According to Bob Dylan's autobiographical Chronicles, Woody Guthrie gave his unpublished songs to Dylan but Bob was unable to get them from Guthrie's family (he tells a story about a reluctant babysitter).
Nora Guthrie's liner notes in Mermaid Avenue indicate that it was her intention that the songs be given to a new generation of musicians who would be able to make the songs relevant to a younger generation. She therefore contacted singer-songwriter Billy Bragg in spring 1995 about recording some unreleased songs by her father, folk singer Woody Guthrie. Most of the songs were written late in Guthrie's life when he was unable to record due to the motor impairments of Huntington's disease. By the 1990s, Woody Guthrie had become a "relic" to the MTV generation, and Nora sought to establish a different legacy for the musician. To Nora, Bragg was "the only singer I knew taking on the same issues as Woody." Bragg was concerned, however, that his fans would not realize that the songs were written by Guthrie when he performed them on tour, so he decided to record the album with another band.
Bragg contacted Tweedy and Bennett about co-recording the album while Wilco was on the European segment of their Being There tour. Bragg was particularly fond of Being There because their influences extended farther back than the 1950s. Although Tweedy was indifferent to the offer, Bennett was enthused about recording songs of one of his idols—Bennett's previous band Titanic Love Affair was named after a Billy Bragg lyric. A recording contract between Bragg and Wilco was signed after a show at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Bragg mostly recorded the politically-charged lyrics, while Tweedy preferred to record lyrics that showcased Guthrie as a "freak weirdo." The recording of Mermaid Avenue began on December 12, 1997, and was the topic of BBC's Man in the Sand documentary film.
Tempers flared between Bragg and Wilco after the album was completed. Bennett believed that Bragg was overproducing his songs, a sharp contrast to Wilco's sparser contributions. Bennett called Bragg about the possibility of remixing Bragg's songs, to which Bragg responded with "you make your record, and I'll make mine, fucker." Eventually Bragg sent copies of his recordings to Chicago for Bennett to remix, but Bragg refused to use the new mixes on the album. The two parties were unable to establish a promotional tour and quarreled over royalties and guest musician fees.
Despite these conflicts, the album was released on June 23, 1998, and sold over 277,000 copies. The album received rave reviews from Robert Christgau and Rolling Stone, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. It also placed fourth on the Pazz & Jop critics poll for 1998 (right behind Bob Dylan's Live 1966).
She Came Along to Me
Billy Bragg & Wilco Lyrics
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Cause I felt if I could know her
I would know all women
And they've not been any too well known
For brains and planning and organized thinking
But I'm sure the women are equal
And they may be ahead of the men
Yet I wouldn't spread such a rumor around
Cause one organizes the other
And sometimes the most lost and wasted
Attract the most balanced and sane
And the wild and the reckless take up
With the clocked and the timed
And the mixture is all of us
And we're still mixing
But never never never
Never could have it been done
If the women hadn't entered into the deal
Like she came along to me
And all creeds and kinds and colors
Of us are blending
Till I suppose ten million years from now
We'll all be just alike
Same color, same size, working together
And maybe we'll have all of the fascists
Out of the way by then
Maybe so
But never never never
Never could have it been done
If the women hadn't entered into the deal
Like she came along to me
The lyrics of "She Came Along to Me" by Billy Bragg & Wilco are a reflection on the role women have played in shaping civilization. The first verse presents the idea that knowing one woman intimately would lead a man to understand all women - this illustrates the profound impact the individual female can have on society. The second verse recognizes the historical underestimation of women's abilities and intelligence, yet suggests that despite this, women may be ahead of men in some ways. However, the singer recognizes the necessity of avoiding promoting the idea of superiority of one gender over the other, as both genders are needed and complement each other's weaknesses. The third verse celebrates the ongoing process of diversity through social mixing, with the ultimate goal of becoming one cooperative and equal society while acknowledging that progress could not have been made without the involvement of women.
The song celebrates the contribution of women to humanity and the need for equal rights between the genders. The message is timeless and resonates especially today, as the fight for gender equality still rages on across the globe.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten hundred books could I write you about her
I am so enamored with this woman that I could write an infinite number of books just about her.
Cause I felt if I could know her
I believed that understanding her would give me insight into the nature of all women.
I would know all women
By knowing her, I thought I could grasp the essence of femininity and apply that understanding to all women.
And they've not been any too well known
Society has not always granted women the recognition or opportunities they deserve.
For brains and planning and organized thinking
Women have not always been celebrated for their intelligence, ability to plan, or capacity for logical thinking.
But I'm sure the women are equal
I believe that women are just as capable as men, despite these societal limitations.
And they may be ahead of the men
In fact, women may even be more accomplished or advanced than men in some areas.
Yet I wouldn't spread such a rumor around
However, I know that many people may not be ready to accept this truth, so I won't go around sharing it as fact.
Cause one organizes the other
At the end of the day, both men and women need one another to work together and function as a society.
And sometimes the most lost and wasted
Ironically, those who seem most aimless and unproductive often end up attracting stable, grounded individuals.
Attract the most balanced and sane
These seemingly incompatible personalities actually complement each other and create a harmonious whole.
And the wild and the reckless take up
People with carefree, spirited attitudes often partner with those who are more regimented and thorough.
With the clocked and the timed
Together, these differing personalities are what make up our society as a whole.
And the mixture is all of us
We are all unique mixtures of varying traits and characteristics, which ultimately define who we are as individuals.
And we're still mixing
Our society is constantly evolving as we continue to blend and mix our many differences.
But never never never
It is crucial to acknowledge and respect the important role that women have played and continue to play in this evolution.
Never could have it been done
Without the contributions of women, much of the progress we've made would not have been possible.
If the women hadn't entered into the deal
Women have made significant strides in securing their place as equals in our society.
Like she came along to me
The woman who inspired me served as a symbol for all the other amazing women who have contributed to this progress.
And all creeds and kinds and colors
Our society is a diverse mix of people of all backgrounds, and we are all in this together.
Of us are blending
Our individual differences are what make us great, but it is our collective efforts that will move us forward.
Till I suppose ten million years from now
Our evolution as a society will continue to progress over the course of many centuries and millennia.
We'll all be just alike
As we continue to blend and mix our differences, we will eventually become more unified and similar in our attitudes and values.
Same color, same size, working together
A future where our differences in race, ethnicity, and physical appearance no longer matter is something worth striving for.
And maybe we'll have all of the fascists
A symbol for all those who seek to undermine our diversity and harm others in the name of their political beliefs.
Out of the way by then
This is a future where hate and division will no longer be tolerated, and such extreme attitudes will have no place in our society.
Maybe so
While it may be a far-off dream, it is something we can all work towards, regardless of our individual backgrounds.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN WILLIAM BRAGG, WOODY GUTHRIE, JEFFREY SCOT TWEEDY, JAY W. BENNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind