Melissa Etheridge burst onto the music scene in 1988 with her self-titled debut, instantly marking herself as a force to be reckoned with. While initially considered an underground success, the album quickly resonated with a wider audience, climbing to No. 22 on the Billboard 200. Her raw vocal power and introspective songwriting, showcased in her debut single “Bring Me Water,” earned her a Grammy nomination right out of the gate, signaling the arrival of a significant new voice in rock music. This early recognition was just the beginning for Etheridge, who would go on to solidify her place as a celebrated songwriter and performer. From her early, blues-infused rock to her later, more introspective ballads, Melissa Etheridge Songs have consistently captured the hearts of listeners with their honesty, passion, and undeniable musicality.
By her third album, Never Enough, released in 1992, Etheridge’s critical acclaim caught up with her growing fanbase. The single “Ain’t It Heavy” secured her first Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, confirming her status as a leading female voice in rock. However, it was the release of her fourth album, Yes I Am, in 1993, that truly catapulted her to mainstream stardom. This album spawned the iconic hits “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” earning her a second Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for “Come to My Window.” Up until this point, Etheridge had penned all her album tracks entirely on her own, a testament to her singular vision and songwriting prowess. Yes I Am became a defining moment, solidifying her reputation not just as a performer, but as a bonafide songwriter capable of crafting songs that resonated deeply with a global audience.
Her songwriting achievements were further recognized in 1996 when she received the ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award. Etheridge continued to garner Grammy nominations throughout her career, demonstrating her consistent ability to produce high-quality, impactful music. In a notable departure from music awards, she also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2007 for “I Need to Wake Up,” featured in the Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth. This Oscar win highlighted the breadth of her songwriting talent, extending beyond personal narratives to encompass socially conscious themes.
Etheridge has often cited poetry as a key source of inspiration for her songwriting. “I have many, many books of poetry that I’ll just pull down and read,” she explained in a 2015 interview. She elaborated on how poets’ unique use of language and phrasing opens up new perspectives for her own lyrical craft. This deep appreciation for language and its power is evident in the evocative and emotionally resonant lyrics that are a hallmark of Melissa Etheridge songs.
Drawing from her extensive and impressive catalog, we delve into 10 timeless tracks that showcase the evolution and enduring appeal of Melissa Etheridge’s songwriting over her remarkable 35-year career. Each of these Melissa Etheridge songs offers a glimpse into her artistic journey and the universal themes she explores.
1. Bring Me Some Water (1988)
Even though Melissa Etheridge’s self-titled debut album initially flew somewhat under the radar, her debut single, “Bring Me Some Water,” earned her a Grammy nomination, signaling the industry’s recognition of her raw talent. Etheridge penned this powerful song while living in Los Angeles, grappling with the complexities of a non-monogamous relationship. The lyrics of “Bring Me Some Water” are a direct outpouring of the jealousy and vulnerability she experienced at the thought of her girlfriend being with someone else. The song’s raw emotion and blues-rock edge immediately established Etheridge’s signature sound. It’s a potent introduction to her ability to channel personal experiences into universally relatable anthems.
Tonight I feel so weak
But all in love is fair
I turn the other cheek
And I feel the slap and the sting of the foul night air
And I know you’re only human
And I haven’t got talking room
But tonight while I’m making excuses
Some other woman is making love to you
2. Ain’t It Heavy (1992)
With her third album Never Enough in 1992, Melissa Etheridge continued her ascent, breaking into the Top 40 of the charts, reaching No. 21. The album’s lead single, “Ain’t It Heavy,” proved to be a breakthrough, securing Etheridge her first Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. The song delves into the weight of life’s struggles and the search for meaning amidst hardship. “Ain’t It Heavy” resonated with listeners who connected with its themes of resilience and the struggle for satisfaction beyond mere survival. During her EtheridgeTV sessions on YouTube in 2020, a period marked by global uncertainty, Etheridge shared a live rendition of “Ain’t It Heavy,” underscoring the song’s enduring relevance and its capacity to provide solace during difficult times.
