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.
Ivory Tusk
Blues Traveler Lyrics
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To show thee fit to continue
I weep for them and I weep for me
We rally to charge to die
And laugh when it's through
Well rise and walk now you're a man
Don't try to play catch me if you can
Have you gone crazy it never was a free ride
Just take your medicine and help it go down
Do as you're told boy no need to frown
You know it happened to me and your Granddad too
Not a Goddamn any one can do
Well sir I don't know but I hear them say
If there's no free ride then ride away
And it could be me, and it could be strange
But I keep hearing voices singing "Comes a change"
Blood drop spill unto the parched earth
And nourish that which is hungry
Feast well avenging madness
Then call your buzzards down to clean the carcass
Well your life's not yours it's everyone's
So do the right thing and go for your guns
It's how the world was saved and how the West was won
So here he comes now you gotta stand or run
Just level your iron boy and sight him in
You ain't out to die boy
You're out to win
You know you hate him, you must know he hates you
Not a Goddamn anyone can do
Well if my life is everyone's well good that's fine
But you've yet to prove that that makes his life mine
And it could be me and I could be strange
But I keep hearing voices singing "Comes a change"
Like rain and thunder washing everything away
That's what I hear them say
You might just prefer to pray
It's the same thing anyway
Ivory tusk, smash into thine own
To show thee fit to continue
I weep for them and I weep for me
We rally to charge to die
And laugh when it's through
Well sir I don't know but I hear them say
If there is no free ride then ride away
And it could be me, and it could be strange
But keep hearing voices singing "Comes a change"
Like rain and thunder washing everything away
That's what I hear them say
You might just prefer to pray
Like rain and thunder washing everything away
That's what I hear them say
You might just prefer to pray
Blues Traveler's Ivory Tusk is a song about the cyclical nature of violence and the futility of fighting. The ivory tusk is used as a symbol of power and strength, but it is also destroyed as a way of proving oneself worthy to continue in the cycle of violence. The singer weeps for the victims and for himself, recognizing that they are all trapped in this cycle. They rally to charge into battle, and when it is over, they laugh, as if to cope with the realization that nothing has truly been accomplished.
The verse "Well rise and walk now you're a man, Don't try to play catch me if you can" implies that the singer is still a child and is being told to grow up and follow orders. The idea of a free ride is also mentioned, suggesting that life is not easy and that one must fight to survive. The singer questions the logic of this, suggesting that it may not be fair, and that the voices he hears singing "comes a change" may be onto something.
The chorus, "Like rain and thunder washing everything away, That's what I hear them say, You might just prefer to pray," suggests the destruction that comes with violence, and the possibility of finding a peaceful alternative. The singer is torn between the two choices, unsure of which is the right one.
Line by Line Meaning
Ivory tusk, smash into thine own
Crush your own ego and pride to prove that you are worthy to continue on.
To show thee fit to continue
To prove that you are capable of carrying on.
I weep for them and I weep for me
I cry for both others and myself.
We rally to charge to die
We gather together to fight and potentially die.
And laugh when it's through
And laugh when it's all done and over with.
Well rise and walk now you're a man
Now that you've grown up, it's time to face the challenges of the real world.
Don't try to play catch me if you can
Don't try to run away or avoid the consequences.
Just do as you're told son you must abide
Just follow orders and do what you're told to do.
Have you gone crazy it never was a free ride
Don't be naive, life has never been easy.
Just take your medicine and help it go down
Accept the situation and make the best of it.
Do as you're told boy no need to frown
Follow orders without complaint.
You know it happened to me and your Granddad too
This has been the way things have been done for generations.
Not a Goddamn any one can do
There's nothing anyone can do to change it.
Well sir I don't know but I hear them say
I don't know for sure, but I've heard talk.
If there's no free ride then ride away
If there are no easy options, then leave the situation behind.
And it could be me, and it could be strange
It could happen to me, or it could be something unusual.
But I keep hearing voices singing "Comes a change"
But I hear people talking about change that's going to happen.
Blood drop spill unto the parched earth
Blood is spilled on the dry ground.
And nourish that which is hungry
And it feeds that which needs sustenance.
Feast well avenging madness
Get satisfaction from seeking revenge.
Then call your buzzards down to clean the carcass
Then let others clean up the mess you've made.
Well your life's not yours it's everyone's
Your life belongs to everyone, not just yourself.
So do the right thing and go for your guns
Do what needs to be done, even if it's violent.
It's how the world was saved and how the West was won
Violence has been used to save the world and to conquer the West.
So here he comes now you gotta stand or run
Here comes the opponent, and you must choose to fight or flee.
Just level your iron boy and sight him in
Aim your weapon carefully and prepare to fire.
You ain't out to die boy
You're not going to die today.
You're out to win
You're here to win the battle.
You know you hate him, you must know he hates you
You have animosity towards him and he feels the same towards you.
Not a Goddamn anyone can do
There's nothing anyone can do to change the situation.
Well if my life is everyone's well good that's fine
If my life belongs to everyone else, that's okay.
But you've yet to prove that that makes his life mine
But you haven't shown me how his life is connected to mine.
And it could be me and I could be strange
It could happen to me, and it could be something unusual.
But I keep hearing voices singing "Comes a change"
But I keep hearing people talk about change that's coming.
Like rain and thunder washing everything away
Like a storm that washes everything clean.
That's what I hear them say
That's what people are saying.
You might just prefer to pray
You may choose to hope for divine intervention instead.
Like rain and thunder washing everything away
Like a storm that washes everything clean.
That's what I hear them say
That's what people are saying.
You might just prefer to pray
You may choose to hope for divine intervention instead.
Ivory tusk, smash into thine own
Crush your own ego and pride to prove that you are worthy to continue on.
To show thee fit to continue
To prove that you are capable of carrying on.
I weep for them and I weep for me
I cry for both others and myself.
We rally to charge to die
We gather together to fight and potentially die.
And laugh when it's through
And laugh when it's all done and over with.
Well sir I don't know but I hear them say
I don't know for sure, but I've heard talk.
If there is no free ride then ride away
If there are no easy options, then leave the situation behind.
And it could be me, and it could be strange
It could happen to me, or it could be something unusual.
But keep hearing voices singing "Comes a change"
But I keep hearing people talk about change that's coming.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHAN KINCHLA, JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind