Cousins Steven Delopoulos and John Philippidis were performing in a New Jersey coffeehouse when they were "discovered" by manager Jamison Ernest. The Brooklyn based cousins then assembled a larger band under the name "Burlap to Cashmere", recruiting guitarist Mike Ernest, bassist Roby Guarnera, keyboardist Josh Zandman, drummer Theodore Pagano and percussionist Scott Barksdale (John Degrazio eventually joined the band on bass when Guarnera left).
The group drew on a wide range of musical styles and influences, but their signature sound was rooted in lightning-fast acoustic guitar rhythms. The band began performing in local New York-area venues, and quickly developed a cult following. In 1997, they independently released their first EP under the label Squint, Live at the Bitter End. In 1998 Burlap to Cashmere signed with A&M Records and released the full-length recording Anybody Out There?, followed by an A&M re-release of Live at the Bitter End.
Good Man
Burlap To Cashmere Lyrics
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And you saw him straggling along
And you reached out
Opened up your door
And you gave him a ride
To your heavenly home
God his mother, she won't listen
But you listened to his feelings
And your eyes consistently understand
Yes, your eyes consistently understand
He was a good man
He lived a good life
He was a good man
He lived a good life
But he was dancing to the bright lights
He was dying for some love
Well, you see him with his guitar
Down the highway, he would walk along
Singin' old songs, singin' Sunday blues
But his school bells were his only song
Yes his school bells were his only song
Through the fire, through the lying sun
Through the smoke and fog
Through the day that's done
There was strength there
There was hope alive
There were strings of peace
From the other side
There were strings of peace
From the other side
He was a good man
He lived a good life
He was a good man
He lived a good life
But he was dancing to the bright lights
He was dying for some love
Don't you see he's falling away
Thank God for the love that you gave
Only love can put out a fire
And only love was calling him
Higher and higher
He was a good man
He lived a good life
He was a good man
He lived a good life
But he was dancing to the bright lights
He was dying for some love
He was a good man
He lived a good life
He was a good man
He lived a good life
And you were right there, for the hard times
You were there again and again
Again and again, again and again
He was walking
Down the highway
Give him a ride to your heavenly home
Give him the ride to your heavenly home
The song “Good Man” by Burlap to Cashmere tells the story of a man who is struggling in life and seems to have lost his way. The singer of the song comes across this man walking down the highway, and decides to help him. They bring him into their home and show him love and kindness when he needs it the most. The lyrics speak of the fact that the man’s parents didn’t show him the same kind of love and affection, but through their eyes, he can see that there are people who care about him.
The song is about the transformative power of love and how one small act of kindness can change someone’s life. The lyrics also suggest that sometimes people who are struggling with addiction or other issues, are just looking for someone to show them love and understanding. The singer in this song was that person for the struggling man.
It is a beautiful and moving song that speaks to the power of human connection and empathy. The melody is haunting and draws the listener in, while the lyrics paint a vivid picture of the kindness that the singer shows to the man they meet on the highway.
Line by Line Meaning
He was walking down the highway
He was aimlessly wandering on the path of life
And you saw him straggling along
You noticed that he was struggling
And you reached out
You extended your help
Opened up your door
Welcomed him into your life
And you gave him a ride
You showed him the way to a better life
To your heavenly home
To the place where love prevails
God his mother, she won't listen
His mother did not understand him
And his father hated his old man
His father did not like his grandfather
But you listened to his feelings
You paid attention to his emotions
And your eyes consistently understand
You were always able to read his emotions
He was a good man
He had a kind heart
He lived a good life
He always aimed to do the right thing
But he was dancing to the bright lights
He got drawn towards materialistic things
He was dying for some love
He was longing to be loved
Well, you see him with his guitar
You noticed his love for music
Down the highway, he would walk along
He moved forward despite the challenges
Singin' old songs, singin' Sunday blues
He took solace in his music
But his school bells were his only song
His memories of childhood were his comfort
Through the fire, through the lying sun
Despite tough times and deceitful people
Through the smoke and fog
Amidst confusion and uncertainty
Through the day that's done
Even on days that felt insurmountable
There was strength there
He had the ability to persevere
There was hope alive
He held onto hope for a better life
There were strings of peace
There were moments of serenity
From the other side
From the place of love and understanding
Don't you see he's falling away
Can't you see that he is losing himself
Thank God for the love that you gave
You showed him a love that he was missing
Only love can put out a fire
Only love can heal one's soul
And only love was calling him
Love was the only thing that could save him
Higher and higher
To a better place in life
And you were right there, for the hard times
You were his support system even during tough times
You were there again and again
You consistently offered your help and love
Again and again, again and again
You never gave up on him
He was walking
He was just aimlessly wandering
Give him a ride to your heavenly home
Help him find his way to a place of love and understanding
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMISON ERNEST, JOHNNY PHILIPPIDIS, STEVEN SOCRATES DELOPOULOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind