A master of the guitar, banjo, and mandolin, Strings is a singer and instrumentalist whose music starts with the sound and speed of bluegrass and folds in elements of rock, jazz, and psychedelia. Strings deals in acoustic music, but his lyrics are rooted in contemporary issues ("Dust in a Baggie" sounds like a classic bluegrass breakdown, but the lyrics deal with crystal meth addiction), and the music reinforces this fusion of past and present, melding modern melodic frameworks with fiddles and banjos. Strings's music was presented in its most traditional form on his 2016 self-titled EP, 2019's Grammy-winning Home added a more rock-oriented production style and extended jams to his formula, and 2021's Renewal featured some of his most personal songwriting and ambitious music to date.
Born in Lansing, Michigan, his family relocated to Morehead, Kentucky, for a spell before later settling in Muir, a small town in Michigan. Billy's father and uncle were both accomplished musicians, and the youngster was surrounded by acoustic music practically from birth. At the age of four, Billy asked his father for a guitar, and he was soon learning to play a second-hand instrument that cost 25 dollars. By the time he was six, he was good enough to join his dad for bluegrass picking parties, and his aunt nicknamed him Billy Strings. By the time he was in middle school, he had picked up an electric guitar and was playing in a heavy metal band. However, it led him into a circle of friends who were abusing drugs, and Strings believed it was leading him into a dark place.
Determined to find a better path, Strings returned to playing bluegrass, and after completing high school, he moved to Traverse City, a city in Northern Michigan with a lively music and art scene. When Strings performed at an open-mike night at a club called the Hayloft, local pickers were impressed with his skills, and he soon found a mentor and picking partner in mandolinist Don Julin, who recorded a duo album with Strings titled Rock of Ages. (Strings also independently released a home-brewed solo album in 2014, Fiddle Tune X.) He also played with a bluegrass combo called M-23 Strings, and earned a reputation as one of the most promising talents in the Mitten State.
In early 2016, Strings left Traverse City for Nashville, where the talented newcomer did not go unnoticed. In September 2017, he released Turmoil & Tinfoil, an effort that found him adding a wider variety of sounds and influences to his music. The album was produced by Glenn Brown, who had previously worked with Greensky Bluegrass and Luke Winslow-King. After landing a deal with roots music specialists Rounder Records, Strings returned in 2019 with his second solo outing, Home. It won a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown of 2020, Strings had more time to devote to his songwriting, and 2021's Renewal found him exploring darker and more personal themes as well as broadening the instrumental palette of his band.
Biography by Mark Deming
Enough To Leave
Billy Strings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems like every way you turned was like a hard wind comin' down
Enough to leave me, enough to leave me here
And though the room is empty now I can almost feel you near
What am I supposed to do with my afternoon?
No, I won't hear your call
No, I won't see you soon
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
I'd give you diamonds, I'd give you rings and pearls
If you could stay a while with me and just hold on to this world
I'm feeling sorry for things I haven't said
And there's a lot I'd like to say before the final page is read
What am I supposed to do with my afternoon?
No, I won't hear your call
No, I won't see you soon
What can you say to me to ease my heart in pain?
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
It's finally over, It's finally over now
And you can rest assured my friend 'cause you'll be resting anyhow
I hate to leave you, hate to say goodbye
I'm sure to hear your voice come through in the early morning sky
What am I supposed to do in my afternoons?
No, I won't hear your call
No, I won't see you soon
But can you say to me to ease my heart in pain?
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
Merci
The lyrics of Billy Strings's song "Enough to Leave" convey a sense of longing, loss, and the struggle to move on after a relationship has ended. The opening lines, "Enough to kill ya, enough to put you down, Seems like every way you turned was like a hard wind comin' down," suggest that the relationship was filled with challenges and difficulties that eventually led to its demise. The singer acknowledges the emptiness they feel now that their partner is gone, yet there is still a lingering presence that can be felt.
The chorus reflects the singer's confusion and emotional turmoil. They are left wondering what they are supposed to do with their time now that their afternoon and their future plans no longer revolve around their former partner. The mention of not hearing their call or seeing them soon indicates a sense of detachment and distance between the two individuals. The singer craves some kind of solace or comfort for their heartache, hoping for a ray of light to come and heal their emotional pain.
In the second verse, the singer expresses their willingness to give anything to keep their partner by their side. They mention offering diamonds, rings, and pearls, emphasizing their desire to hold onto their relationship and the world they built together. Regret also seeps into their words, as they feel sorry for things left unsaid and the missed opportunities to express their feelings. The reference to the final page being read alludes to the end of the relationship, like the closing chapter of a book.
The final verse speaks of acceptance and resignation. The singer acknowledges that it's finally over, and their friend can rest assured because they will find peace regardless. The bittersweet farewell is laced with sorrow, as the singer hates to leave and say goodbye. They find solace in the belief that they will still hear their partner's voice in the morning sky, suggesting a connection that transcends physical presence.
