What Was Really Me
Indigo Girls · Other Songs - Indigo Girls
Funny how the things you want the most
Should soon be taken back
Slap my own hands like a child
Stealing from the candy store
I think I've taken to your smile
And I hunger for your laugh
Do the craziest things like look around
When I know you're nowhere near me
Break my back on a song
Though I know you're not there to hear it
Unanswered questions lying on the coffee table
From a song I haven't finished since last summer
Because I never could decide how much was gin
And how much the sea
Or other incidentals clouding what was really me
Everything I am is bare feet and burning sand
Waiting for the calm cool hand of the sea
A madman of emotions waiting for the drug effect
Of the reason and the intellect to comfort me
Half the time I love you like I love the fall's first breeze
And then you seem as distant to me as the skeletons of trees
Far away outside my window
But inside I think of you
As if I thouht hard enough I'd know which way to turn
And what to do.
I'm quite sure I'll be alright
We all live with some distraction
It's just too bad mine will hang around
All day and night
Like an uninvited guest
You can't turn away, try hard as you might
Lord knows, I've tried
I might let it go and take a long long run
Quit my job and join the coastline baking in the sun
(My tape cuts off here.)
What Was Really Me
Indigo Girls' 'What Was Really Me' stands as a poignant exploration of vulnerability and self-acceptance, delivered with the band's signature acoustic intimacy. Recorded during their prolific period in the late 1990s, the track exemplifies the duo's ability to weave personal narrative with universal themes of emotional honesty. The song features a stripped-down arrangement that highlights Amy and Emmy Woo's harmonies and storytelling prowess, characteristic of their folk-rock and indie-folk repertoire. It reflects a time when the group was deeply engaged in addressing social issues alongside intimate relationship dynamics, creating a sound that resonated deeply with audiences seeking authenticity in their music.