Had he lived one hundred and fifty years ago, Bradford Loomis may have been riding rail cars out west or sailing down the Mississippi on a paddle boat. Or maybe he would have claimed his stake in the flat lands of the Midwest. Perhaps he would have plied his hand on a ranch in Texas.
Born in the Northwest in more modern times, Bradford has lived to tell a different, but no less exciting, tale. Through years of choir, band and orchestra he discovered a powerful kinship to the songs and stories of those bygone eras as they helped show him a meaningful way to tell his story.
Bradford Loomis marries grit and melody to dig to the roots of American folklore and speak of the raw reality of the human condition with passion. His stories span several lifetimes of relatable emotions; bitterness & loss, deep longing & regret, enduring hope & love, elation & joy.
Bradford’s influences include The Swell Season, EmmyLou Harris, T-Bone Burnett, and Johnny Cash.
Stampede
Bradford Loomis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting outside for me
He's been wanting to cleanse me of my sins
Lord have mercy on me
If they only knew the man that I have been
None would stand in defense of me
For this blood on my hands is not my own
There's no righteousness in me
Total slaughter, total slaughter, I wouldn't leave a single man alive
O my Lord how desperate I've become
I'm just praying for release
Though the fires of Hell and Damnation
Are surely what I'll see
Total slaughter, total slaughter, if I were you, I'd leave no man alive
You were led to the slaughter
By your sons and your daughters
But you wouldn't leave a single man behind
Total slaughter, total slaughter, I wouldn't leave a single man alive
The lyrics above are from Bradford Loomis's song called Stampede. The song explores the theme of redemption and forgiveness. The song talks about a man who has done terrible things in his life and is now waiting for someone to come and take revenge on him. He knows that he is not worthy of any forgiveness but still hopes for mercy.
The first verse talks about a man who is waiting outside with a gun to take revenge on the singer. The singer admits that he deserves to be punished for all the sins he has committed in his life. He knows that nobody would defend him if they knew who he truly was. The blood on his hands is a metaphor for the guilt he carries inside him, which is not his own.
The chorus talks about total slaughter, which describes the singer's mindset of not leaving any man alive. He knows that he is going to face damnation and hellfire for all his sins, and he is ready to accept his punishment. He urges others to leave no man alive as well.
The second verse talks about how desperate the singer has become, and he is praying for release from the guilt that has consumed him. He knows that he will face the fires of hell and damnation, and he accepts his fate.
Overall, the song is a plea for forgiveness, even though the singer knows that he is not worthy of it.
Line by Line Meaning
O my God there's a man with a gun
The singer is expressing fear and anxiety about a man with a gun outside.
Waiting outside for me
The man with the gun is specifically targeting the singer.
He's been wanting to cleanse me of my sins
The gunman has a religious motivation and believes the singer has committed sins.
Lord have mercy on me
The artist is praying for help and salvation.
If they only knew the man that I have been
The artist is acknowledging that he has done wrong and feels guilty.
None would stand in defense of me
The singer feels isolated and without support.
For this blood on my hands is not my own
The singer is trying to communicate that he has done wrong, but not necessarily the thing he is about to be punished for.
There's no righteousness in me
The artist recognizes that he is not a perfect person and has flaws.
Total slaughter, total slaughter, I wouldn't leave a single man alive
The artist is referring to the idea of 'an eye for an eye,' suggesting that he would take revenge if he were in the gunman's position.
O my Lord how desperate I've become
The artist is expressing deep despair and hopelessness.
I'm just praying for release
The singer wants the pain and suffering to end.
Though the fires of Hell and Damnation, Are surely what I'll see
The artist is acknowledging that he may be punished harshly for his sins.
You were led to the slaughter, By your sons and your daughters, But you wouldn't leave a single man behind
This line switches perspective and refers to someone else who was willing to fight for others even if it meant their own death.
Total slaughter, total slaughter, if I were you, I'd leave no man alive
The singer is again expressing the desire for revenge and suggests that the only way to stay safe in a violent world is to continually harm others.
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MissT
I am smitten with Mr Loomis's extraordinary voice, I have listen to little else since I purchased his album, I would buy everything he has ever done and all that he will do. I am a fan!
Julian Warmington
Though he does also seem to have a fixation on unusually gloomy subject matter...
Julian Warmington
He has a power and a sensitivity. Seems to be a strangely rare mix...
Willkay
Love this, immediately went and bought the album on iTunes.
Andrew Bluebells
superb, really enjoyed this, thank you kindly for sharing this!
Jim Quinlan
Just bought the album after hearing tracks form Noisetrade. Absolutely loving it!!!
Cody Peak
Listening to this for the first time in 2017. Absolutely beautiful.
Arnold Pereira
Great song. I like the depth of your voice in this song
Greg Krogman
Good stuff! Just sorta stumbled on to him. I like several of his videos.
Facil Vida
excellent voice ! Need to start to heading to Nashville