded more familiar than that party was, You were more familiar than that party, It's the first time I stayed up all night, It's getting light, I hear the birds, I'm driving home on empty streets, I think I put my shirt on backwards, Are you out there, can you hear this, Jimmy Olsen, Johnny Memphis I was out here listening all the time, And though the static walls surround me You were out there, and you found me, I was out here listening all the time. What's the future, who will choose it, Politics of love and music, Underdogs who turn the table, Indie verus major labels, There's so much to see through, Like our parents do more drugs than we do. Corporate parents, corporate town, I know every TV set that has them lit. They preach that I should save the world They pray that I won't do a better job of it, Pray that I won't do a better job, So tonight I turn your station on, Just so I'd be understood, Instead another voice said I was just too late and just no good. Calling Olsen, calling Memphis, I am calling, can you hear this? I was out here listening all the time. And I will write this down and then I will not be alone again, yeah, I was out here listening, I was out here listening, I am out here listening all the time.
Bocephus wrote:
that's EASTERN Iowa that's hilly...most of Western IA is flat as a pancake.
No offense, Bocephus, but Western Iowa is well known for being very hilly, esp. along the Western border...the Loess Hills region is actually well known...and pretty scenic, for Iowa.
What an oddity this track is. It's like I'm listening to Alanis Morissette, The Corrs and Sinead 'O Connor after they've all been in the same wash cycle together. oooh this is so surreal
fatport wrote:
Two points. Western Iowa is actually quite hilly, and in the song in question (Iowa) the hills of Iowa are a metaphor for womens' breasts. Some lesbian thing.
that's EASTERN Iowa that's hilly...most of Western IA is flat as a pancake.
I have to say, that was truly horrid! I'm trying to erase it from my mind!
fatport wrote:
Two points. Western Iowa is actually quite hilly, and in the song in question (Iowa) the hills of Iowa are a metaphor for womens' breasts. Some lesbian thing.
Well, you're half right. That's what the song's about, but according to Dar (who's straight - not that it matters) there's nothing lesbina about it, and she was rather surprised that people had read that into the song.
What can I say - this songs sucks !
Originally Posted by podaddy: Ooof. Whatever you do, don't listen to the words. Come to think of it, don't listen to the music either. Is there an instrument that does not have an "on" switch in this track?
Ooof is right.
Have two tix for tomorrow night to see her in concert here in little ole Fairbanks - I CAN\'T WAIT!
Ooof. Whatever you do, don\'t listen to the words. Come to think of it, don\'t listen to the music either. Is there an instrument that does not have an \"on\" switch in this track?
I don\'t know Dar Williams as well as some posters here, so I have to accept the general consensus that her other stuff is better than this - which intrigues me, since I just dropped in to rate this song \"Quite Likeable\"!
Originally Posted by ThirdRail_33: Dar Williams - the only singer song writer I know who has wriiten a beautiful song about a flat state - Iowa. Please play.
Two points. Western Iowa is actually quite hilly, and in the song in question (Iowa) the hills of Iowa are a metaphor for womens' breasts. Some lesbian thing.
Dar Williams - the only singer song writer I know who has wriiten a beautiful song about a flat state - Iowa. Please play.
Originally Posted by great_one: Ay yai yai yuck! This is kinda painful.
Agreed. I like some of her songwriting but unfortunately her voice is really grating.
Not bad... not outstanding .... but not bad
I\'ve decided this song is Outstanding! :)
:D
Originally Posted by jsjacob: Her voice reminds me of Suzanne Vega. I like Suzanne Vega. I like this, too. I haven't heard much Dar, though.
That's who I thought it was until I came and looked at the site. There's a little bit of Delores O'Reirdon in there as well. Great song though.
Her voice reminds me of Suzanne Vega. I like Suzanne Vega. I like this, too. I haven\'t heard much Dar, though.