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.
Texas Ride Song
BoDeans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out in the big open
Deep in the land of stars that shine
Bright like the heart she wore
I spent a lifetime on that road
She spent a life in town
And I said c'mon, she said right
Let's head for higher ground
On through the majesty
Let's go, you'd never know
But this was made for you and me, shall we
We hit the road, the big highway
With a heart full of soul and fire
making our way through America
In a ford on a two-cent tire
Let's go shall we
On through the majesty
Let's go, you'd never know
But this was made for you and me
We laid down under stars
Under the dead of night
There in a field of wildflowers
Baby we finally made things right
Where no bands of gold or
Diamond rings or wished of well could hold
More than our hearts of good intentions
More than our promise told
Let's go shall we
On through the majesty
Let's go, you'd never know it
But this was made for you and me, shall we
The lyrics to BoDeans's "Texas Ride Song" describe a journey of love and freedom that takes place on the open road. The singer, who has spent a lifetime traveling, meets a young woman with a kind heart and adventurous spirit. They both decide to take off, leaving their past lives behind, and chase their dreams together.
As they drive, they marvel at the majestic scenery that surrounds them, and under the stars, in a field of wildflowers, they find peace and love. The lyrics suggest that their love transcends material possessions, as they reject the idea of diamond rings and bands of gold. Instead, they promise each other their hearts of good intentions and travel on, embracing the unknown.
The song captures the spirit of wanderlust and the freedom of the open road. It conveys a sense of adventure and a longing for connection, as the two travel companions find solace and love in each other. The lyrics remind us that sometimes, the most meaningful experiences come from breaking free from the constraints of everyday life and letting ourselves be guided by the open road.
Line by Line Meaning
I found a love, sweet and young
I found a young and sweet love
Out in the big open
We found love in a vast open area
Deep in the land of stars that shine
Our love was found in a place filled with bright stars
Bright like the heart she wore
The love in her heart was shining as bright as the stars above
I spent a lifetime on that road
I've spent my life traveling and exploring
She spent a life in town
She has lived her entire life in one place
And I said c'mon, she said right
I asked her to come with me and she agreed
Let's head for higher ground
We decided to go to a higher place for a better view
Let's go shall we
Shall we proceed
On through the majesty
Let's continue on this magnificent journey
Let's go, you'd never know
You never know what we might find
But this was made for you and me, shall we
This journey was meant for both of us, let's continue
We hit the road, the big highway
We started our journey on the main highway
With a heart full of soul and fire
We were full of passion and enthusiasm for the journey ahead
Making our way through America
We traveled throughout America
In a ford on a two-cent tire
We drove in a Ford car with a cheap tire
We laid down under stars
We slept under the stars
Under the dead of night
We slept during the darkest hours of the night
There in a field of wildflowers
We were in a field full of wildflowers
Baby we finally made things right
We finally made things right between us
Where no bands of gold or diamond rings or wished of well could hold
Our love was not bound by material possessions or fancy rituals
More than our hearts of good intentions
Our love was based on genuine and sincere intentions
More than our promise told
Our love was deeper than any promise we could make
Let's go, you'd never know it
You never know what we might find
But this was made for you and me, shall we
This journey was meant for both of us, let's continue
Contributed by Eli P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.