Buddy Miller is a country singer, songwriter, recording artist and producer… Read Full Bio ↴Buddy Miller is a country singer, songwriter, recording artist and producer, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Miller is married to and has recorded with singer/songwriter Julie Miller.

Miller formed the Buddy Miller Band, which included singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin on vocals and guitar.

In addition to releasing several solo albums over the years, Miller has toured as lead guitarist/backing vocalist for Emmylou Harris's Spyboy band, Steve Earle on his El Corazon tour, and Linda Ronstadt. He co-produced and performed on Jimmie Dale Gilmore's 2000 album Endless Night. He has also appeared on several albums by songwriter/singer Lucinda Williams.

At the 4th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, the Ryman Auditorium September 2005, Miller received the Album of the Year Award for his Universal United House of Prayer, and the opening cut of that album, Worry Too Much (penned by Mark Heard, and originally released on Second Hand), won the Song of the Year Award.

Worry Too Much
Buddy Miller Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's a demolition derby
It's the sport of the hunt
Proud tribe in full war dance
It's the slow smile that the bully gives the runt

It's the force of inertia
It's the lack of constraint
It's the children out playing in the rock garden

All dolled up in black hats and war paint

Sometimes it feels like bars of steel I can't bend with my hands
Oh, I worry too much
Somebody told me that I worry too much

It's these sandpaper eyes
It's the way they rub the luster from what is seen
It's the way we tell ourselves that all these things are normal
'Til we can't remember what we mean

It's the flicker of our flames
It's the friction born of living
It's the way we beat a hot retreat
And heave our smoking guns into the river

It's the quick-step march of history
The vanity of nations
It's the way there'll be no muffled drums
To mark the passage of my generation

It's the children of my children
It's the lambs born in innocence

It's wondering if the good I know will last
To be seen by the eyes of the little ones

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buddy Miller's song "Worry Too Much" depict a world in constant friction, where violence, power struggles, and vanity are ever-present. The song starts with the metaphor of a demolition derby, which sets the tone for the rest of the verses. The game represents a violent and chaotic environment, where the players relentlessly destroy each other's vehicles. The second line refers to hunting, where people compete for dominance and the thrill of the chase. It's a "Proud tribe in full war dance" that enjoys the feeling of power and control.

The chorus of the song reflects the artist's anxiety and worry for the future. The bars of steel that he can't bend with his hands represent the obstacles and challenges that he sees in the world. The worry and anxiety expressed in the song reflect the nature of living in an ever-changing and challenging world. The sandpaper eyes that rub the luster off what is seen, and the way we tell ourselves that everything is normal until we forget what we mean, reflect our complacency with the status quo. The song encourages the listener to take a closer look at the world and question the patterns of behavior that we've accepted as normal.

Line by Line Meaning

It's a demolition derby
Life can often feel like a chaotic and intense competition

It's the sport of the hunt
The pursuit of our goals can feel like a primal instinct or animalistic drive

Proud tribe in full war dance
Our pride and sense of identity can lead us into conflict and competition with others

It's the slow smile that the bully gives the runt
Some people take pleasure in exerting power over others, especially those who are vulnerable or weaker

It's the force of inertia
Resistance to change or movement can be a powerful and frustrating obstacle

It's the lack of constraint
Freedom and lack of limitations can be both exciting and overwhelming

It's the children out playing in the rock garden, all dolled up in black hats and war paint
Children can be innocent and playful, but also have a fascination with violence and darkness

Sometimes it feels like bars of steel I can't bend with my hands
The difficulties and hardships of life can feel insurmountable and impossible to overcome

Oh, I worry too much
The artist acknowledges that they tend to excessively worry or stress about things

Somebody told me that I worry too much
The artist has received feedback from others that their worrying is excessive or misplaced

It's these sandpaper eyes
Life can wear us down and make us feel rough, dull, or fatigued

It's the way they rub the luster from what is seen
The hardships of life can dull our appreciation for the beauty and wonder around us

It's the way we tell ourselves that all these things are normal, 'til we can't remember what we mean
We can become accustomed to hardship or injustice to the point where we accept it as normal, losing sight of what is truly meaningful or valuable

It's the flicker of our flames
Our passions and ambitions can burn brightly but also flicker and fade

It's the friction born of living
Conflict and difficulties can arise simply from the experience of being alive

It's the way we beat a hot retreat and heave our smoking guns into the river
We may try to escape or avoid our problems, but we cannot truly leave them behind or forget about them completely

It's the quick-step march of history
The passage of time can feel relentless and unstoppable, moving us forward whether we like it or not

The vanity of nations
The pride and arrogance of nations can lead to conflict, violence, and harm to others

It's the way there'll be no muffled drums to mark the passage of my generation
The singer reflects on the fact that their life and accomplishments may go unnoticed or unacknowledged after they are gone

It's the children of my children
The artist thinks about future generations and their hopes and dreams

It's the lambs born in innocence
The artist sees hope and potential in the new generations and their innocence

It's wondering if the good I know will last
The artist is uncertain about whether the positive aspects of life and society will continue or endure

To be seen by the eyes of the little ones
The singer hopes that future generations will be able to appreciate and benefit from the good aspects of life that they have experienced

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK HEARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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