Since the band's establishment during college, Barefoot Truth has been developing this signature sound that has virally spread through a grassroots following. With their lead singer on drums, and an array of unlikely roots-based instrumentation, the band translates their originality to their ever-evolving live show. The quintet features Will Evans on lead vocals and drums, John Waynelovich on piano, Jay Driscoll on Weissenborn slide guitar, Andy Wrba on upright bass, and Garrett Duffy on harmonica. It is not unlikely for members of the band to switch instruments mid-show, or even begin playing a didjeridoo, adding to the dynamic of the band's sound.
Mixing a strong environmental message with the lofty theme of humankind's interconnectedness on their 2010 studio album 'Threads', Barefoot Truth reached #21 on the iTunes Rock Charts, momentarily stepping ahead of bands such as Dave Matthews Band and The Fray. The new disc was noted as "The best independently released album of 2010" by ThisIsModern. Barefoot Truth happily credits Pandora Radio for their crucial role in growing the band’s silent army of listeners, as Driscoll recently stated in a USA Today article, "Pandora has basically created an avenue for us to have a career in music".
Since taking the band 'full-time' in 2007, after finishing college, Barefoot Truth has earned spotlight attention on many levels, including an invitation to play at President Obama's pre-debate rally in New York, where they performed between Bruce Hornsby and Crosby and Nash. They were asked to lend several songs from their new album 'Threads' to the internationally acclaimed film 'Nature Propelled', in addition to scoring original music for the film. Barefoot Truth also lent their song 'Threads' to the video game 'Rock Band' (MTV Games). The band has also made appearances at major festivals such as Summerfest, 10,000 Lakes Festival, and FloydFest, in addition to tallying over 100 college and prepschool performances in the Northeast. Fans of Barefoot Truth can be confident that the quiet success of this small band will grow increasingly louder, one listener at a time...
Drink to You
Barefoot Truth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't let me find you hangin' around here
To me it's all clear, you're lettin' another steer
Your life in the wrong direction
You need some social protection, cause my recollection
I was on a similar path following the footprints
You know they've been there for years,
I want it here, this much is clear
So raise your glass and I'll drink to you
And they will find themselves when the drinking's through
If the man shows his face before your feet hit the floor
Turn to the left and make for the back door
Right into the night you know we hit the streets runnin'
Ain't behind you yet, but you know that it's comin' now
Don't slow down those stars they fade from red to green
And the lights all change
Well take a deep breathe and count to ten
Pull yourself together we're gonna do it again
They can't turn us down, we'll fight our way in
Place your bets and make your bids
"A day in the life", some might say
Man, we're just tryin' to get a taste
But why we gotta hide behind this face
Because without it we'd never be accepted in this place
Place your bets and I'll think of you
Maybe we'll find ourselves when the drinking's through
The man shows his face before your feet hit the floor
Turn to the left and make for the back door
Right into the night you know we hit the streets runnin'
Ain't behind you yet, cause you know that it's comin' now
Don't slow down those stars they fade from red to green
And the lights all change
Oh, oh woah
I said I won't slow down until the stars they fade
(Raise your glass and I'll drink to you)
Runnin' these streets where lives are made
Now close your eyes, we'll call good days
(Maybe we'll find ourselves when the drinking's through)
From red to green, the lights all change
How you gonna tell me I'm not the age
(Raise your glass and I'll drink to you)
Put a gun in my hand and take my drink away, take my drink away
(Maybe we'll find ourselves when the drinking's through)
I said I won't slow down until the stars they fade
(Raise your glass and I'll drink to you)
Runnin' these streets where lives are made
Now close your eyes, we'll call good days
(Maybe we'll find ourselves when the drinking's through)
From red to green, the lights all change
How you gonna tell me I'm not the age
(Raise your glass and I'll drink to you)
Hold a gun in my hand and take my drink away, take my drink away
(Maybe we'll find ourselves when the drinking's through)
The song "Drink to You" by Barefoot Truth is about the struggle to stay true to oneself while trying to fit in and feel accepted in a society where conformity may seem like the norm. The lyrics describe a situation where the singer is concerned about a friend who is going down the wrong path and hanging out with the wrong people. The singer reflects on a time in his life where he was in a similar situation, following the footprints of others, and needed social protection to steer his life in the right direction. The chorus encourages raising a glass to the friend, in the hopes that they will find themselves when the drinking's through. The lyrics also talk about the pressure to hide behind a face to be accepted in society, but the ultimate message is to stay true to oneself and never slow down until the stars fade.
Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of peer pressure and the importance of staying true to oneself. It also celebrates the camaraderie and bond shared between friends, who look out for each other, and support each other's journey to find their place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
The network is down, the problem can't be found
Something is wrong, but no one knows what it is
Don't let me find you hangin' around here
I don't want to see you wasting your time here
To me it's all clear, you're lettin' another steer
It's obvious that you're letting someone else control your life
Your life in the wrong direction
Your life is going down the wrong path
You need some social protection, cause my recollection
You need friends who will support you, because I remember being in a similar situation
I was on a similar path following the footprints
I have experience with following a similar path
You know they've been there for years,
These problems have been around for a long time
I want it here, this much is clear
I want to succeed, and it's obvious
So raise your glass and I'll drink to you
Let's celebrate and encourage each other
And they will find themselves when the drinking's through
After a night of partying, people will discover who they truly are
If the man shows his face before your feet hit the floor
If trouble starts before you have a chance to leave
Turn to the left and make for the back door
Head towards the exit and leave quickly
Right into the night you know we hit the streets runnin'
We leave quickly and start running into the night
Ain't behind you yet, but you know that it's comin' now
The trouble hasn't caught up with you yet, but it will soon
Don't slow down those stars they fade from red to green
Keep moving because time is running out
And the lights all change
The situation is constantly evolving
Well take a deep breathe and count to ten
Take a moment to calm down and collect yourself
Pull yourself together we're gonna do it again
Get your act together because we have to keep going
They can't turn us down, we'll fight our way in
We won't be denied, we'll keep pushing forward
"A day in the life", some might say
Some might say this is just another day
Man, we're just tryin' to get a taste
We're just trying to experience life
But why we gotta hide behind this face
Why do we have to pretend to be someone we're not
Because without it we'd never be accepted in this place
We have to keep up appearances to fit in
Place your bets and I'll think of you
Let's make a bet and hope for the best
Maybe we'll find ourselves when the drinking's through
We might discover who we truly are after a night of partying
The man shows his face before your feet hit the floor
If trouble starts before you're ready to leave
Turn to the left and make for the back door
Quickly head for the exit
Hold a gun in my hand and take my drink away, take my drink away
I'll fight for my right to drink
I said I won't slow down until the stars they fade
I won't stop until I feel like time is running out
Runnin' these streets where lives are made
Living life to the fullest on the streets
Now close your eyes, we'll call good days
Let's enjoy the moment and reminisce about the good times
From red to green, the lights all change
Life is constantly evolving
How you gonna tell me I'm not the age
Don't tell me what I can or cannot do based on my age
Put a gun in my hand and take my drink away, take my drink away
I'll defend my right to drink if I have to
Contributed by Connor P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.