Callahan started out as a highly experimental artist, using substandard instruments and recording equipment. His early songs often nearly lacked melodic structure and were clumsily played on poorly tuned guitars (possibly influenced by Jandek, whom Callahan admired), resulting in the dissonant sounds on his self-released cassettes and debut album Sewn to the Sky. Much of his early output was instrumental, a stark contrast to the lyrical focus of his later work. Apparently, he used lo-fi techniques not primarily because of an aesthetic preference but because he didn't have any other possibility to make music. Once he signed a contract with Drag City, he also started to use recording studios and a greater variety of instruments for his records.
From 1993 to 2000, Callahan's recordings grew more and more "professional" sounding, with more instruments, and a higher sound quality. In this period he recorded two albums with the influential producer Jim O'Rourke and Tortoise's John McEntire, and collaborated with Neil Hagerty. After 2000's Dongs of Sevotion, Callahan began moving back to a slightly simpler instrumentation and recording style, while retaining the more consistent songwriting style he had developed over the years. This shift is apparent in albums such as Rain on Lens, Supper, and A River Ain't Too Much to Love.
Smog's songs are often based on simple, repetitive structures, consisting of a simple chord progression repeated for the duration of the entire song. His singing is strikingly characterized by his baritone voice and a style of delivery without being over-emotional. Melodically and lyrically he tends to eschew the verse-chorus approach favoured by many contemporary songwriters, preferring instead a more free-form approach relying less on melodic and lyrical repetition. Themes in Callahan's lyrics include relationships, moving, horses, teenagers, bodies of water, and more recently, politics. His generally dispassionate delivery of lyrics and dark irony often obfuscate complex emotional and lyrical twists and turns. Critics have generally characterized his music as depressing and intensely introverted, with one critic describing it as "a peep-show view into an insular world of alienation." Despite this there is also a broad swathe of joy throughout Callahan's work and more attentive critics have picked up on Callahan's tendency to black humour, a tendency often confused with a depressed mental state or a genuine obsession with the morbid, a confusion no doubt caused by his deadpan vocals.
Cat Power (Chan Marshall) recorded Callahan's song Bathysphere on her 1996 album What Would the Community Think. She covered him again in 2000 on her Covers Record doing the song Red Apples.
Smog's Cold Blooded Old Times appears on the High Fidelity soundtrack. The song Vessel in Vain (from Supper) was also used on the soundtrack of the independent British film Dead Man's Shoes in 2004. In October 2007, Cadillac released a commercial which featured Smog's song Held and Bob Dylan driving a 2008 Escalade through the desert.
As of 2007 he lives in Austin, Texas where he released Woke on a Whaleheart. It was his first record release as Bill Callahan.
Honeymoon Child
Bill Callahan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Conceived on an island on the sun
Heels dug in the white sand
Loved and adored from day one
Raised in the wild space between two hearts
With Einstein trees towards the light
Running naked, dragging a kite
For your dress on a string
You bring out the soft side in everyone
We gather like ravens on a rusty scythe
Just to watch such a little dove
Just to watch such a little dove
Fly away
Mr. Bones from town
Said he saw you the other day
Said you'd changed, but he wouldn't say how
It can always turn
It can always turn
The wind can always turn
The opening lines of Bill Callahan's Honeymoon Child describe a person who is special and unique, someone who was conceived in a romantic location, an island basked in the warmth of the sun. The use of the term "honeymoon child" suggests that this person is a romantic and optimistic being, conceived during a period of love and happiness. The image of their parents on a sun-drenched beach, their heels dug into the white sand, hints at the carefree and relaxed upbringing that this person was fortunate enough to have.
The next lines describe the idyllic childhood that this person enjoyed. They were raised in the "wild space between two hearts", a poetic image of the love and affection between their parents. The reference to Einstein trees towards the light is a clever nod to the idea of intelligence and growth, as Einstein himself was known for his insights into the workings of the universe. The image of the child running naked while dragging a kite by a string is an evocative image of innocence and freedom.
The final lines of the song suggest that things can change quickly, just as the wind can turn in an instant. The reference to Mr. Bones suggests that there has been some kind of change in the person's life, though we're not told what it is. The song ends on a slightly ominous note, leaving the listener to ponder the potential dangers that lurk just beneath the surface of even the happiest life.
Line by Line Meaning
You are a true honeymoon child
You were conceived in paradise and brought up feeling loved and adored.
Conceived on an island on the sun
You were created in a perfect and idyllic location, surrounded by natural and unspoiled beauty.
Heels dug in the white sand
Your parents' love and commitment to each other was as solid and unwavering as the sand beneath your feet.
Loved and adored from day one
You were cherished right from the start, and always felt that love and attention throughout your life.
Raised in the wild space between two hearts
Growing up, the love and connection between your parents created a safe and nurturing environment for you to grow.
With Einstein trees towards the light
The trees around your childhood home seemed wise and ancient, reaching towards the sky, giving you a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Running naked, dragging a kite
You had a sense of freedom and joy as a child, feeling comfortable in your own skin and exploring the world around you.
For your dress on a string
You didn't need material possessions to feel good about yourself - a makeshift toy like a dress on a string was enough to make you happy and content.
You bring out the soft side in everyone
Your positive and kind presence has a way of bringing out the compassionate and empathetic side of those around you.
We gather like ravens on a rusty scythe
People are drawn to your warmth and light like ravens flocking to an old and rusted tool, coming together to share in your positive energy.
Just to watch such a little dove
People are so enamored by your gentle nature that they are happy to simply observe and appreciate you, much like watching a bird in flight.
Fly away
But people also realize that your kind heart and free spirit is not something they can keep for themselves, and they allow you to continue to grow and explore the world at your own pace.
Mr. Bones from town
A local resident who knows you and your family.
Said he saw you the other day
Recently came across you.
Said you'd changed, but he wouldn't say how
Noticed a difference in your demeanor, but didn't feel it was his place to discuss it any further.
It can always turn
Life is unpredictable and can change in an instant.
The wind can always turn
Just as the direction of wind can change, so can the circumstances of our lives.
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.