Sometimes I know that it’s never enough
Survival is fine but satisfaction is rough
I try with an angel tonight
Spread these wings and I’m on for the ride
Cruise these streets where my innocence hides
There’s some things you can’t deny
What is it about this human condition
I need some kind of promise
Some kind of submission tonight
3. I’m the Only One (1993)
Following her second album Brave and Crazy (1989) and Never Enough (1992), Melissa Etheridge unleashed the juggernaut album Yes I Am in 1993. The album’s first single, “I’m the Only One,” became a career-defining hit, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Adult Contemporary chart. To this day, it remains Etheridge’s highest-charting single on both charts, cementing its place as one of her signature songs. “I’m the Only One” is a powerful declaration of unwavering devotion and a challenge to a lover’s fears and insecurities. The song’s driving rhythm and passionate vocals, combined with its relatable theme of unconditional love, made it an instant classic on radio and a staple in her live performances.
But I’m the only one
Who’ll walk across the fire for you
And I’m the only one
Who’ll drown in my desire for you
It’s only fear that makes you run
The demons that you’re hiding from
When all your promises are gone
I’m the only one
4. Come to My Window (1993)
The second single from Yes I Am, “Come to My Window,” is perhaps one of the most recognizable Melissa Etheridge songs. It’s an anthemic expression of longing and desire that resonated universally. Notably, it was the first single Etheridge released after publicly coming out as gay in 1993. The lyrics, I don’t care what they think / I don’t care what they say / What do they know about this love, anyway?, became a powerful statement of defiance and self-acceptance. “Come to My Window” spent an impressive 44 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 25, and earned Etheridge her second Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Its enduring popularity speaks to its timeless message of love conquering societal barriers and personal doubts.
Come to my window
Crawl inside
Wait by the light of the moon
Come to my window
I’ll be home soon
I would dial the numbers
Just to listen to your breath
And I would stand inside my hell
And hold the hand of death
You don’t know how far I’d go
To ease this precious ache
And you don’t know how much I’d give
Or how much I can take
Just to reach you
Just to reach you
Oh, to reach you
5. I Want to Come Over (1995)
Riding high on the phenomenal success of Yes I Am, Melissa Etheridge released her fifth album, Your Little Secret, two years later. This album continued her streak of hits with “I Want to Come Over.” Another exploration of the complexities and torments of romantic relationships – a recurring and compelling theme in Melissa Etheridge songs – the song reached No. 22 on the Hot 100. “I Want to Come Over” captures the intense yearning and reckless abandon of wanting to reconnect with a past love, consequences be damned.
I want to come over
To hell with the consequence
You told me you loved me
That’s all I believe
I want to come over
It’s a need I can’t explain
To see you again
I want to come over
The music video for “I Want to Come Over,” directed by Pam Thomas, known for her work on The Kids in the Hall and Sex and The City, featured actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Filmed in a dilapidated hotel, the shoot had an interesting anecdote: a remaining tenant was bribed with a bottle of Chivas Regal whiskey to allow filming to proceed, adding a touch of rock and roll lore to the song’s visual representation.
6. Angels Would Fall (1999)
Written by Melissa Etheridge and John Shanks
“Angels Would Fall,” from her sixth album Breakdown, marks a rare instance of Etheridge co-writing one of her songs up to this point. She collaborated with writer and producer John Shanks, who had previously worked with artists like Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker. The album title Breakdown itself hints at Etheridge’s emotional state during the recording period, and “Angels Would Fall” reflects a particularly dark and vulnerable moment. This soulful rock ballad explores a forbidden crush Etheridge developed on someone else’s girlfriend while she was in a relationship with Julie Cypher. Interestingly, Cypher and Etheridge’s relationship began when Cypher worked on Etheridge’s video for “Bring Me Some Water,” eventually leading Cypher to leave her then-husband, actor Lou Diamond Phillips, to be with Etheridge.
“‘Breakdown’ was such a dark period in my life,” Etheridge revealed on her Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled DVD (2005). She described how the album’s dark tone led her to seek out Shanks for musical inspiration, feeling like she was “scraping on the bottom of my soul.” “Angels Would Fall” encapsulates this turbulent period, showcasing Etheridge’s willingness to confront complex emotions in her songwriting, even the darker aspects of desire and longing.
I’ve crept into your temple
I have slept upon your pew
I’ve dreamed of the divinity
Inside and out of you
I want it more than truth
I can taste it on my breath
I would give my life just for a little death
So I’ll come by and see you again
I’ll be just a very good friend
I will not look upon your face
I will not touch upon your grace
Your ecclesiastic skin
7. Breathe (2004)
Written by Greenwheel (Ryan Jordan, Brandon Armstrong, Andrew Dwiggins, Douglas Randall, and Marc Wanninger)
Melissa Etheridge’s ninth album Lucky features “Tuesday Morning,” a deeply moving song dedicated to Mark Bingham, one of the passengers who bravely fought back against hijackers on United Airlines Flight 93 on 9/11. Another powerful ballad on the album is “Breathe.” However, unlike most Melissa Etheridge songs, “Breathe” is actually a cover. Originally released by the band Greenwheel from Missouri, Etheridge’s rendition transformed the song and propelled it to the Top 10, earning her another Grammy nomination.
