Escovedo's family tree includes former Santana percussionist Pete Escovedo and Pete's daughter, Sheila E (also Prince's former drummer and later a pop star). He began his music career with the Nuns, a mid-'70s punk band based in San Francisco. He co-founded the pioneering cowpunk band Rank and File in 1979, which moved to Austin, Texas, in 1981 after a stint in New York City. The band released Sundown on Slash Records in 1982, but shortly after, Escovedo left to form the True Believers with brother Javier. The band recorded two albums for EMI and toured the country, often as an opening act for Los Lobos. However, EMI opted not to release the second album, which eventually led to the group's break-up. (It eventually surfaced as a bonus item when Rykodisc reissued the first set on CD in 1994.)
Escovedo released a solo album in 1992 on Watermelon Records, Gravity, uniting his wide variety of styles; the album was produced by Stephen Bruton of Bonnie Raitt's band. Escovedo also began gigging periodically with the band Buick MacKane, who fused old-school punk with 70's glam rock; after Rykodisc released Escovedo's With These Hands in 1996, they followed it up with Buick MacKane's long-awaited album. After Escovedo parted ways with Rykodisc, he signed with the Chicago-based alt-country label Bloodshot in 1998, who released the live album More Miles Than Money: Live 1994-1996 and the acclaimed studio set A Man Under The Influence.
In April of 2003, Escovedo collapsed following a show in Phoenix, AZ, and he was subsequently diagnosed with Hepatitis C. An outpouring of support from musicians led to a series of successful benefit concerts to help pay Escovedo's medical expenses and keep his music before the public, followed by a tribute album, Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo, which was released in 2004.
In June 2010, Escovedo released Street Songs of Love.
Shelling Rain
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our bodies will disappear now
It was your idea to take a walk
Started talking about dreams
Clear the water from your plate
A line's been drawn
Washed away by shelling rain
Sole off on a motor bike
Stretching out across the hills
You said everything's once done
Crossing out your boots and river grown
Clear the water from your plate
A line's been drawn
Washed away by shelling rain
I feel you like other days
Days that drift along
You said everything's once done
Crossing out your boots and river grown
Clear the water from your plate
A line's been drawn
Washed away by shelling rain
The lyrics of Shelling Rain by Alejandro Escovedo are quite enigmatic and esoteric, but they evoke a sense of spirituality, existentialism and detachment from materialism. The song begins with an invitation to unite with the singer and transcend the physical realm, as if the body is an obstacle that needs to be shed. The phrase 'Our bodies will disappear now' hints at the concept of self-realisation, the idea of losing the ego and merging with the universe through contemplation or meditation. The idea of taking a walk delineates the journey of life, which often entails conversations about hopes and aspirations that may seem elusive or surreal.
The lines 'Clear the water from your plate / A line's been drawn / Washed away by shelling rain' are puzzling but suggest a metaphorical cleansing of the soul after a period of confusion or conflict. The water from the plate may represent a stagnant or polluted state of mind that needs to be purified, whereas the shelling rain may be a reference to a cathartic event that causes a transformation or renewal. The phrase 'Sole off on a motorbike / Stretching out across the hills' conjures a sense of adventure, freedom and recklessness, as if the singer is exploring new horizons and escaping the mundane. The idea of 'crossing out your boots and river grown' again implies a shedding of identity or attachment to possessions and a connection with nature.
Overall, the song may be interpreted as a poem about the search for meaning and purpose in life, the dissolution of the ego, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. The lyrics are open to various interpretations and may resonate with different listeners for different reasons.
Line by Line Meaning
If you listen, fly with me
Let's travel together, perhaps through music or imagination
Our bodies will disappear now
We'll escape our physical reality and be lost in the moment
It was your idea to take a walk
You initiated our journey, and I agreed to join
Started talking about dreams
We discussed our aspirations and desires
Clear the water from your plate
Take care of your responsibilities, so you can focus on what matters most
A line's been drawn
A boundary or limit has been set
Washed away by shelling rain
The rain has erased or overcome the boundary, making it insignificant
Sole off on a motor bike
I rode solo on a motorcycle
Stretching out across the hills
I explored and experienced the landscape
You said everything's once done
You expressed the idea that everything has a beginning and an end
Crossing out your boots and river grown
You moved forward from previous experiences or memories
I feel you like other days
I sense a familiarity or comfort in our relationship
Days that drift along
Days that pass by without much significance or direction
Clear the water from your plate
Once again, take care of your responsibilities and focus on the present
A line's been drawn
A boundary or expectation has been established
Washed away by shelling rain
Once again, the rain has overcome or erased the boundary
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO, KIM CHRISTOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind