1. Billy Pilgrim (also bi… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists named Billy Pilgrim;
1. Billy Pilgrim (also billy pilgrim) is an American folk-rock duo based in Atlanta, Georgia, consisting of Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush. The band's name was taken from the time-traveling protagonist of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse Five. The name was adopted in 1994; before that the duo simply billed itself as Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush.
Kristian Bush and Andrew Hyra first began working together in 1990. After performing together for about a year they started recording their songs to tape. The self-release St. Christopher's Crossing was recorded in two days in a studio in Knoxville and appeared in 1991[2] (credited to "Andrew Hyra & Kristian Bush") on cassette. The album was released on CD in 1992 when Amy Ray of Indigo Girls helped them with the release costs. Playing hundreds of shows in the Southwest their effort was noticed and they proceeded to record their second album Words Like Numbers under the indie label Sister Ruby. After this they signed to Atlantic Records, naming the group "Billy Pilgrim". [3]
In 1993 Billy Pilgrim recorded their debut album at Nickel and Dime Studios with Don McCollister producing and Hugh Padgham mixing the record. The eponymous album was a moderate success when released in 1994. With the next album, Bloom, the band launched a fall tour, headlining larger venues than they had in the past. Yet in early 1996, the band was dropped by Atlantic. After releasing several albums thru Internet only, the album In the Time Machine became their last effort to date, released on May 12, 2001.[1] Billy Pilgrim released their most recent album in 2021.
2. Billy Pilgrim was the pseudonym used by itsu jitsu netlabel curator Jason Kavanagh between August 1999 and March 2001, all of the Billy Pilgrim material was written and recorded in St. Andrews, Scotland.
In his time as Billy Pilgrim, Jason recorded three albums of electronic music and a handful of 'various artist' compilation exclusive tracks before holstering his sampler and hanging up his patch cords for nearly ten years. In late 2009 he re-emerged from his non-music making slumber as awaycaboose (experimental, ambient, field recording) and Cavity Pitch (noise, harsh noise, power electronics).
Somewhat bizarrely he also took his moniker from the anti-hero of Kurt Vonnegut's seminal novel Slaughterhouse 5, just like the guys above.
Hurricane Season
Billy Pilgrim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Board the windows up before it's too late
The weather man and my horoscope both agree
It's not in the stars tonight for folks like me
I chase the minute hand around my watch
And smell the rain blowing in
A flashlight for my soul and a blanket for the cold
I guess we'll sit this one through
Batten down the hatches boys
It's hurricane season
Rain blurred on a night like this
You'd think there's nothing left on earth
The wind measures out the size of my bones
And tries to tell me what they're worth
Then it all starts up, gets out of control
And your life blows up like a great big balloon
It gets sucked up by the swirling wind
And you know another hurricane is coming through again
At the edge of the mariner's map it's written
"Beyond this place lie monsters"
[Chorus]
At the edge of the mariner's map it's written
Things like this can't be forgiven
At the edge of the mariner's map it's written
Beyond this place, beyond this place
The lyrics of Billy Pilgrim's "Hurricane Season" describe the chaos and destruction that comes with a raging storm. The quarter moon is described as chalk on a slate, perhaps indicating the looming danger that is approaching. The singer is warned by both the weatherman and their horoscope that this storm is not meant for them. Despite this warning, the singer awaits the storm, chasing the minute hand around their watch and smelling the rain blowing in. They sit with a flashlight and blanket, implying that they are prepared for what is to come.
As the storm hits, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the chaos that ensues. The rain blurs, reducing visibility to almost nothing. The wind measures out the size of the singer's bones and tries to define their worth. The hurricane becomes a metaphor for a life that is out of control. The storm sucks everything up like a great big balloon, leaving nothing but destruction in its path. As the storm dies down, we are left with a somber warning: "Beyond this place lie monsters." This could possibly refer to the idea that there are worse things in life than just a hurricane, and that one should always be prepared for whatever may come.