I played the fool today
And I just dream of vanishing into the crowd
Longing for home again
But home is a feeling I buried in you
I’m alright, I’m alright
It only hurts when I breathe
And I can’t ask for things to be still again
No, I can’t ask if I could walk through the world in your eyes
Longing for home again
But home is a feeling I buried in you
I’m alright, I’m alright
It only hurts when I breathe
I’m alright, I’m alright
It only hurts when I breathe
Tragically, shortly after the release of Lucky, Etheridge received a breast cancer diagnosis, forcing her to halt album promotions and undergo treatment. Despite this personal challenge, “Breathe” became a song of resilience for many, its lyrics about pain and endurance taking on a deeper meaning in light of Etheridge’s own battle.
8. I Need to Wake Up (2011)
Written specifically for the 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth, directed by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, “I Need to Wake Up” earned Melissa Etheridge an Academy Award for Best Original Song. This historic win marked the first time a documentary had ever received the award in this category. Both the film and the song address the urgent and critical issue of global warming and its devastating consequences.
The lyrics of “I Need to Wake Up” are a powerful call to action, urging listeners to confront the inconvenient truths about climate change and take responsibility. The song’s message resonated deeply, especially given the film’s impact on raising global awareness about environmental issues. Etheridge’s Oscar win for this song underscored her ability to use her songwriting platform to address important social and political concerns, further demonstrating the versatility of Melissa Etheridge songs.
And as a child
I danced like it was 1999
My dreams were wild
The promise of this new world
Would be mine
Now I am throwing off the carelessness of youth
To listen to an inconvenient truth
That I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
9. A Little Bit of Me (2014)
Written by Melissa Etheridge, Jerrod Bettis, and Christian Seibert
This Is M.E., released in 2014, was the first album on Etheridge’s own label, ME Records, and her 13th studio album overall. The album featured the soulful and stripped-back track “A Little Bit of Me.” For this song, Etheridge collaborated with songwriter and producer Jerrod Bettis, known for his work with artists like Adele and Gavin DeGraw. Etheridge wrote the lyrics while on a flight to New York, inspired by a melody and beat that Bettis had shared with her.
“A Little Bit of Me” is a song about interconnectedness and shared humanity. Its lyrics emphasize the common ground we all share and the importance of unity and empathy in navigating life’s challenges. The song’s uplifting message and soulful delivery showcase another facet of Melissa Etheridge songs – her ability to blend personal reflection with broader, optimistic themes.
If you believed, if you tried
It could be enough to know you were alive
If you knew the truth it couldn’t be denied
It would change the world enough that you might find
That the world goes round and around and around
And everybody walks on common ground
We gotta pull together if we’re gonna pull through
There’s a little bit of me in a little bit of you
The world goes round and around and round
Everybody feels a little upside down
No need to be afraid of anybody you see
There’s a little bit of you in a little bit of me
10. One Way Out (2021)
Technically, the tracks on Melissa Etheridge’s 16th album, One Way Out, are songs she originally wrote in the 1980s and 1990s. She first recorded these songs with her band back in 2013. However, the collection was shelved shortly thereafter, remaining unreleased until Etheridge rediscovered them while working on her 2019 album, The Medicine Show. Re-recording the tracks in 2023 with her original band from 1988, Etheridge felt she brought a new perspective to these older songs, reworking them to better realize her original vision. When the pandemic struck in 2020, Etheridge turned her attention to curating these “lost” songs, leading to the release of her 16th album, aptly titled One Way Out, after one of the standout tracks.
“I call it a time capsule of a time capsule,” Etheridge told American Songwriter in a 2021 interview. She described the album’s raw, hard rock edge, highlighting its departure from more contemporary musical trends. For Etheridge, the appeal of these songs lies in their simplicity and directness, reflecting her songwriting style before external influences shaped her sound. One Way Out offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of Melissa Etheridge songs, showcasing the foundational elements of her signature rock sound.
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Photos: Elizabeth Miranda / Primary Wave PR
