The BoDeans worked with T-Bone Burnett on their debut album, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, which appeared in 1986 to warm reviews. They recruited another big-name producer, Talking Head Jerry Harrison, to helm 1987's Outside Looking In, which found the band reduced to a trio after the departure of Hoffman. Outside Looking In broke into the Billboard Top 100, and the BoDeans grew their audience by touring alongside U2, appearing on Robbie Robertson's self-titled solo album, and receiving the honor of Best New Band by Rolling Stone magazine. By the time they released their third album, Home, in 1989, keyboardist Michael Ramos and drummer Danny Gayol had joined. This lineup stayed intact for the release of 1991's Black and White, but the BoDeans went without a drummer once again on their next recording, Go Slow Down.
Following the release of a double-disc live album, Joe Dirt Car, the band returned in 1996 with Blend. Around the time of Blend's release, "Closer to Free" -- a song that had originally appeared on 1993's Go Slow Down -- became a hit, due in large part to its exposure as the theme song for the TV show Party of Five. "Closer to Free" eventually cracked the Top 20, becoming the most successful single of the band's career. The BoDeans were arguably more popular than ever, but the band took a break during the late '90s, with both frontmen devoting time to their solo careers.
By 2004, the band had reconvened and signed with a new label, Zoe. Resolution was released that year, followed in 2005 by Homebrewed: Live from the Pabst. Griffin left the group in 2006 and was replaced by Eric Holden, who appeared on 2008's Still. By this point, the bandmates had found a new home on 429 Records, and they remained with that label for the release of Mr. Sad Clown in 2010 and Indigo Dreams in 2011. That same year saw the departure of Llanas, citing "differences of opinion." The band's 11th studio album, American Made, arrived the following year on the band's own Free & Alive label, and was the first with Neumann as sole leader. The BoDeans toured extensively in support of the release, and in 2014 began work on their next studio project. Released in 2015, I Cant Stop featured a new BoDeans lineup anchored by Neumann, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Sam Hawksley, bassist Eric Holden, and drummer Kenny Aronoff, the latter a well-respected journeyman musician who had played on several BoDeans recording sessions in the '90s. In June 2016, the BoDeans brought out a single, "My Hometown," with the release benefiting the Milwaukee County Historical Society. The single was a preview of the group's next album; titled Thirteen, the 11-song set was released in April 2017.
I'll Be There
BoDeans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like people do. Inside love is a flame.
Words don′t work when we try to
Explain, and it all falls down. Fool baby,
I'm your clown. When it all falls down,
I′ll be there. 'Cause time keeps tricklin'
Away. We′ll be together now, someday.
Holdin′ on for heaven's sake. Don′t
Make, when it all falls down. Walls been
Closin' in, and I carry your heart of tin.
When tears that fall like rain, well,
Here we go baby, here we go again.
Voodoo... I′ll be there when you call on me.
I'll be there when you fall.
The lyrics to BoDeans's song I'll Be There delve into the complexities of love, both inside and outside. The first lines, "Outside loves in two, holding on tight/Like people do. Inside love is a flame," illustrate the difference between the superficial love that people often portray to the world and the deep, intimate love that burns inside. The next line, "Words don't work when we try to/Explain, and it all falls down," captures the frustration that comes with trying to articulate those intense feelings, only to have it all crumble away. The singer then identifies as a "fool baby" and "clown," suggesting that they are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain the relationship.
The chorus, "When it all falls down, I'll be there/'Cause time keeps tricklin' away/ We'll be together now, someday/Holdin' on for heaven's sake/ Don't worry 'bout the time or the love we'll/ Make, when it all falls down," emphasizes the songwriter's dedication to the relationship, even when things get tough. Time "keeps tricklin' away," indicating the urgency of their love, and they hold on for "heaven's sake," suggesting that this love is their salvation. They urge their partner, "Don't worry 'bout the time or the love we'll make," arguing that the intensity of their connection will overshadow any obstacles that come their way.
The song continues with lines like "Walls been closin' in, and I carry your heart of tin/When tears that fall like rain, well/Here we go baby, here we go again/Voodoo... I'll be there when you call on me/I'll be there when you fall," which further highlight the difficulties that come with maintaining a deep love, like feeling trapped and weighed down by one another. The singer, however, remains loyal and committed, determined to be there through the ups and downs.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside loves in two, holding on tight
Couples in love are holding on tight in the outside world.
Like people do. Inside love is a flame.
Outside, love is a generic emotion like everyone else's. But inside, it's unique and passionate.
Words don′t work when we try to Explain, and it all falls down.
When we try to explain our love with words, it fails, and everything falls apart.
Fool baby, I'm your clown.
I'll do anything for you, even act like a clown for your amusement.
When it all falls down, I′ll be there.
When everything else fails, I'll still be there for you.
'Cause time keeps tricklin' Away. We′ll be together now, someday.
Time is slipping away, but one day, we'll finally be together.
Holdin′ on for heaven's sake. Don′t Worry 'bout the time or the love we′ll Make, when it all falls down.
We're holding on to our love for dear life, and we shouldn't worry about the future when everything falls apart.
Walls been Closin' in, and I carry your heart of tin.
Life is closing in on us, but I'll always carry a part of you with me.
When tears that fall like rain, well, Here we go baby, here we go again.
When we start to cry, it's another cycle of pain and heartbreak.
Voodoo... I′ll be there when you call on me.
No matter what, I'll be there when you need me.
I'll be there when you fall.
I'll catch you when you fall.
Writer(s): Thomas
Contributed by Callie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.