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.
Price To Pay
Blues Traveler Lyrics
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I might as well tell to you
Nothing near Wagnerian
As Terminator Two
Its an old one about a little dirt farm girl
Who wanted to get out for good
Shed do anything to keep that dream
Shed do anything she could
CHORUS:
Who was she
To feel so free
With her heart on her sleeve
She just couldnt believe...
There was a price to pay
Her very first chance to escape that year
Came when the circus had come to town
She wound up in bed and quite madly in love
With some rubber nose juggling clown
He promised he'd return for her come next spring
And he swore that he wouldn't forget
Needless to say come the following May
More than her appetite was getting wet
She proceeded unheeded and quite undefeated
To the trailer behind the tents
And her heart began to scar at his trailer door
She was gonna go wherever he went
CHORUS
He arrived at last about half past
With a girl under every arm
But all of this in itself could have been innocent as hell
But what began to cause her alarm
Was when he locked the door behind him like she always bee
She was standing alone in the dirt
And her eyes were so dry that she began to cry
And something began to hurt
She wanted to tear the hair out of her head
Yeah and she wanted to wish that she was dead
But a voice in her just would not let her drop
And her heart began to break but it didn't stop
Run all you're races
And don't you fear
You and I
Are getting out of here
And well survive
That I guarrantee
Cause you don't need much
When all you have is me.
She listened to the little voice in her
And then she hit the road
Free at last and with just a tiny scar
And finally on her own
No one knows what became of her
All we know is she got away
And though there really ain't no guarantees down here
I like to think she did okay
CHORUS
That there's a price to pay(4x)
The song "Price to Pay" by Blues Traveler tells the story of a young farm girl with dreams of leaving her mundane life behind. The lyrics describe her willingness to do anything to achieve her goals, even if it means getting involved with the shady characters that visit her small town. The girl falls in love with a circus performer and plans to run away with him. However, when he returns with other women, she realizes his true intentions and decides to leave on her own. The song ends with the girl hitting the road and starting a new life, free from the limitations of her past.
The song showcases the theme of the price to pay for one's dreams. The girl is willing to do whatever it takes to escape her small town, but ultimately pays the price of heartbreak and loss of innocence. The chorus repeats the phrase "there was a price to pay," highlighting the idea that every choice we make comes with consequences.
The lyrics are cleverly written and delivered with Blues Traveler's signature bluesy rock sound. The band's lead singer and harmonica player, John Popper, brings a unique energy to the song with his soulful harmonica solos. The story depicted in the song is relatable to many listeners, as it touches on the universal theme of sacrificing for our aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing here with a tale to tell
I have a story to share with you
I might as well tell to you
I see no reason to keep it to myself
Nothing near Wagnerian
This story is not an epic opera of grandeur
As Terminator Two
It's not as action-packed as a popular sci-fi movie
Its an old one about a little dirt farm girl
It's a tale of a young girl who lived on a farm
Who wanted to get out for good
She dreamed of leaving for good
Shed do anything to keep that dream
She was determined to make her dream a reality
Shed do anything she could
She was willing to go to great lengths for her dreams
Who was she
Who was this young girl?
To feel so free
To have such boundless freedom
With her heart on her sleeve
She wore her emotions openly
She just couldnt believe...
She was amazed that things were going her way
There was a price to pay
But there were consequences to her actions
Her very first chance to escape that year
An opportunity to leave presented itself early on
Came when the circus had come to town
The circus was in town when she first had a chance to leave
She wound up in bed and quite madly in love
She fell in love with a clown and they slept together
With some rubber nose juggling clown
The man she fell in love with was a clown who juggled and had a rubber nose
He promised he'd return for her come next spring
The clown promised to come back for her the following spring
And he swore that he wouldn't forget
He promised not to forget about her
Needless to say come the following May
When May rolled around, something happened
More than her appetite was getting wet
She was getting more than just hungry
She proceeded unheeded and quite undefeated
She was determined and unafraid
To the trailer behind the tents
She went to the trailer where the clown stayed
And her heart began to scar at his trailer door
Her heart broke as she knocked on his door
She was gonna go wherever he went
She wanted to go with him wherever he may go
He arrived at last about half past
The clown finally arrived
With a girl under every arm
He was with other women
But all of this in itself could have been innocent as hell
It could have been harmless
But what began to cause her alarm
Something made her nervous
Was when he locked the door behind him like she always bee
He locked the door, which made her feel trapped
She was standing alone in the dirt
She was left standing outside in the dirt
And her eyes were so dry that she began to cry
She couldn't cry, but eventually she did
And something began to hurt
She felt pain in her heart
She wanted to tear the hair out of her head
She was so angry she wanted to rip out her hair
Yeah and she wanted to wish that she was dead
She wished she was dead
But a voice in her just would not let her drop
She had a strong inner voice keeping her going
And her heart began to break but it didn't stop
Her heart broke but she kept going
Run all you're races
Keep running forward
And don't you fear
Don't be afraid
You and I
We're together in this
Are getting out of here
We're leaving this place
And well survive
We'll make it through
That I guarrantee
I promise you that
Cause you don't need much
We don't need anything fancy or expensive
When all you have is me.
As long as we have each other, we'll be okay
She listened to the little voice in her
She followed her inner voice
And then she hit the road
She left and started her journey
Free at last and with just a tiny scar
She was finally free and had some emotional scars
And finally on her own
She was truly independent
No one knows what became of her
Her ultimate fate is unknown
All we know is she got away
She left and escaped
And though there really ain't no guarantees down here
There are no promises in life
I like to think she did okay
I hope she made it out alright
That there's a price to pay(4x)
Remember, every choice has a consequence
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHAN KINCHLA, JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind