Foley grew up in Texas. He performed in a gospel band called The Fuller Family with his mother and sisters. After leaving home, he performed in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and finally Austin, Texas, where even in this city of non-conformists his unusual character was noticed. He slept on friend's couches or under pool-tables in bars. He made the Austin Outhouse his home. He was close friends with another Texas legend Townes Van Zandt.
His song "If I Could Only Fly" became a hit in the interpretation of Merle Haggard. His song "Election Day" was covered by Lyle Lovett on his 2003 album "My Baby Don't Tolerate" and his song "Clay Pigeons" was covered by John Prine on his Grammy Award winning 2005 album "Fair and Square."
In 1989, Foley was shot to death while helping his friend Concho January defend himself from his violent son Carey January. Carey January was acquitted of murder in the first degree by reason of self-defense. Friends of Foley were outraged at the verdict.
Blaze Foley jokingly claimed to be the illegitimate son of Red Foley and Blaze Starr.
Blaze had a love affair with duct tape. Initially he placed duct tape on the tips of his cowboy boots to mock the "Urban Cowboy" crazed folks with their silver tipped cowboy boots. This love of duct tape grew until he'd made a suit out of duct tape that he used to walk around in. At his funeral, his casket was coated with duct tape by his friends. Townes Van Zandt was quoted as saying that "he'd have to dig Blaze up to get the pawn ticket for his guitar that was in his pocket".
The very emotional songs Foley wrote were marked by honesty. They were about all things in life, from love songs to sharp political commentary. Because of the latter one of his master tapes is rumored to have been confiscated by the FBI (or the DEA).
Foley worked with, amongst others, Townes Van Zandt and Calvin Russell.
The song "Drunken Angel" by Lucinda Williams, which appears on her 1998 album "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road", is a tribute to Foley.
Gurf Morlix released a song on his 2009 album, Last Exit to Happyland entitled "Music You Mighta Made" about his longtime friend, Foley. On February 1, 2011, Morlix released Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream, a 15-song collection of Foley's songs.
Three songs, posthumously co-written by Jon Hogan at the request of the Foley estate, were released in 2010 on the album "Every Now and Then: Songs of Townes Van Zandt & Blaze Foley." They include "Every Now and Then," "Safe in the Arms of Love," and "Can't Always Cry."
Foley's music featured prominently in a feature-length documentary film about him entitled "Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah," released in 2011 by filmmaker Kevin Triplett
Election Day
Blaze Foley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It cost me too much money, and it probably ain't enough
To get me through Election Day
Didn't I hear you say
That it's alright, it's alright, it's alright?
Wouldn't even pay a thing, it's hardly worth your time
My luck's been bad, the telephone just kept my only dime
Why don't you just go and see
If it'll be alright, be alright, be alright?
Hey Mr. Policeman, please don't take my stuff
It cost me too much money, and it probably ain't enough
To get me through Election Day
Didn't I hear you say
That it's alright, it's alright, it's alright?
Blaze Foley's "Election Day" is a song that speaks to the issue of corruption in politics and the role of law enforcement in protecting citizens' rights during the election process. The song is set against the backdrop of the day when citizens go to the polls to vote for their preferred candidates. The singer in the song is addressing a police officer, asking not to take his belongings which he fears may not make it through the Election Day. He's questioning the fairness and transparency of the electoral process and the role of the police in enforcing the law.
Foley's approach to this issue is brilliant in its simplicity. Through his heartfelt lyrics, the singer evokes the frustration, disillusionment, and cynicism that many people feel about political elections. The verse "Wouldn't even pay a thing, it's hardly worth your time/My luck's been bad, the telephone just kept my only dime" speaks to the idea of people being shut out of the political process due to poverty and lack of access to resources. The chorus "Hey Mr. Policeman, please don't take my stuff/It cost me too much money, and it probably ain't enough/To get me through Election Day/Didn't I hear you say/That it's alright, it's alright, it's alright?" expresses a deep sense of unease that people feel when they are forced to navigate a system that may not have their best interests at heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Mr. Policeman, please don't take my stuff
A plea for protection to a police officer who has the power to confiscate personal belongings and goods.
It cost me too much money, and it probably ain't enough
The value of the items are high, but not enough to cover the cost of living and expenses.
To get me through Election Day
The singer is anticipating and worried about the financial impact on Election Day.
Didn't I hear you say
The artist is affirming that the police officer had provided reassurance that everything would be fine.
That it's alright, it's alright, it's alright?
Repeating the question in hope of receiving confirmation that indeed everything will be alright.
Wouldn't even pay a thing, it's hardly worth your time
The cost of the items is not even worth the police officer's time and effort to seize them.
My luck's been bad, the telephone just kept my only dime
The singer has encountered misfortune, and even lost their last dime on a phone call.
And it might be a burden to me
Having their belongings taken away will have a heavy impact on the artist's already difficult situation.
Why don't you just go and see
The artist is urging the police officer to come and see the low value of the items to demonstrate that it's not worth confiscating.
If it'll be alright, be alright, be alright?
A repetition of the previous question, seeking reassurance that everything will turn out all right in the end.
Hey Mr. Policeman, please don't take my stuff
A final plea to the police officer to not take the singer's belongings.
It cost me too much money, and it probably ain't enough
Reiterating the value and inadequacy of the artist's belongings.
To get me through Election Day
The singer is placing particular emphasis on Election Day as a difficult financial time.
Didn't I hear you say
A repetition of the same line, expressing the singer's disappointment and frustration.
That it's alright, it's alright, it's alright?
The singer is desperately seeking reassurance that everything will be fine despite their rough situation.
Writer(s): Michael David Fuller Copyright: Texas Ghost Writers Music
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
M owler
It's nice these musicians are remembered
nashville slim
The cicadas in the background aided the song i feel. Who knew they were Blaze fans!
Conor Harford
Cheers. I wouldn't have guessed that it was that
BIG JR
I so wish we had Blaze today.
Jeff Goldblum
This song hits closer to home in the year 2020 don't it
mollkatless
@Theb4773ry yes but, no addiction, none of these issues, right?
Theb4773ry
@mollkatless your whole point was about pot being legal so cops cant take it but in reality they still can. If you dont wanna smoke thats on you but that's not the point of the song
mollkatless
@Theb4773ry what if you just don't smoke?
Theb4773ry
@mollkatless Pot being legal dosent change the fact its not equally legally state to state. Still get busted and be sitting for years in the wrong states with weed, and even if it isnt quite illegal the policy is confiscation destruction and a ticket. so still accurate in my experience
mollkatless
except that pot is legal in most states, and you wouldn't have to worry about a police officer taking what you legally purchased, other than that small think, yes much-much closer to home in 2020