The band was formed in Nashville by co-leads Gary Bennett and Chuck Mead. Their music, referred to as alternative country or neotraditional, contains elements of western swing and rockabilly. They eschew modern Top 40 pop-country for a more raw, honky-tonk sound, with songs about 50s pin-up/dominatrix Bettie Page and The Ramones. They took their name from a telephone number regularly used in a Junior Samples sketch on the television show Hee Haw.
BR549 toured with Bob Dylan, the Mavericks, Junior Brown, the Black Crowes, and Brian Setzer. Whike on hiatus, multi-Instrumentalist Don Herron is touring with Bob Dylan, and lead vocalist Chuck Mead is performing with the honky-tonk country supergroup The Hillbilly All-Stars, along with Robert Reynolds and Paul Deakin of the Mavericks and solo recording artist/actor Mark Collie. Former co-lead vocalist, and co-founder, Gary Bennett released his solo debut, Human Condition, in February of 2006, and former bassist Geoff Firebaugh is a member of the Nashville based rockabilly outfit Hillbilly Casino. Despite shows in Europe in 2007 it's unclear if the band will return to its capacity as a full-time touring band.
The group disbanded, and Chuck, Shaw and Donnie returned to Lower Broadway to play weekly gigs with musical collective The Hillbilly All-Stars. The three were soon revitalized to again play music within an unpredictable scene, leading them to reform BR549 in 2004 with bassist Geoff Firebaugh and singer/guitarist Chris Scruggs for their Dualtone debut Tangled In The Pines. But following victorious tours of the U.S. and Europe (marred only by two separate thefts of their instruments and gear), BR549 was faced with their ultimate challenge when Donnie Herron was invited by Bob Dylan to become the new fiddle and steel guitar player in his band.
“It was a real test of our abilities as a family,” admits Mead. “Donnie went on the road with Dylan. Shaw moved to Arizona. I’d moved on to other projects. But for us, BR549 had always been something that needs to be respected and nothing we could ever take lightly.” Following months of heart-to-heart phone calls, plate-spinning scheduling and the addition of new bassist Mark Miller, the band finally convened in Athens to record in a way they never had before. “In the past, we’d always made a record coming off the road, with songs we’d been played for weeks and sometimes months on tour,” Chuck remembers “But this time, we were all coming in fresh, making the record then and there. It’s an album that’s truly in the moment.”
BR549 released six albums and two EPs, including three albums on Arista Nashville and two on Dualtone Records. The band's self-titled debut album produced three singles on the Billboard country charts in 1996. The band was nominated three times for the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Too Lazy to Work Too Nervous to Steal
BR5-49 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a cheap hotel on the Missouri side
I had you out in my car in the parking lot
Early next morning we were driving east
Headed for the big city where I felt at least
We could enjoy the weather as long as we didn't talk
And you rolled them eyes turned to me and said
[chorus]
There's only one thing you got wrong with you
It ain't the whole world looking at you
Why don't you find yourself a life that's real
Too lazy to work, too nervous to steal
Well we got to the city and you got a job
Delivering the L.L.B. catalogue
I was bored and restless, didn't know where to go
Late one evening after I got up
My guitar and I found our way into a club
I saw the queen of diamonds work that big dance floor
Well she looked at me but I couldn't go
That familiar face said, do you want to know
[chorus]
There's only one thing you got wrong with you
It ain't the whole world looking at you
Why don't you find yourself a life that's real
Too lazy to work, too nervous to steal
You gave me 24 hours to pack up my bags and glide
No one's got respect for a man going over the side
Well you went back to the station to make sure I was gone
That bus was on time you didn't have to wait long
I saw the bright lights of Nashville disappear behind me
Well that greyhound was cool under the summer heat
I could still see your face from my window seat
I was so happy to see your crooked smile of relief
But after miles and miles of that highway has droned
I hear the last thing you said when we were all alone
[chorus]
There's only one thing you got wrong with you
It ain't the whole world looking at you
Why don't you find yourself a life that's real
Too lazy to work, too nervous to steal
Too lazy to work, too nervous to steal
Yo-do-lay-dee-hee
The singer of the song meets someone while in the middle of a bar room fight at a hotel on the Missouri side. They end up together, driving to the big city where the companion gets a job while the singer remains bored and restless. One night, the singer goes to a club and sees the "queen of diamonds" dance. But when the queen invites the singer to dance, they freeze up and can't go through with it. The companion gives the singer a 24-hour ultimatum to pack up and leave, which they do, taking a bus and leaving Nashville behind. The companion had earlier told the singer that they needed to find a life that's "real" – not one that is lazy or filled with nervous energy.
This song touches on themes of restlessness, aimlessness, and the need for direction. The singer of the song is someone who is bored and unfulfilled, unable to settle into a life that feels authentic. They crave something more, but are too "lazy" to work for it and too "nervous" to step outside of their comfort zone and take risks. Ultimately, the companion in the song sees this and urges the singer to find a path that is more meaningful and true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I met you in the middle of a bar room fight
I first encountered you while in the midst of a physical altercation in a barroom.
In a cheap hotel on the Missouri side
Our meeting took place in a low-cost Missouri side hotel.
I had you out in my car in the parking lot
Shortly after our initial encounter, I escorted you to my vehicle in the hotel parking lot.
Early next morning we were driving east
By the following morning, we had begun driving in an easterly direction.
Headed for the big city where I felt at least
My destination was a large metropolitan area, in which I believed I could find certain comforts.
We could enjoy the weather as long as we didn't talk
Provided we refrained from conversing, we could enjoy the climate of our journey.
But I spoiled it by speaking my swirly head
Regrettably, my tendency to speak incoherently interfered with the serenity of our travels.
And you rolled them eyes turned to me and said
In response to my behavior, you shifted your gaze towards me and made a statement.
[chorus]
Refrain from song.
Well we got to the city and you got a job
Upon arriving in the metropolitan area, you secured employment.
Delivering the L.L.B. catalogue
Your job involved delivering the L.L.B. catalogue.
I was bored and restless, didn't know where to go
I was consumed with ennui and disquiet, unsure of how to occupy myself.
Late one evening after I got up
After arising from slumber late one evening,
My guitar and I found our way into a club
Both myself and my guitar made an appearance at a club.
I saw the queen of diamonds work that big dance floor
While in the club, I viewed an impressive dancefloor display by the queen of diamonds.
Well she looked at me but I couldn't go
Although she made eye contact with me, I was incapable of approaching her.
That familiar face said, do you want to know
Nonetheless, she addressed me directly, posing a relevant question.
[chorus]
Refrain from song.
You gave me 24 hours to pack up my bags and glide
You presented me with a 24-hour ultimatum to collect my belongings and depart.
No one's got respect for a man going over the side
Nobody regards a man who concedes defeat favorably.
Well you went back to the station to make sure I was gone
After issuing your ultimatum, you checked to ensure that I had left as instructed.
That bus was on time you didn't have to wait long
Fortunately for you, the bus I had arranged transportation on arrived promptly.
I saw the bright lights of Nashville disappear behind me
As I traveled away, the brilliant lights of Nashville gradually became less visible.
Well that greyhound was cool under the summer heat
Despite intense weather conditions, the Greyhound bus operated efficiently.
I could still see your face from my window seat
From the vantage point of my on-board window seat, I was still able to observe your visage.
I was so happy to see your crooked smile of relief
Upon recognizing the expression of relief on your face, I experienced immense joy.
But after miles and miles of that highway has droned
As the miles chugged by monotonously on the highway,
I hear the last thing you said when we were all alone
I recalled the final statement you had made to me in private.
[chorus]
Refrain from song.
Too lazy to work, too nervous to steal
By way of summary, it is lamentable that I am too lethargic to labor and too anxious to abscond with someone else's valuable belongings.
Yo-do-lay-dee-hee
Exclamation for musical flair.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ScottishJohn
"The Greatest band you've never heard of", couldn't put it any better. One of the best live acts I've ever seen!!
Gary S.
Damn! I love this record! Why wasn't it a huge hit? It didn't even chart! WTF? Were people deaf? These guys harmonize with the best of them! And the song cooks! It's a #1 hit in my book!
RychleTube
Just found out about this band. The guys were so great
gcord21
Listen to Lifetime To Prove, great country song. They should have had big mainstream success.
Paul Brown
Great musicians. One listen to this band tells you that.
Disney Beams
BR-549 need to reform and join forces with The Mavericks, Sturgill Simpson, and Old Crow Medicine Show and obliterate bro-country!
Brett Gast
What do you mean... This started "bro-country".
Larry Andersen
Creed Fisher has entered the chat.
immortal fade
@wasabihansen little late for justin townes earl though
Dick Richards
Hell yes!