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...
Walk Softly
Barefoot Truth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gotta stop this nation the new war
We ask the gov for answers
But it's plain to see they ain't got no clue
They just keep pointing fingers
You can pass the blame but we all know the truth
In the end it don't even matter
Cause the only blames on me and you
Can't you see that they way that we living
It won't easily be forgiven
Can't you see that the way that we living now
It won't easily be forgiven
The house, the car, the foot in the kitchen
Turn up the heat give me warm when we're sleeping
Can't you see that they way we living
It won't easily be forgiven, no
Break down the system
No we just can't let it be
I know it's easier to look away
But tell me what's with all the apathy
We never never wanna take our time
Standing in the checkout line
We just a shuffle shuffle shuffle our feet
Let me throw my money away
Ain't got the time of day
Or caring's not something I really need
So take, well take it from me
I can't bear to see all the damage that I've been dosed
Man, well the price we pay
We should've stayed in our caves and let life just run its course
Oh now it's such a crying shame
All the shit we leave behind for those without a name
Tell me is it all in vain
If we can't learn from the past we're doomed to repeat it again and again
And we say we want no part of this
Well what are we waiting for
Keep on telling me it's almost won
It never should've begun
And we say we want no part of this
Well what are we waiting for
Keep on telling me it's almost won
Why's it still going on?
And now we see that our ship's not coming in
You think we might've thought of that before we cast ourselves adrift
We keep leaving footprints far bigger than our feet
If we're gonna keep trampling on
Well can we please walk softly
Can't you see that they way that we living
It won't easily be forgiven
Can't you see that the way that we living now
It won't easily be forgiven
The house, the car, the foot in the kitchen
Turn up the heat give me warm when we're sleeping
Can't you see that they way we living
It won't easily be forgiven, no
Well it's such a crying shame
All the shit we leave behind for those without a name
Tell me is it all in vain
If we can't learn from the past we're doomed to repeat it again and again
And we say we want no part of this
Well what are we waiting for
Keep on telling me it's almost won
It never should've begun
x4
The song "Walk Softly" by Barefoot Truth is a powerful reflection on the state of our society and the impact of our actions on the world around us. The lyrics call for individuals to take responsibility for their actions and make changes to preserve the environment and prevent further damage. The song discusses the failure of governments and institutions to take action to address pressing issues, and highlights the need for individuals to be accountable and take action themselves.
The first verse of the song references the border and the impact of nationalism on society. The lyrics suggest that the division of the world into separate nations has led to conflict and war, and that individuals must work together to overcome these issues. The chorus emphasizes the importance of changes in our way of life, highlighting the need for people to move away from a consumerist lifestyle and towards one that is more mindful of the environment and other living beings.
The second verse of the song focuses on the need for systemic change. The lyrics call out the apathy of many individuals towards pressing issues and their failure to take action. The song suggests that we have a responsibility to use our resources wisely and to take a more mindful approach to our lives. The chorus is repeated several times, emphasizing the need for individual and systemic change in order to create a more just and sustainable world.
Overall, "Walk Softly" is a passionate call to action, urging individuals to be more mindful in their everyday lives and to work towards systemic change to create a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Break down the border
We need to break down the barriers and divisions that separate us from one another.
We gotta stop this nation the new war
We must put an end to the endless cycle of wars and conflicts between nations.
We ask the gov for answers
We turn to our government for solutions and leadership.
But it's plain to see they ain't got no clue
However, it's evident that our leaders are incompetent and lack direction.
They just keep pointing fingers
Instead of taking responsibility, our leaders just blame others and refuse to act.
You can pass the blame but we all know the truth
But we can see through their lies and know that the blame ultimately lies with all of us.
In the end, it don't even matter
Ultimately, the consequences of our actions, or lack thereof, are what truly matter.
Cause the only blames on me and you
Because we are all responsible for the state of the world and the future that we create.
Can't you see that they way that we living
The lifestyle that we are accustomed to living
It won't easily be forgiven
Cannot be easily excused or overlooked.
The house, the car, the foot in the kitchen
Material possessions like a house, a car or even food in the kitchen
Turn up the heat give me warm when we're sleeping
Our obsession with comfort and convenience
We never never wanna take our time
We are impatient and refuse to slow down.
Standing in the checkout line
We are too busy and distracted to consider the impact of our actions and choices.
We just a shuffle shuffle shuffle our feet
We mindlessly and aimlessly go about our lives without any real purpose or direction.
Let me throw my money away
We are careless with our resources and waste them on meaningless things.
Ain't got the time of day
We are indifferent and apathetic towards the world around us.
Caring's not something I really need
We prioritize our own needs and wants above the needs of others and the world as a whole.
So take, well take it from me
We must learn from our mistakes and take responsibility for our actions.
I can't bear to see all the damage that I've been dosed
We cannot continue to ignore the harm that we have caused to the planet and each other.
Man, well the price we pay
We will eventually face the consequences of our actions, whether we acknowledge them or not.
We should've stayed in our caves and let life just run its course
We should have never interfered with the natural world and allowed things to take their natural course.
Oh now it's such a crying shame
It's a tragedy that we have created a world that is so unsustainable and unjust.
All the shit we leave behind for those without a name
We are leaving behind a legacy of destruction and inequality for future generations to deal with.
Tell me is it all in vain
Is there any hope for us to turn things around and create a better world?
Why's it still going on?
Despite all of our efforts to stop the destruction, why does it still persist?
And now we see that our ship's not coming in
We are finally realizing that we cannot rely on external forces to save us.
You think we might've thought of that before we cast ourselves adrift
We should have taken responsibility for our own survival and the survival of the planet much earlier.
We keep leaving footprints far bigger than our feet
Our impact on the world is much greater than the sum of our individual actions.
If we're gonna keep trampling on
If we continue our destructive ways.
Well can we please walk softly
Can we please start to tread more lightly on the earth and make a positive impact instead?
Contributed by Ryan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.