Washburn says she never set out to be a songwriter or a recording artist. In 2005 when she found herself on stage in a smoke-filled Beijing club playing her banjo and singing old-time Appalachian mountain music in Chinese to a packed house, she was as surprised as anyone. “A daring, definite talent, whose feel for the folk idiom results in moving material. Soulful is the word,” hailed the Wall Street Journal at the time. “On stage, her voice resonated with the power of a seasoned performer and her poetic hill tunes sounded all the more evocative in Chinese.”
It was in Tennessee in 2000 that Washburn met KC Groves, one of the founding members of the band Uncle Earl, and she went on to spend five years touring with the band. In 2005, in the midst of touring with Uncle Earl, Washburn released her first solo debut, and bilingual album, Song of the Traveling Daughter, (Nettwerk). At that point Washburn joined cellist, Ben Sollee, in performing her music around the globe. In 2005 Washburn, Sollee and a few friends—Béla Fleck on banjo, Casey Driessen on fiddle- toured China and recorded as Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet. In 2006, the US State Department and the American Center for Educational Exchange requested that the group come back to lead the first official tour of a US band in Tibet.
In 2010, Washburn released "City Of Refuge".
As a member of The Wu Force, they played their first show together at the Yugong Yishan music club in Beijing in late 2011 and came back together in early 2014.
Beginning in August 2013, Washburn began performing and recording as the duo Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn with her husband Béla Fleck.
In 2020, Washburn released an album as Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn.
Strange Things
Abigail Washburn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said there're strange things that happen everyday
There is one thing I do know,
That things are happenin' never happened before
Strange things are happening everyday
Well ships are sinking in the ocean
Planes are having collusion in the air
But there's something wrong somewhere
Well no matter where you go
you'll hear bout a thing you never heard before
Strange things are happening everyday
Some poor wish that they were dead
Some are glad to be alive
We have some who are killin' each other
Some are commitin' suicide
Well there is a better way if you just fall on your knees and pray
Strange things are happening everyday
My God is riding on the water
And he's riding thru the stormy land
Well, churches/people you better get ready
Do as my God command, he says
As you see me go today, I'll be back the same ol way
Strange things are happening everyday
The lyrics to Abigail Washburn and The Sparrow Quartet's "Strange Things" discuss the idea that unusual events occur every day but, in particular, mentions occurrences such as shipwrecks and plane crashes, people killing one another, and others committing suicide. However, the song maintains that there is a solution to these strange things: falling on one's knees and praying to God. The song also speaks to the idea that God is present and in control of the chaos, traveling through the stormy land, commanding people to get ready, and assuring them, "As you see me go today, I'll be back the same ol way."
The song's overarching message seems to be one of hope and faith in something greater than oneself amidst a world full of discord and turmoil. The lyrics suggest that strange and horrible things may continue to happen every day, but that it is possible to find peace and comfort in the knowledge that God is present and in control.
Line by Line Meaning
There are strange things that happen everyday
Every day, there are inexplicable occurrences.
I said there're strange things that happen everyday
As previously stated, there are strange events that take place on a daily basis.
There is one thing I do know,
I am certain about one thing.
That things are happenin' never happened before
Unprecedented events are currently taking place.
Strange things are happening everyday
As previously stated, inexplicable events are occurring on a daily basis.
Well ships are sinking in the ocean
Ships are experiencing sinking incidents in the ocean.
Planes are having collusion in the air
Planes are colliding with each other in mid-air.
Well people you may not believe it
It may be hard for some individuals to accept this truth.
But there's something wrong somewhere
There is something problematic occurring somewhere in the world.
Well no matter where you go
Regardless of your location,
you'll hear bout a thing you never heard before
You will be informed about an unprecedented event.
Some poor wish that they were dead
Some impoverished individuals desire death.
Some are glad to be alive
Some are joyful to be alive.
We have some who are killin' each other
There are individuals ending each other's lives.
Some are commitin' suicide
Some are intentionally taking their own lives.
Well there is a better way if you just fall on your knees and pray
Prayer is a superior method to overcome such negative emotions.
My God is riding on the water
The divine power is present and active.
And he's riding thru the stormy land
The divine power navigates through distressing situations.
Well, churches/people you better get ready
Churches and individuals need to prepare themselves.
Do as my God command, he says
Follow the instructions provided by the divine power.
As you see me go today, I'll be back the same ol way
I will return in the same manner as I depart.
Strange things are happening everyday
Once again, inexplicable events are occurring on a daily basis.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ABIGAIL WASHBURN, BELA FLECK, BEN SOLLEE, CASEY DRIESSEN, UNKNOWN PD WRITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind