Butch Walker (born Bradley … Read Full Bio ↴See also Butch Walker & The Black Widows
Butch Walker (born Bradley Glenn Walker on November 14, 1969) is a recording artist, songwriter, and record producer.
Walker grew up in Cartersville, Georgia and stood out as a guitarist and performer in several rock bands in the '80s including Bad Boyz and Byte the Bullet. In 1988, he took Byte the Bullet to LA and they were signed to Virgin Records within the year. The band changed names to Southgang and released two albums, Tainted Angel in 1991 and Group Therapy in 1992. Southgang was one of the first bands to tour China in the early '90s.
Afterwards, Butch took over lead vocals and with ex-SouthGang members Jayce Fincher and Mitch McLee formed several bands in the 90s including Floyds Funk Revival, The Floyds, and the popular pop-rock band Marvelous 3. After the break-up of the band in early 2000, Butch then began a solo career, releasing the albums Left of Self-Centered in 2002 and Letters in 2004, finishing 2005 playing over 200 live shows across both the US and Japan. In 2006 he released an album called "Butch Walker and the Let's Go Out Tonities". Butch Walker was recently featured as a headlining artist on the My Space promoted Inaugural Hotel Cafe tour - supporting independent artists from the Los Angeles Venue of the same name.
Several of his songs have been hits for other artists, including Bowling for Soup's Girl All the Bad Guys Want and Avril Lavigne's #1 Hit My Happy Ending. He has written and produced albums for such artists as Bowling for Soup, Pink, Lindsay Lohan, Avril Lavigne, Lit, Sevendust, The Donnas, American Hi-Fi, and SR-71.
He is also featured in Tommy Lee's new album Tommyland: The Ride in the song "Good Times."
In late 2005, he released his first DVD "Live At Budokan."
In 2008, Butch released the live double album "Leavin' the Game on Luckie St." for free download on the internet. He followed this up be releasing another studio album, "Sycamore Meadows", the same year. In 2010, Butch will release his new album, "I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart," on February 23rd.
The Dark
Butch Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doesn't have a name
I'm just riding
I'm not running away
Heat from the engine
Diggin in my thighs
Into the dark
With my father at my side
My mirror is broken
I don't wanna look back
Just fell off
Didn't even crack
Pacific coast highway
Light on high
Into the dark
With my father at my side
Left hand on the clutch
Foot kicks it up
Give it all to my right hand
Gears grind and pop
Ain't running from nothing
Nothing on my mind
Into the black
With my father at my side
The lyrics of Butch Walker's song The Dark seem to conjure up a feeling of freedom, of hitting the open road, of being on the verge of something great. The image of the favorite bike with no name itself is intriguing; it almost seems as if the singer doesn't need to name it because the bike is an extension of the singer himself, a part of his own identity. The heat from the engine digging into his thighs suggests a connection between the rider and the machine, a synergy between man, steel, and the open road.
But what really stands out in the lyrics is the presence of the father. Riding into the dark, the singer's father is at his side, and it's implied that they're doing this together. There's something almost romantic about that thought, two generations living in the moment, experiencing something visceral and primal, yet also deeply personal. The mirror is broken, suggesting that there's no looking back, no worrying about what's behind them. The gears grind and pop, but there's no fear, no hesitation. Nothing on their minds but the road ahead, and the freedom of the ride.
Overall, The Dark is a song about getting away, about finding freedom, and about family. It's an ode to the open road, to the feeling of the wind in your hair, to the heat of the engine, to the sound of the gears, and to the feeling of being truly alive.
Line by Line Meaning
My favorite bike
The singer is talking about their favorite mode of transportation.
Doesn't have a name
The bike doesn't have a name, which suggests it is personal and private to the singer.
I'm just riding
The singer is implying that they are enjoying every moment of the ride.
I'm not running away
The artist is not using the bike as a means to escape problems or situations.
Heat from the engine
The heat coming off the bike's engine is causing some physical warmth to the artist.
Diggin in my thighs
The bike is jostling the singer's legs and causing some discomfort or pressure.
Into the dark
The singer is moving towards an unknown place, likely symbolizing a metaphorical journey through life.
With my father at my side
The artist is not alone on this journey, and has someone close to them along for the ride.
My mirror is broken
The artist cannot look back or reflect on the past as their mirror is not functioning.
I don't wanna look back
The artist may be struggling with something in their past and wants to avoid reflecting on it.
Just fell off
The singer had a physical accident and fell off their bike.
Didn't even crack
The impact of the fall did not result in significant damage.
Pacific coast highway
The singer is on a road/crossing a location called the Pacific Coast Highway.
Light on high
The singer has their light on high, implying they are trying to see through any darkness in their surroundings.
Left hand on the clutch
The singer is controlling the clutch with their left hand.
Foot kicks it up
The artist is using their foot to shift up a gear.
Give it all to my right hand
The artist is using their right hand to give their bike as much power as possible.
Gears grind and pop
The bike is experiencing some resistance or difficulty shifting gears.
Ain't running from nothing
The singer is not trying to escape anything by riding their bike.
Nothing on my mind
The artist is in the moment and isn't focusing on anything specific.
Into the black
The artist is moving forward into an unknown or indistinct future.
With my father at my side
The artist is not alone, as their father is there with them on this journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUTCH WALKER, RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher Sparkman
Butch, this song is a true gem. Well done.
Ian Graber-Stiehl
This was the first song I heard from Butch. I was riding a bicycle at night, a destitute former soldier, thinking about my fractured relationship with my father. Needless to say. It was the most fitting song for the time. I still love it
secret germs
gorgeous