Overall, "Hurricane Season" is a stirring and powerful song that uses the metaphor of a hurricane to explore the idea of life's unpredictable chaos. The song is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and serves to remind us that we must be ready for whatever obstacles come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
The quarter moon like chalk on a slate
The moon is a mere sliver in the sky and easily forgotten amidst the chaos of preparing for an impending hurricane.
Board the windows up before it's too late
Take action to protect oneself and one's home from the coming storm before it is too late.
The weather man and my horoscope both agree
It's not in the stars tonight for folks like me
Both science and superstition predict that the singer is in for a rough night and his fate is out of his control.
I chase the minute hand around my watch
And smell the rain blowing in
The artist is acutely aware of the passing time and the impending storm as it draws near.
A flashlight for my soul and a blanket for the cold
I guess we'll sit this one through
The artist seeks to comfort himself emotionally and physically as he resigns himself to endure another hurricane season.
Ah it's hurricane season
Batten down the hatches boys
It's hurricane season
The singer acknowledges with a sigh that it is once again time to prepare for the coming storms.
Rain blurred on a night like this
You'd think there's nothing left on earth
Amidst the pounding rain and relentless wind, all sense of normalcy and civilization seems to disappear.
The wind measures out the size of my bones
And tries to tell me what they're worth
The fierce wind and turbulence of the storm seem to taunt the artist for his smallness and insignificance in the face of nature's power.
Then it all starts up, gets out of control
And your life blows up like a great big balloon
It gets sucked up by the swirling wind
And you know another hurricane is coming through again
The destruction and chaos wrought by the hurricane seems to inflate and consume all other aspects of life, leaving the artist with the knowledge that inevitably another storm will follow.
At the edge of the mariner's map it's written
"Beyond this place lie monsters"
The unknown dangers and perils of uncharted territory are illustrated by the ominous warning on an ancient map.
[Chorus]
At the edge of the mariner's map it's written
Things like this can't be forgiven
At the edge of the mariner's map it's written
Beyond this place, beyond this place
The chorus repeats the warning from the map, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need to respect the power of the storm.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KRISTIAN BUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ltwilliamson1
One of my good friends got them to PLAY AT HIS HIGHSCHOOL! like 15 years ago. He went to McCallie in TN. He's still a conduit for great music that friend of mine and he said none of the kids understood the caliber of musical talent they were witnessing back then.
@dochteriris
I saw them opening for Melissa Etheridge in '94 I think. It was in Groningen and I used the money I had with me to buy a Melissa t-shirt, to buy their album. I fell in love and it's my favourite CD to this day. even my children sing to every song as it was played over and over in the car.
@dvd1966
one of the best concerts i have ever seen
@bamascubaman
Saw them in Mobile at Monssons, great show. Sadly they broke up shortly after that.
@paulvega6309
great writers, musicians. saw them in like 1994 or something in cincinnati ohio at Music hall warming up melissa etheridge. they really hit me
@georgecason1641
Was it way back in '94 they toured? WOW! Tells me a little about my age that I didn't realize! I sat at Chastain Park in Atlanta and had the privilege of sitting next to some of their relatives......they were so excited. I went and bought the CD as soon as it came out. If I only was able to have one "CD" it would be this one. Thank you guys!
PS, my wife says it was Chastain, 94-95 with Tears for Fears? And Meg Ryan is the sister of one of the guys???? If I sat next to Meg Ryan and didn't realize it......dohhhh
@jbartyparty7398
Holy crap!! That is killer. Seeing Meg Ryan must've seemed like some kind of rare Yeti sighting!! Don't think I've ever heard Andrew every make reference to his famous sister. Spoke to him a couple of times after small shows in Myrtle Beach and at Eddie's and he was so down to earth, just a regular dude with a penchant for great toe-tapping folk rock and a voice that can fill your soul. Love these guys!
@bobducey
No reason why this song shouldn't have gone platinum... Sigh...
@EightTrackBass
Check out our cover of this great song.