The last line recontextualizes the whole song. When we realize that everything is from Jimmie's perspective, a lot of the judgment for him as a burned-out barfly is internal. i.e. he thinks he's not worthy of being around his family anymore. His internal spiral ends when he realizes that despite it all, his mamma misses him, and, she at least, wishes he would visit more.
Can't go wrong with Turnpike. Glad Evan is back and better than ever. That last line "why does it take a funeral to bring you back to town" pretty much depicts a few of my high school/college friends now, life gets busy.
Sometimes there’s no hidden message in a song, I’ve noticed Evan likes to paint a picture, almost like he’s describing a movie Daddy’s passed away, jimmy is the black sheep, rolls in and feels judged, and as much as he feels like an outcast, momma misses her son: “whys it take a funeral boy to bring you back to town?”
When I was younger, I was in a fairly big Motorcycle Club with chapters in several states. During my first year, I went to my first funeral for a brother from my Chapter (Dallas.) I was really unhappy for about 2 weeks after that. I didn't even want to go to the clubhouse. But we had meetings and I had an officer's position, which left me no choice. I got there early and as soon as I walked through the doorway, I felt like a tremendous weight had been lifted off my shoulders and my mind. In a club that big, you don't wonder if there will be a funeral "this year." You can only hope there will not be very many. Funerals were mandatory. People might be quick to think it must be a big burden to have to ride out of town (sometimes 1,200 miles) several times a year. But by the end of 2 years, from going to parties out of town, national gatherings, funerals, etc. I knew almost everyone in the club, personally. Everybody did. There were no swinging doors into and out of the club. If you didn't want to make the club your family, it wasn't for you. Missing a funeral is the burden. It took a little time, but I learned that funerals were supposed to be fun and there is no need to feel guilty. Were they sad? Yes. Men who have the same mother have no choice. They're brothers, taught to love each other. But men who choose their brothers ... They love their brothers just as much, sometimes more. That's why they ride so far for a funeral. Their brothers need them. Sure they're sad about the one who is gone. But being there for those who until 2 or 3 days ago, saw him almost every day is just as important as honoring the one who died. Sometimes there was a funeral. Sometimes not. But there was always a memorial party and it was always fun. I've been to more funerals than I thought I would go to in a lifetime. I learned that they are supposed to be fun. I don't want a pity party for me if I ever die. I don't want a lingering sadness for those I leave behind. I'm happy to know them. I hope they'll be happy to have known me. The pain of tomorrow's loss will be washed away by the good memories you make today. So don't forget to make time to make them.
He's returning home for a wake and a funeral for his father. Delta blues I'm assuming depression being masked by meth. Jimmy's lived a troubled life and is leered at through the blinds upon returning home. The fact that his mother didn't meet him at the door speaks largely to the line nothing makes you more alone than family. His dad's car has the 38 that Jimmy will take, being the rightful owner in his eyes and leave.
Thanks as always, Don. You had it right that it was the father who died. "Daddy looked so natural like he'd just gone to sleep." As for a "slightly stolen car" for a long time I wondered how a car could be "slightly stolen" as well...I've come to the conclusion (even if I'm wrong, lol) that it means he borrowed it from someone without their knowledge or permission. That seems the only way I can explain it, anyway. What do you think? Thanks again! Cheers!
@mattagalardo2022 I defer to your explanation, as (conveniently) I was thinking along the same lines, that they kinda sorta had permission to be somewhere in the vicinity of the car and they just so happened to have found the keys. :-)
Love this group and this song. My take on the 'slightly stolen car' was it may have been borrowed for use around town and they were taken it out of town. Also new slot of 'burned out Betty Pages' in my time.----#UTRCM
In true Evan Felker fashion, Jimmy appears in a couple of other songs as well really developing that character. The Housefire and The Mercury just to name a couple.
I don't think the narrator in The Housefire, The Bird Hunters, and Good Lord Lorrie is Jimmy. If you listen to The Mercury the narrator is a third person, Jimmy storms out and the narrator is going to make his move on Lorrie. Additionally, I don't think Jimmy is as introspective as the narrator of The Housefire and The Bird Hunters.
@@barz51 No he is most certainly not the narrator in those songs, just mentioned in all all of them. They all just kind of develop a personality for him and really bring him to life to the point the listener can make their own opinions about him. Same thing with Lorrie I think.
Do you think the girl in Empty as a Drum is Lorrie? The song comes right after Good Lord Lorrie on the album and darkening up a doorway is mentioned in both.
Delta Blues ... Meth? LOL Or maybe a Music genre. Slightly stolen - Nobody was using it anyway, at the time. If they'd car-jacked it, well that would be far from "Slightly stolen." If Bettie Page was ever less than pretty, no one would know because if she wasn't up to her own standards, she wouldn't allow anyone to photograph her.
![Turnpike Troubadours -- The Bird Hunters [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/53qIZer1hTY/mqdefault.jpg)
![Turnpike Troubadours -- The Bird Hunters [REACTION]](/img/tr.png)
![Turnpike Troubadours -- Cat In the Rain [REACTION/GIFT REQUEST]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ULToCA6UfdQ/mqdefault.jpg)
This whole album…front to back freaking gold!
Daddy looked so natural like he'd just gone to sleep
I've listened to this entire album until I could nearly sing every song. Granted that's the same with all turnpike songs.
That's one of the few albums I own that's a straight through listen, don't skip a song!
The last line recontextualizes the whole song. When we realize that everything is from Jimmie's perspective, a lot of the judgment for him as a burned-out barfly is internal. i.e. he thinks he's not worthy of being around his family anymore. His internal spiral ends when he realizes that despite it all, his mamma misses him, and, she at least, wishes he would visit more.