Overall, "Enough to Leave" portrays the aftermath of a breakup, capturing the complex emotions of longing, regret, and acceptance that arise when a relationship ends.
Line by Line Meaning
Enough to kill ya, enough to put you down
The pain and suffering I have experienced has been overwhelming and almost unbearable
Seems like every way you turned was like a hard wind comin' down
No matter where I turned or what I did, difficulties and hardships followed me relentlessly
Enough to leave me, enough to leave me here
The pain and struggles have led me to a state of feeling abandoned and alone
And though the room is empty now I can almost feel you near
Even though you are no longer physically present, I can still sense your presence and feel a connection to you
What am I supposed to do with my afternoon?
I am lost and unsure of how to spend my time without you
No, I won't hear your call
I refuse to listen to any reminders or messages from you
No, I won't see you soon
I have accepted that our reunion or meeting in the near future is unlikely
What can you say to me to ease my heart in pain?
I long for comforting words from you that can alleviate the anguish in my heart
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
I hope for a glimmer of hope or positivity to break through the darkness and sorrow
I'd give you diamonds, I'd give you rings and pearls
I would shower you with valuable gifts and tokens of affection
If you could stay a while with me and just hold on to this world
I wish you could remain by my side and find solace in the beauty and wonders of our world
I'm feeling sorry for things I haven't said
Regret and guilt weigh heavily on me for the words left unspoken
And there's a lot I'd like to say before the final page is read
Before our story or relationship comes to an end, there are many things I wish to express and share
It's finally over, It's finally over now
The pain and struggles have come to an end and reached their conclusion
And you can rest assured my friend 'cause you'll be resting anyhow
You can find peace and tranquility in knowing that you will find rest and relaxation regardless
I hate to leave you, hate to say goodbye
Parting ways with you is difficult and saying farewell brings sadness and pain
I'm sure to hear your voice come through in the early morning sky
I have faith that I will hear your voice or feel your presence in the peaceful moments of the morning
But can you say to me to ease my heart in pain?
I still yearn for comforting words from you to relieve the ache and sorrow in my heart
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
I hope for a glimmer of hope or positivity to break through the darkness and sorrow once more
Writer(s): William Apostol
Contributed by Gabriel M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tashkabosh
Enough to kill ya, enough to put you down
Seems like every way you turned was like a hard wind comin' down
Enough to leave me, enough to leave me here
And though the room is empty now I can almost feel you near
What am I supposed to do with my afternoon?
No, I won't hear your call
No, I won't see you soon
What can you say to me to ease my heart in pain?
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
I'd give you diamonds, I'd give you rings and pearls
If you could stay a while with me and just hold on to this world
I'm feeling sorry for things I haven't said
And there's a lot I'd like to say before the final page is read
What am I supposed to do with my afternoon?
No, I won't hear your call
No, I won't see you soon
What can you say to me to ease my heart in pain?
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
It's finally over, It's finally over now
And you can rest assured my friend 'cause you'll be resting anyhow
I hate to leave you, hate to say goodbye
I'm sure to hear your voice come through in the early morning sky
What am I supposed to do in my afternoons?
No, I won't hear your call
No, I won't see you soon
But can you say to me to ease my heart in pain?
Could you send a ray of light to come down and dry the rain again?
mmehrhof
The first time I heard this song was on my way home from burying my best friend. I can’t even begin to explain what this song has meant to me. It’s almost as if it was written for me at that exact moment in time. I love it. It makes me cry but more importantly it brings back fond memories of my buddy. Billy Strings is so amazing. What a gift he has.
Ken Lewis
Amazing
lotus
Sorry for your loss brother
Kayla Mabry
This song has gotten me thru the loss of my best friend.. it was 2 years in December. I’m still waiting for when it “gets easier”. Sorry for your loss.
Nathan Schwartz
I hear ya there homie. Have lost many good friends and my girl to heroin. This song tears me up bad
Nikki Brinkley
The first time I heard this song was leaving my dad's funeral last weekend and it hit me in the exact same way. There is so much pain. And, this song forces me to feel all of it.
Sharon Herron
Mercy........this child blows my mind......Thank you Lord for giving us Billy Strings.
preachermeat
My wife loved Billy, before she recently passed. Once in a generation talent, I'll never be able to flat pick as well as this man does...but I'll keep trying. For her, she loved it when I played guitar.
JoAnn M
lost my best friend and husband a few months ago...hard to pick that guitar back up..but trust me..just do it...peace to you...
Dylan Wogan (aka Dilly Bar-Chords)
Keep playing man! Always. My heart goes out to you buddy. Sometimes we have to play through tears to find smiles again. Playing music is the Only thing that keeps me going. Billy Strings is incredible btw