Currently, the group comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla and keyboardist Ben Wilson. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson joined the band following the death of original bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999.
While Blues Traveler is best known among fans for their improvisational live shows, the general public is most familiar with the group from their Top 40 singles "Run-Around" and "Hook". They gained mainstream popularity after their fourth studio album four, released in 1994. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002.
Crashburn
Blues Traveler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna ride you out like a witch on a broom
I'm gonna ride you
Gonna ride you out like a witch on a broom
It's the old give and take
And I've been took again
So give me room
I'm gonna watch you
Gonna watch you fall like a tower of cards
I'm gonna watch you
Gonna watch you fall like a tower of cards
Gonna land gonna land gonna land gonna land
No matter how hard
Crash
Burn
When will I learn
Crash
Burn
When will I learn
Crash
Burn
When will I learn
Crash
Burn
When will I learn
The lyrics of the song Crashburn by Blues Traveler depict the turbulent emotions of someone who has been taken for granted too many times. The first two stanzas describe how this person plans to "ride" the other person, meaning to take control of the situation and not let themselves be taken advantage of any longer. The comparison to a witch on a broom and a tower of cards falling suggests that the singer views the other person as weak and easily defeated. However, the repeated refrain of "crash burn when will I learn" shows that the singer is not necessarily in a position of power or control; they are still trying to figure out how to move forward and avoid the same mistakes.
Overall, the song can be seen as a cathartic expression of frustration and anger, but also a plea for self-reflection and personal growth. The singer acknowledges that they have been "took again" and are struggling to navigate the give and take of relationships. The repetition of the refrain implies that this is a recurring theme in their life, and the final line of the song leaves us with uncertainty about whether or not they will ever learn.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna ride you
I am going to dominate you.
Gonna ride you out like a witch on a broom
I will control you completely, like a witch on a broomstick.
It's the old give and take
This is a familiar pattern of give and take.
And I've been took again
But I have been deceived and exploited once more.
So give me room
Please allow me some space.
I'm gonna watch you
I will observe you.
Gonna watch you fall like a tower of cards
I will witness your downfall, like a tower of cards collapsing.
Gonna land gonna land gonna land gonna land
I will ultimately land safely, no matter how difficult the situation.
Crash
Experience a sudden and violent loss of control.
Burn
Suffer emotional pain or distress.
When will I learn
Why have I not yet learned from my mistakes and prevented this outcome?
Crash
Experience a sudden and violent loss of control.
Burn
Suffer emotional pain or distress.
When will I learn
Why have I not yet learned from my mistakes and prevented this outcome?
Crash
Experience a sudden and violent loss of control.
Burn
Suffer emotional pain or distress.
When will I learn
Why have I not yet learned from my mistakes and prevented this outcome?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHAN KINCHLA, JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Deven Frasier
Grossly underrated band
Fff
that transition at 3:05 is great
Emily Creel Brown
That was freakin beautiful. Seamless.
Andrew Hohenthaner
That is my favorite live version, hands down.
Dave Geisler
Dam 27 years ago already and I was there at Shoreline in Mountain View that night ( seems like only yesterday in some ways ) , awesome show !!! Popper kicked ass 👍
TheKamikazenaz
The hook does indeed bring you back.
versatilejams
The song may be about formulaic music, but it’s a damn good song and has a lot of nostalgia.
Chris Zablocki
I've concluded, at age 40, that if I can ONLY listen to one musical group, it'd be Blues Traveler. It's like I had it figured out at 11.
john campbell
sure was a smooth transition when they changed from crash and burn to the hook
PRATER
I saw this comment before it happened and thought it was sarcastic, damn that was beautiful