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
I'm Broke
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears Lyrics
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Miscellaneous
You're The Cloud I'm On (When I'm High)
(Ronnie Rogers)
Sometimes I like a drink 'cause I'm happy,
When I think of how your love, it's my life.
If you see me light on my feet feeling good inside,
When I'm high, I'm high because you love me,
No matter if I'm sober, or having bourbon with water by.
If you see me light on my feet feeling good inside,
Honey, you're the cloud I'm on when I'm high.
It has always been my style to celebrate,
And what more could I celebrate tonight?
You're sweet love took my soul flying to the sky,
Honey, you're the cloud I'm on when I'm high.
When I'm high, I'm high because you love me,
No matter if I'm sober, or having bourbon with water by.
If you see me light on my feet feeling good inside,
Honey, you're the cloud I'm on when I'm high.
These lyrics are about the intoxicating effects of love, and how it brings joy and happiness to an individual. The verses describe the experience of being in love as being on a cloud when one is high on drugs. The use of drugs here can be seen as a metaphor for how love can make one feel euphoric and happy. The chorus reinforces this idea, saying that this feeling comes from the love of another person, and that it doesn't matter if the person is sober or drunk, that feeling of elation is always there with the presence of love. The song mentions that the individual has always been one to celebrate, and that there is no better thing to celebrate than the love of another person that has lifted their soul into the sky. It is a love song that celebrates the transformative, uplifting power of love.
One interesting fact about "You're The Cloud I'm On (When I'm High)" is that it is a cover of a song originally by Ronnie Rogers. It was released in 1980 and was also recorded by George Strait in 1992. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears version was released in 2009 as part of their album "Tell 'Em What Your Name Is!". Another interesting fact is that although the song uses the metaphor of being high on drugs, George Strait has spoken publicly about his distaste for substance abuse and addiction. He has struggled with alcoholism in the past and has been sober since the late 1980s.
Another interesting fact about the song is that it combines elements of country, blues, and soul. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are an Austin-based band that is known for their energetic live performances and their ability to fuse multiple genres. The song's lyrics reflect this style by being able to evoke feelings of joy and elation through a mix of genres. The song's catchy chorus also makes it a popular choice for fans to sing along with at live performances.
The song's chord progression is relatively simple, featuring standard blues chords such as A, D, and E. The use of a I-IV-V progression is common in blues and country music and adds to the song's catchy nature. The chords for the song are as follows:
Intro: A, D, A, E
Verse: A, D, A, E
Chorus: D, A, E
The song's popularity has led to it being covered by multiple artists in various genres, including country, blues, and rock. It has also been used in multiple TV shows and movies, such as "The Ranch" and "Magic Mike XXL". Overall, "You're The Cloud I'm On (When I'm High)" is a catchy, soulful love song that celebrates the transformative power of love. It's no wonder that it's become a fan favorite for Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I like a drink 'cause I'm happy,
I enjoy having a drink when I feel joyful.
When I think of how your love, it's my life.
Your love is everything to me and fills my life with purpose.
If you see me light on my feet feeling good inside,
When you see me feeling light and happy inside,
Honey, you're the cloud that I'm on when I'm high.
It's because of you that I feel like I'm soaring high.
When I'm high, I'm high because you love me,
I feel high and elated because I know you love me,
No matter if I'm sober, or having bourbon with water by.
Whether I'm sober or drinking, your love always lifts me up.
It has always been my style to celebrate,
I've always loved to celebrate, it's just who I am.
And what more could I celebrate tonight?
And tonight, what else could I possibly celebrate?
You're sweet love took my soul flying to the sky,
Your sweet love has lifted me up so high.
Honey, you're the cloud I'm on when I'm high.
Again, it's all thanks to you that I feel like I'm on cloud nine.
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rindred
If you can't get into this, I hope one day you'll grow a soul.
@laoshark
Amen!
@AdamFreeman13
their basslines are always so sick lol
@I.J.Pirhonen-yg3gp
Love ya Joe! 60y old white dude here in Texas. You are awesome! The video is outstanding as well!
@golfandvinyl
"Work me so hard. They fuckin' me with no grease." Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears is the shit yo.
@allykat4632
I saw these guys open for Flogging Molly and thought, "There's still hope for rock music yet".
@bluesdoggmusicrediker4614
that guitar riff at 1:06 just kills me!! working mans blues...
@Atarius
I wish more music videos were stylized this well. A treat for the ears and the eyes.
@SJ-cy3hp
This album is full of gold.
@garyvandermeer5495
Heard this when it came out and every song blows me away