Can't go wrong with Turnpike. Glad Evan is back and better than ever. That last line "why does it take a funeral to bring you back to town" pretty much depicts a few of my high school/college friends now, life gets busy.
You heard their new single?
@Jacob Herricks is that mean old sun? I have heard it but haven't really listened to it yet.
Sometimes there’s no hidden message in a song, I’ve noticed Evan likes to paint a picture, almost like he’s describing a movie
Daddy’s passed away, jimmy is the black sheep, rolls in and feels judged, and as much as he feels like an outcast, momma misses her son: “whys it take a funeral boy to bring you back to town?”
When I was younger, I was in a fairly big Motorcycle Club with chapters in several states. During my first year, I went to my first funeral for a brother from my Chapter (Dallas.) I was really unhappy for about 2 weeks after that. I didn't even want to go to the clubhouse. But we had meetings and I had an officer's position, which left me no choice. I got there early and as soon as I walked through the doorway, I felt like a tremendous weight had been lifted off my shoulders and my mind.
In a club that big, you don't wonder if there will be a funeral "this year." You can only hope there will not be very many.
Funerals were mandatory. People might be quick to think it must be a big burden to have to ride out of town (sometimes 1,200 miles) several times a year. But by the end of 2 years, from going to parties out of town, national gatherings, funerals, etc. I knew almost everyone in the club, personally. Everybody did. There were no swinging doors into and out of the club. If you didn't want to make the club your family, it wasn't for you. Missing a funeral is the burden.
It took a little time, but I learned that funerals were supposed to be fun and there is no need to feel guilty. Were they sad? Yes. Men who have the same mother have no choice. They're brothers, taught to love each other. But men who choose their brothers ... They love their brothers just as much, sometimes more. That's why they ride so far for a funeral. Their brothers need them. Sure they're sad about the one who is gone. But being there for those who until 2 or 3 days ago, saw him almost every day is just as important as honoring the one who died.
Sometimes there was a funeral. Sometimes not. But there was always a memorial party and it was always fun. I've been to more funerals than I thought I would go to in a lifetime. I learned that they are supposed to be fun. I don't want a pity party for me if I ever die. I don't want a lingering sadness for those I leave behind. I'm happy to know them. I hope they'll be happy to have known me. The pain of tomorrow's loss will be washed away by the good memories you make today. So don't forget to make time to make them.
Slightly stolen car is basically when someone loans you their car and you don't bring it back.
So glad they are back and blessing the world with new music this year! Can’t wait for the new album drop
My favorite of the Jimmy and Laurie saga. :)
He's returning home for a wake and a funeral for his father. Delta blues I'm assuming depression being masked by meth. Jimmy's lived a troubled life and is leered at through the blinds upon returning home. The fact that his mother didn't meet him at the door speaks largely to the line nothing makes you more alone than family. His dad's car has the 38 that Jimmy will take, being the rightful owner in his eyes and leave.
Thanks as always, Don. You had it right that it was the father who died. "Daddy looked so natural like he'd just gone to sleep."
As for a "slightly stolen car" for a long time I wondered how a car could be "slightly stolen" as well...I've come to the conclusion (even if I'm wrong, lol) that it means he borrowed it from someone without their knowledge or permission. That seems the only way I can explain it, anyway. What do you think?
Thanks again!
Cheers!
@mattagalardo2022 I defer to your explanation, as (conveniently) I was thinking along the same lines, that they kinda sorta had permission to be somewhere in the vicinity of the car and they just so happened to have found the keys. :-)
@Matt Gallardo great request, one of my many favorites by Turnpike, so thank you very much.---#UTRCM
He mentioned Bettie Page, a Pin-up Girl from the 1950's. Bettie was from Nashville, Tennessee. Bettie was often known as the Queen of Pin-ups.
Love this group and this song. My take on the 'slightly stolen car' was it may have been borrowed for use around town and they were taken it out of town. Also new slot of 'burned out Betty Pages' in my time.----#UTRCM
My band! Hey there, Don! :)
I’m pretty sure that “Delta Blues” are cigarettes
Delta Blues is a type of music!
Also cigarettes
@@TR1P0DL1F3 I had no idea! That makes more sense.
In true Evan Felker fashion, Jimmy appears in a couple of other songs as well really developing that character. The Housefire and The Mercury just to name a couple.
I don't think the narrator in The Housefire, The Bird Hunters, and Good Lord Lorrie is Jimmy. If you listen to The Mercury the narrator is a third person, Jimmy storms out and the narrator is going to make his move on Lorrie. Additionally, I don't think Jimmy is as introspective as the narrator of The Housefire and The Bird Hunters.
@@barz51 No he is most certainly not the narrator in those songs, just mentioned in all all of them. They all just kind of develop a personality for him and really bring him to life to the point the listener can make their own opinions about him. Same thing with Lorrie I think.
Do you think the girl in Empty as a Drum is Lorrie? The song comes right after Good Lord Lorrie on the album and darkening up a doorway is mentioned in both.
@@barz51 Very possible! I never thought about that. Then with Wrecked following that it seems chronological and intentional.
Delta Blues ... Meth? LOL Or maybe a Music genre.
Slightly stolen - Nobody was using it anyway, at the time. If they'd car-jacked it, well that would be far from "Slightly stolen."
If Bettie Page was ever less than pretty, no one would know because if she wasn't up to her own standards, she wouldn't allow anyone to photograph her.