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.
Waste a Lifetime
BoDeans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you feel the heartbeats that make up your life?
The summer days are slow and daydreams fly
Counting the years of a lifetime (inaudible - through a racing mind?)
Let's not waste a moment wanting something
That's bigger than what's right here
This could be the only moment we got
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not
Yeah Yeah
And are you living at large as long you can?
Are you leading the struggle to understand?
Given up on reason you finally decide
Because only what's here in the passing is you and I
Let's not waste a moment wanting something
That's bigger than what's right here
Yeah Yeah
This could be the only moment we got
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not
Yeah yeah
This could be the only moment we got
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not
The lyrics to BoDeans's song "Waste a Lifetime" speak to the fleeting nature of time and the importance of living fully in the present moment. The opening lines invite the listener to connect with the wonder and beauty of their surroundings, to feel the pulse of their own life, and to acknowledge the passing of time. The song urges us not to waste our time pining for something greater or waiting for the perfect moment, but to seize the present moment and enjoy all that it has to offer.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of existential questioning, asking us to examine whether we are living our lives to the fullest and whether we are striving for understanding in the face of life's uncertainties. The lines "Are you living at large as long you can? / Are you leading the struggle to understand?" encourage us to reflect on our own lives and to take action to live fully and seek meaning.
Overall, the song is a call to appreciate the present moment, to be mindful of the passing of time, and to take action to pursue our dreams and live fully in the face of life's uncertainties.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you feel the wonder that's here tonight?
Are you aware of the magic and beauty of this present moment?
Can you feel the heartbeats that make up your life?
Are you conscious of the preciousness of your existence and the passage of time?
The summer days are slow and daydreams fly
The warm season elicits a relaxed state of mind where you allow your imagination to soar
Counting the years of a lifetime (inaudible - through a racing mind?)
Reflecting on the amount of time that has gone by since your birth, as your thoughts race in your mind
Let's not waste a moment wanting something
That's bigger than what's right here
Let's not lose any time longing for something that seems desirable but is not available or realistic. Let's appreciate what we already have
This could be the only moment we got
This might be the sole chance we have to make the most out of our existence
Let's not waste a lifetime waiting
Let's not squander the years of our lives by waiting for something to happen, instead of taking action and creating our own path
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.