Lesbian Life: I’m trying to think if you’ve had any songs that were as explicitly lesbian as this one?
Melissa Etheridge:(laughs) Probably not. I always feel like I want to get closer and closer to finally existing in mainstream with all of the stories. The world knows I’m gay, but the music is always open to interpretation. I just wanted to put my foot down and say “Look, this is a story. This is our story. This is everybody’s story. Love is love, let’s move on.”
You talked about fear and love being a theme. The single that’s out right now, I love the line “I am what I am and I am what I am afraid of.”
Thank you. That comes from my journey. That comes from what I’ve learned. Over the years of trying to be something for someone else or think that I have to be something so that someone else will feel comfortable or love me or whatever the reason. There comes a point in one’s life when you have to realize that you are what you are. If you are just afraid of being lonely, then you’re going to be lonely.
Is that a song to your 17-year-old self?
Yes, and myself now. It applies on all levels
The song “Miss California”, which is about Prop 8 and everything going on with gay politics and it reminded me of your defense of Rick Warren and your reaching out to him and how you caught a lot of flack for that. What became of that? Were you able to maintain anything with him?
It felt good to reach out to him. I got to meet him and dialogue with him. I don’t believe that I can change anyone or that anyone should change. Change has to come from inside. The best thing I can do is show that I’m a good person and I represent a whole section of society and it has opened a line of communication. Recently the
Uganda stuff that has been going down I communicated with him.
It’s opened this channel of communication.
What did you say to him about the Uganda situation?
I checked in with him. I said Rick, I know that you are often misrepresented in the press, because it’s happened to me before, and I want to know what your true position on this is. He said he abhors the death penalty for any reason. He said he does not have influence in Uganda and he said the country that is next to it is the country that he is in and that he’s working with all the spiritual leaders there to try and turn that around.
I know you invited him to your home. Did he ever come?
No. And that’s just as much our schedules as anything else. It’s still an open invitation.
As someone who has followed your music for years, I feel like I’ve watched you evolve as a person, as we all have. I wonder if you’ve ever regretted that you’ve been so open about your life?
Never ever have I regretted it. No, no, no! Being truthful about yourself is the best and most healthy thing you can do for yourself. Just period.
Has it ever come back to bite you?
No!
Are there any songs that you look back and think, “Oh God, that song embarrasses me?”
Yea, yet, it’s more that time of my life was embarrassing and I have to forgive and say I was just learning and growing. I’m not perfect. Or I am perfect. Any perceptions I might have of it, I just have to send away with love.
The last song on your album, was a song was different than anything you’ve ever written. “Gently We Row”, I want to hear more about that song.
That came from the part of me that is a mother, that is a person on a journey in this life. I’m looking at 50 and thinking about the things I’ve learned and wanting to put it in a song, put it in a capsule that makes sense. That’s sort of my philosophy and a big hug to my daughter and my children. That’s what that is.
