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.
Defense & Desire
Blues Traveler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the nightingales on 2nd avenue and I can't complain
It's a busy night
The regulars know me but all the same they decide I'm alright
Whiskey hit me fast
Don't mess with that stranger over there he'll do the same & you both may last
No I won't regret
With defense & desire
Little girl what you doing here
Don't mess with that vampire in the corner who beckons you near
Are you waiting for the band to play
It's too loud in here for words but those staring eyes have much to say
If you meet those eyes in fun
Could be trouble for you if you don't back up what you've begun
No I won't regret
The air is thick and wet
With defense & desire
Gonna run the show someday
Gonna buy this bar and everything in it and run it all my way
Talk to you about it till dawn
Tell you all my plans and twisted dreams until the blow is gone
By providence I'm sent
Into this unsuspecting tavern to build and feed on your discontent
No I won't regret
The air is thick and wet
With defense & desire
The song Defense & Desire by Blues Traveler tells a story of a man who walks into a bar in the rain, where he finds himself amidst regulars and strangers. With a drink in his hand, he observes the happenings of the night, cautioning a young girl not to fall prey to a vampire in the corner. The lyrics suggest that the air in the bar is thick and wet with defense and desire, hinting at the sexual tension and danger that lurks in such a setting.
The singer of the song also reveals his desire to own the bar one day and run it his way, and he shares his plans and twisted dreams with someone until the blow is gone. He seems to be content in his current situation and does not regret his choices, but rather remains vigilant and aware of the potential risks that come with being in that kind of environment. Ultimately, the song captures the mood of a vibrant nightlife scene, the kind where anything can happen and anyone can be anyone.
Overall, “Defense & Desire” presents a compelling story about the complexities of human desires, the unpredictability of life, and the need to stay alert and present in the midst of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Step in from the rain
Come inside to escape from the rain
It's the nightingales on 2nd avenue and I can't complain
The nightingales on 2nd Avenue are making lovely sounds and I have no complaints
It's a busy night
The night is busy
The regulars know me but all the same they decide I'm alright
I'm a regular here and though the other regulars know me, they still approve of me
Whiskey hit me fast
The whiskey has hit me suddenly and hard
Don't mess with that stranger over there he'll do the same & you both may last
Avoid bothering the stranger over there, he may retaliate and fight back, and it could end badly for both of you
No I won't regret
I won't have any regrets
The air is thick and wet
The air is humid and thick
With defense & desire
With an attitude of both being on guard and wanting something
Little girl what you doing here
Addressing a young woman, questioning her presence in the bar
Don't mess with that vampire in the corner who beckons you near
Warning the young woman not to associate with the scary-looking man who is signaling for her to come over
Are you waiting for the band to play
Asking if the young woman is there to see the band perform
It's too loud in here for words but those staring eyes have much to say
It's too noisy to talk but the people around have a lot to communicate through their body language
If you meet those eyes in fun
If you engage with these people in a playful way
Could be trouble for you if you don't back up what you've begun
Things could get troublesome for you if you start something and can't follow through with it
Gonna run the show someday
I'll be in charge of things someday
Gonna buy this bar and everything in it and run it all my way
I'll buy this bar and everything in it, and will do things my way
Talk to you about it till dawn
I'll discuss it with you until the sun comes up
Tell you all my plans and twisted dreams until the blow is gone
I'll share my ideas and strange aspirations with you until the intoxication wears off
By providence I'm sent
I believe I've been sent here by fate
Into this unsuspecting tavern to build and feed on your discontent
I've come to this bar to take advantage of your dissatisfaction and use it to my benefit
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOBBY SHEEHAN, JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind