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.
Willin'
BoDeans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you can't imagine
Anything that's growin'
I will be willin'
When it seems like your dreams
Have been put aside
Just cast aside like nothin'
I will be willin'
To run, to run
Beside you
To run, to run
Beside you
When you look in the mirror
And you can't remember
How the hell you got here
I will be willin'
I will be willin'
To run, to run
Beside you
To run, to run
Beside you
When the love that you make
Has been taken all
Just taken all for granted
I will be willin'
I will be willin'
I will be willin'
To run, to run
Beside you
To run, to run
Beside you
I will be willin'
I will be willin'
I will be willin'
I will be willin'
BoDeans's song "Willin'" is a beautiful and heartfelt expression of unconditional love and support. The lyrics describe a situation in which the subject is feeling lost, helpless, and unable to see a way forward. The singer of the song vows to be there for them, through thick and thin, no matter what obstacles they face. When the day seems gray and nothing is growing, the singer will be "willin'" to stand by the subject's side. When the subject feels like their dreams have been cast aside, the singer will still be there, ready to run beside them. Even when everything seems to have been taken for granted, the singer promises to be there, always "willin'" to support the subject and help them find their way.
The refrain of the song, "I will be willin', to run beside you," is repeated throughout, emphasizing the unfailing commitment of the singer. This message of love and support is a universal one, speaking to the human need for connection and the desire for someone to be there for us in times of need. The song is a reminder that no matter what happens, we are not alone, and there is always someone who cares for us and is willing to stand by us.
Line by Line Meaning
When the day seems so gray
During times of extreme sadness and hopelessness
That you can't imagine
When there seems to be no way out or no hope in sight
Anything that's growin'
When you can't see anything positive or anything to look forward to
I will be willin'
I am ready to be there for you
When it seems like your dreams
During times when it seems like all of your hopes and aspirations are unattainable
Have been put aside
When you have given up on your goals and have lost motivation
Just cast aside like nothin'
When your dreams and goals don't matter or don't seem important
To run, to run
To be there for you, to support you and help you move forward
Beside you
To stand with you, shoulder-to-shoulder
When you look in the mirror
During times when you question yourself and your decisions
And you can't remember
When your mind is clouded with uncertainty
How the hell you got here
How you ended up in this situation or at this point in your life
When the love that you make
When there seems to be no reciprocity in love or relationships
Has been taken all
When love and affection is taken for granted or not appreciated
Just taken all for granted
When you feel like you are being used or not valued
I will be willin'
I am ready to be there for you
Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.