One is a local San Ant… Read Full Bio ↴There are atleast three bands with this name.
One is a local San Antonio, Texas band fusing aspects of Jazz, Rock, Reggae and Ska. The hard songs could be Compared to the likes of Rx Bandits and the slower stuff is more folky, like acoustic Beatles.
Members: Jackson Albracht - Guitar / Vocals
John Dailey - Guitar / Vocals
Justin Davenport - Organ / Vocals
Devin Guerrero - Bass / Backing Vocals
Skyler Ellis - Drums
Second band:
"This is a new breed of folk-jazz, hinting at modern compostion and old-timey music in ways never before heard. This folk-jazz, though, is closer to Jimmie Rodgers' "Blue Yodel #9" to Van Morrison's Astral Weeks or Tim Buckley. A folk-jazz that reminds us of the days before the industry had put such labels on the people's music." -Dave Wolkensperg of Blow Up in Japanese
Third:
An alternative ambient rock band from Auckland, New Zealand.
Nick Mayow - Guitar / Vocals
Garett Mayow - Drums
Paul Field - Lead Guitar
Dan Devcich - Bass / Vocals
Andrew Hedley - Keyboard
http://www.myspace.com/thecommonwealthnz
Red
The Commonwealth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I joined the army and I went to France
At Roosevelt's request
Two weeks of sitting in the mud
Made me lie to the man that I could drive a truck
For the Red Ball Express
[Chorus:]
All we do is keep it rolling on
Trading bodies for petroleum
Heating rations on the manifold
And never sleep enough to dream about home
Benzedrined and looking through cat eyes
Of a deuce and-a-half and a day's supply
Of jerry cans in back
Ain't no secret how the generals felt
"Fuck the men, they can eat their belts
But the tanks - they must have gas."
[Chorus]
The gears are sticking, and the pressure's low
I felt the bump that means it's time to go
Another twenty miles
Thirty-six hours and I still ain't slept
I'm hearing voices talk inside my head
In Burma Shaving rhyme
All we do is keep it rolling on
Trading bodies for petroleum
Heating rations on the manifold
Even now I've never felt that old
Because fifty years later and you don't forget
Being eighteen and scared to death
In a world that's changing fast
Now my own son sends his own son off
To fight the next fight to be fought
And the Red Ball brings me back
The Commonwealth's song "Red" is a powerful tribute to the soldiers who served their country during World War II. The lyrics describe the experience of a young soldier who enlists in the army and is sent to fight in France. He is assigned to the Red Ball Express, a logistical supply line that transported supplies to the front lines during the war. The song is a tribute to the sacrifices made by the soldiers who fought in the war, and their families who waited at home for them to return.
The ballad begins with the soldier recounting how he rushed at the opportunity of joining the army to fight for his country, and how he gets assigned to the Red Ball Express. The truck driver, exhausted and pushed to the limit, describes his experiences of driving these essential supplies to the front. The lyrics talk about how soldiers were given benzedrine to keep them awake for extended periods, the stress they underwent, the low pressure, and how they had to keep going because the tanks needed gasoline.
The chorus highlights the reality of war in which the soldiers are always on the move, never able to get enough rest, and the only focus is to keep the supply chain rolling on. The lyrics bridge the gap between the World War II generation and the present generation, bringing home the message that some things never change, such as the reality of war and the toll it takes on the soldiers who have to fight them.
Line by Line Meaning
I jumped straight at it when I had the chance
When the opportunity came up, I immediately took it.
I joined the army and I went to France
I enlisted in the military and was deployed to France.
At Roosevelt's request
I was serving in the military at the request of President Roosevelt.
Two weeks of sitting in the mud
I spent two weeks in the muddy trenches.
Made me lie to the man that I could drive a truck
I was forced to lie about my driving abilities to get the job of driving a truck.
For the Red Ball Express
I was part of the Red Ball Express, a vital supply line for the military.
All we do is keep it rolling on
Our main goal is to keep the supply trucks moving.
Trading bodies for petroleum
We risk our bodies to ensure that the military has the fuel it needs.
Heating rations on the manifold
We heat up our rations using the engine of the truck.
And never sleep enough to dream about home
We are always on the move and don't have enough time to think about home.
Benzedrined and looking through cat eyes
We take Benzedrine to stay alert and focused.
Of a deuce and-a-half and a day's supply
We're driving a 2.5-ton truck with a day's worth of supplies.
Of jerry cans in back
We have extra jerry cans of fuel in the back of the truck.
Ain't no secret how the generals felt
The generals didn't care about the soldiers' well-being.
"[Expletive] the men, they can eat their belts
"Screw the soldiers, they'll have to survive without food or supplies.
But the tanks - they must have gas."
The tanks need fuel to keep fighting.
The gears are sticking, and the pressure's low
The truck is starting to break down.
I felt the bump that means it's time to go
I can feel that the truck is about to break down completely.
Another twenty miles
I still have more miles to go before I can stop.
Thirty-six hours and I still ain't slept
I haven't slept in over a day and a half.
I'm hearing voices talk inside my head
I'm starting to hallucinate from exhaustion.
In Burma Shaving rhyme
My thoughts are jumbled up and I can't even think straight anymore.
Because fifty years later and you don't forget
Even now, fifty years later, I still remember.
Being eighteen and scared to death
I was only eighteen and terrified.
In a world that's changing fast
The world was rapidly changing and I had to adapt.
Now my own son sends his own son off
Now my son is sending his own son off to war.
To fight the next fight to be fought
To fight in the next war to come.
And the Red Ball brings me back
Thinking about the Red Ball Express brings back memories from my time in the military.
Lyrics © DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ALLEN SCOTT MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind