(Only) Halfway to Everywhere has been played 62 times live and that's probably growing considering they're playing it a lot this summer! (Only) Halfway to Everywhere is off Three Snakes and One Charm and it's one of those songs that is just so funky it lends itself perfectly to jamming. Another thing is that the beginning chords/instrumentation of (Only) Halfway to Everywhere are probably some of the best TBC has every written and played-- and that's probably why they love playing this song live and starting shows with it! It's just nearly impossible to hear (Only) Halfway to Everywhere and stand or sit still.
Although, generally, I love TBC for their lyrics, (Only) Halfway to Everywhere is another song that I just love to listen and move to -- the whole thing is just electric.
You could be so energy Electricity You could be lightening You could be anything A masterpiece A revolutionary You can see what you want to see Can you let it be? Learn or teach
I'm only halfway to everywhere
I'm thinking positivety Positively This is possible They can say right or wrong Never hear this song Or look you in the eye I'm getting rid of negativity Lose the loss in me Call it equality Good luck is a frame of mind Call it humankind And say it's destiny
It Must Be Over is one of the few songs I've found by TBC that has never been played live. Crowesbase details that It Must Be Over is a "b-side of By Your Side. An earlier, unreleased version of this song was recorded in November-December, 1997 by Chris, Rich, Steve, Ed and Sven. The early version is identical in arrangement, but played at a mellower tempo." As always, this is a sort of break-up song and you know I love TBC break-up songs.
From It Must Be Over, I really like the lyrics: "No matter what road I take / No matter what laws I break, I still / I keep singing these songs." I think this is a sort of motto for TBC, generally -- just like Chris and Rich have always talked about: it's the music that brings them back. That is, the constant touring, recording and being on the road is not an easy life, and one has to have the passion to do it. Obviously, they do. The problem is that sometimes the art gets in the way of other things.
No matter what road I take No matter what laws I break, I still I keep singing these songs No matter what my mistakes No matter how high the stakes, I won't I won't ever fold
And with time you'll see You will forget about me And I've already disowned you From my memory Can't you see
I know it must be over This love can last no longer We both know that it must be over Now I see
No matter what words I write No matter no wrong nor right, you still You listen anyway No matter where I sleep tonight No matter if the stars shine bright, I know That I'm on my way
And with time you'll see You will forget about me And I've already disowned you From my memory Can't you see
No video for this one since it's never been played live!
As promised, I'm profiling this song after falling in love with it from hearing it live at Forecastle on Saturday. In my show review, I said I was very surprised to hear Ozone Mama and that's because it's only been played eight times live, five of which have been this year. So obviously, something triggered Chris to want to start singing this song live again!
Ozone Mama is off my least favourite TBC album, Lions but more and more songs from Lions are growing on me. One of the things I wish I could figure out is how TBC decides a set list. I mean, to me, Ozone Mama would seem to be an anomaly-- and yet, at Forecastle, they played it before I Ain't Hiding (one of their new songs) and the two songs worked perfectly together! They are just both good live songs perfect for jamming and dancing. Ozone Mama just one of those songs that doesn't call out to me for the lyrics but more for the feeling and sound of it . . . it's a perfect chill song-- kind of funky and that's how I Ain't Hiding is, too. I know I keep saying it, but I'm so excited for Before the Frost . . .
Well Listen Said it's a trip ya'll Get hip to this ya'll It will gitt ya'll Make ya flip ya'll Gonna hit ya'll Never quit ya'll Right in the middle of our minds The bug that bit ya'll Make ya itch ya'll Inch by inch ya'll Till your tall ya'll See it all ya'll Near and far ya'll We won't ever let it drag This funny feeling got me reeling Like I'm walking on the ceiling Do it to me now
Chorus: Ozome mama lay your daddy down Under the stars right down on the ground Mother nature got me thinking About the love that you've been bringing Do it to me now
C'mon the ride ya'll We'll provide ya'll It's like this ya'll Never miss ya'll Git up and go ya'll Ya never know ya'll We be the bottom of your bag Give a call ya'll Anytime ya'll Don't be slow ya'll Ya gotta know ya'll On with the show ya'll Bring it on ya'll We don't ever have to brag You got this poor boy thinking From the cup I been drinking Ooh do it now
So I'm diverging from the typical song post to give you a review of TBC's show on Saturday at the Forecastle Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, which I attended. To start, just one word: AMAZING!
I tried to go in with little to no expectations as for songs because with TBC, you just never know. I'm glad I didn't look at the set list from the night before in Minneapolis because they played a lot of my favourite songs and TBC doesn't usually play the same songs two nights in a row. What ended up happening was a melange of songs that really surprised me but it was still really, really great.
Here's the setlist:
(Only) Halfway to Everywhere Evergreen High Head Blues Ozone Mama I Ain’t Hiding We Who See the Deep —> Thorn in My Pride Poor Elijah Jealous Again Movin’ on Down the Line
I have to say my biggest surprise was Ozone Mama. As you know, I'm not a huge fan of Lions but this was amazing. Expect a song profile of Ozone Mama later this week! I also have to say that I Ain't Hiding was amazing live! I'm so excited for this upcoming album, Before the Frost . . . Chris played an amazing harmonica riff on the jam during Thorn in My Pride. Overall, the show was just so good, they were having a great time and Chris was in top form. I'm going to have to wait until November to see them again and it will be a long wait!
I'll try to post some more photos and videos later this week, too!
Nothing is better than new music from TBC so you can imagine my delight upon going to check out the newly released tour dates on the official website and finding I Ain't Hiding for download. Crowesbase details that I Ain't Hiding was "recorded at the barn at Levon Helm's Farm for the forthcoming album "Before The Frost..."" Needless to say, based on this song, I am soooo incredibly excited about this album. I Ain't Hiding has already been played five times live and I hope I get to hear it when I See TBC this week at Frontcastle!
Most of the immediate blogs and boards I've read about I Ain't Hiding have compared it to The Rolling Stone's Miss You as a complete departure from TBC's normal stuff. I have to disagree. Chris and Rich have repeatedly maintained that they are influenced by Sly Stone and many other funk groups. For me, the funk beats are amazing and I've already listened to this song a lot. Download it and soon we'll be hearing all of Before the Frost...! :)
Rust on my pickups And blood on the stage Seeds in the ashtray And coke on a blade NYC delivers that's a guarantee The only thing that keep the day from me
Line at the bathroom Line at the bar Take it outside Do the rest in the car Hot candy baby's in a bright light fright Rock and roll rat race everybody's uptight, that's right
Ain't your saint ain't your enemy I'm a long shadow on the highway I know this ain't how it's supposed to be Baby I ain't hiding
Stayed on the dance floor cause you can't find the door Can't run out cause there's always more Keep on rocking cause it's not even four Turn up the bass until your ears get sore
Ain't your saint ain't your enemy I'm a long shadow on the highway I know this ain't how it's supposed to be Baby I ain't hiding
Ain't your saint ain't your enemy I'm a long shadow on the highway I know this ain't how it's supposed to be Baby I ain't hiding
Hotel Illness is off my favourite TBC album, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. It's been played 328 times live, which is pretty high for TBC: higher than average, at least. I think Hotel Illness is the epitome of this album, too. Sure it's not my top song (Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye) on the album and it's not as popular as Remedy, but it's just amazing. I think the reason why I love TSHMC so much is because all the songs on it tell a story; all the songs are truly their own little novella. As Chris said in the iTunes exclusive, "All of Southern Harmony was, to me, was a real departure from where we started . . .," meaning from Shake Your Money Maker. And Hotel Illness is a prime example of that departure -- it's a story with the music (+ a lot of harmonica) rather than what defined SYMM (for me, rock syncopation and ballads).
My favourite line in Hotel Illness is hard choose because it's another one in which I love all the lyrics. I love the idea of leaving the medicine "outside with my etiquette," but I think my real favourite line is another one of those lines that is an aphorism: "No baby, love is not a punishment." It's so true.
Oh good heavens, baby where's my medicine? I must have left it outside with my etiquette The undertaker's rule of thumb It's hard to talk with a novocaine tongue
This room smells like hotel illness The scars I hide are now your business I can't seem to make hair nor hide of this No baby love is not a punishment.
Hypnotized by your rotten behavior This week's fashion is last year's flavor I got a head full of sermons and a mouth full of spiders The politics of the world's greatest liar
So tell me baby is it true all those things that they say about you...
Crowesbase details that Darling of the Underground Press was "the b-side of the Remedy single, recorded during The Southern Harmony & Musical Companion sessions." Apparently, Darling of the Underground Press was "first recorded in 1991 during the same session that produced Words You Throw Away, Miserable and the first version of Thorn In My Pride." It's been play 61 times live, which is a lot for a b-side. The lyrics to Darling of the Underground Press are particularly great . . . and as you may have noticed, the address of this blog. So which lyrics do I find particularly apropos? Mainly this one line . . . "And those books that you've read have gone straight to your head." As usual, I have a hard time describing why I love this song but I think the best part is the beginning. This may be my favourite start to any TBC song, actually. When Chris sings "So the story goes / that you / sold your soul / for delusions of beauty and courage" . . . the versing is just perfect. His inflection is startling because it's a rare that a TBC song starts as more of spoken word than a melody.
So the story goes that you Sold your soul for delusions of beauty and courage While young at heart is a nice place to start Can the truth hold all this baggage
So tell all your foes Because my friends know That your white flag ain't no sign for surrender And those books that you've read have gone straight to your head And made you the great pretender
I've heard that it's good to think before you speak Though I've heard that it's good to bathe once a week
So tell me how it feels it if even seems real to be the darling of the underground press Baby please can I see some ID I don't believe you come from a royal family
I've heard that it's good to think before you speak Though I've heard that it's good to bathe yourself once a week Oh I've heard that it's good to look before you cross No one, no one will ever find you if you don't get yourself lost.
