While working at a pawn shop in Austin, Joe Lewis first picked up the guitar. Shortly thereafter, Joe Lewis immersed himself in the local Red River blues/garage scene, recording and performing with Austin luminaries such as the Weary Boys and Walter Daniels. Upon the release of the 2005 Brian Salvi produced Black Joe Lewis and The Cold Breeze EP and the 2007 album Black Joe Lewis, both released on Italian label Shake Yo Ass Records, the band gained critical national acclaim and toured as openers for Spoon and Okkervil River in 2007.
The band signed to Lost Highway Records in 2008. Following the signing and performances at 2008's Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festival, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears released a four song EP on January 27, 2009.
Their debut album Tell 'Em What Your Name Is! was released on March 17, 2009. It was produced by Spoon's drummer Jim Eno.
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears have performed at music festivals including Bonnaroo, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Bumbershoot, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Sasquatch! Music Festival, Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, Musikfest, Latitude Festival, and Splendour in the Grass. The band has appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Late Show with David Letterman, Austin City Limits, and Later... with Jools Holland.
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears were featured in Echotone, a 2010 documentary about the Austin, Texas music scene.
On Aug 25, 2013, Joe Lewis stated on NPR that he was trying to shed the 'Honeybears' portion of the band's name, and had never intended for it to continue for so long
Gunpowder
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl you know I like it
I said gunpowder baby,
Eating all my greens now(?)
Night and day
Nobody told me "hold on"
Ah ah ah ah I got to get it right
About that gunpowder
Gunpowder baby
What you smell like a meat
I said it gunpowder baby
Yeah I gonna watch it cover me
Got to spill it if I get it
Baby hold on
Ah ah ah ah I got to get it right
Nobody talkin' bout my gunpowder
I said now 'm gon' be rich
Talkin' too much shit for me
Oh now you gon' be rich
I sprinkle gunpowder on ya
Somebody shoulda told her not to play it
Baby
Ah ah ah ah I got to get it right
Nobody talkin' 'bout that gunpowder
Baby gunpowder
(????)
You know I like it
The lyrics of Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears' song "Gunpowder" convey a sense of excitement and obsession with a certain element. The repeated refrain of "gunpowder baby" suggests that the subject of the song may be addicted to the explosive substance or the feeling it provides. The singer expresses a desire for the substance, even if others may warn against it, and claims that nobody has done anything to prevent his obsession.
The lyrics also contain some provocative imagery, with references to smelling like meat and sprinkling gunpowder on someone to make them rich. The verses are somewhat cryptic, with lines like "Eating all my greens now" and "Talkin' too much shit for me" that are open to interpretation. Overall, the song has a bluesy rock and roll feel that matches the intensity and rebelliousness of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I said gunpowder baby,
I enjoy the explosive power of this substance and want to talk to you about it
Girl you know I like it
You're aware that I have a fascination with things that go boom
Eating all my greens now(?)
I'm trying to eat healthy and make sure that I'm strong enough to handle what the gunpowder can do
Night and day
I'm always thinking about gunpowder and the excitement it brings me
Nobody told me "hold on"
No one warned me to be careful with gunpowder and its dangerous potential
Ah ah ah ah I got to get it right
I need to make sure I handle gunpowder safely and responsibly
Nobody done a thing
No one has taken action to stop me from using gunpowder, even though it's risky
About that gunpowder
They haven't been paying attention to my fascination with this explosive substance
Gunpowder baby
I'm once again expressing my delight in gunpowder
What you smell like a meat
I've noticed a strange scent on you, almost like something that has been cooked
Yeah I gonna watch it cover me
I want to immerse myself in gunpowder and see what it feels like
Got to spill it if I get it
If I come across some gunpowder, I won't be able to resist using it
Baby hold on
I know I need to be careful with gunpowder and not get too carried away
I said now 'm gon' be rich
I believe that if I can master the use of gunpowder, it will bring me wealth and success
Talkin' too much shit for me
I'm tired of people doubting my ability to handle gunpowder and making fun of me for my interest in it
Oh now you gon' be rich
If I can teach others how to use gunpowder properly, they too can benefit from the power it holds
I sprinkle gunpowder on ya
I want to share my enthusiasm for gunpowder with you by showing you how it works
Somebody shoulda told her not to play it
I think that someone should have warned this woman about the danger of handling gunpowder improperly
Baby gunpowder
I'm so drawn to the power of this explosive substance that I've started to refer to it like it's a person
(????)
This line is unclear or lacks context, so we cannot provide a meaning
You know I like it
Once again, I'm expressing my love for gunpowder and the thrill it brings me
Contributed by Sophie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephen
on Big Booty Woman
Better