L.A. roots-rocker Carla Olson and British blues-rock guitarist Mick Taylor… Read Full Bio ↴L.A. roots-rocker Carla Olson and British blues-rock guitarist Mick Taylor made a powerful pair. This live album, recorded at the Roxy in Los Angeles in 1990, was their debut, waxed with a hand-picked band that had rehearsed for a week and played only one warm-up gig. It's a sign of the players' quality that the group sounds like a well-oiled road unit, with Olson's powerful, earthy vocals backed by a solid rhythm section of Rick Hemmert on drums and Jesse Sublett on bass, and sparked throughout by Taylor's brilliant electric guitar. Released in 1991 under this title in the U.S. and as "Live" in Europe, this two-CD reissue adds a Taylor-sung cover of Fred McDowell's "You Gotta Move," previously released in Japan, and an entire second disc of studio tracks picked from Olson's subsequent collaborations with Taylor.

Recorded at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, California in March of 1990, Too Hot for Snakes is an entertaining, if ultimately non-essential, addition to the catalogs of both artists; the clear highlight is a fiery rendition of the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers track "Sway," a song Taylor clearly relishes performing as much as Olson does. (Too Hot for Snakes is the U.S. release of the material released in Europe as Live).

DISC 1: 01. Who Put the Sting on the Honeybee 02. Slow Rollin' Train 03. Trying to Hold On 04. Rubies & Diamonds 05. See the Light 06. You Can't Move In 07. Broken Hands 08. Sway 09. Hartley Quits 10. Midnight Mission 11. Silver Train 12. You Gotta Move

DISC 2: 01. Winter 02. Loserville 03. The Ring of Truth 04. Friends in Baltimore 05. Great Black Hole 06. Kinderwars 07. Reap the Whirlwind 08. Justice 09. Fortune 10. Within an Ace 11. World of Pain 12. Is the Lady Gone 13. Think I'm Goin' Mad

See The Light
Carla Olson & Mick Taylor Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, I got broken hands, God

Feel so loose and I feel so free
Running so fast that you can't catch me
Play the night like a dream machine
Play my guitar 'cause I feel so mean

Drivin' down the highway

Trying to get ahead
And I shake the blues away, yeah
Yeah, broken hands, I'm a broken man

Ah baby, where are we?
Howling winds on a heavy sea
Always think that you got it made
I can never see you behind your shades

Fools are around me, the devils inside
So much craziness to exercise
Let's get small and get some lovin' done
This life's so hard, hit and run

There's nothin' happenin' here, anyway
If we sit around much longer we're gonna slide away
Mesmerizing, washed out eyes
Users and losers, hypnotized

I like music that sounds so sweet
I like to dance and move my feet
When I hear such a heavy sound
Come on baby, let's get down

Drivin' down the highway
I'm just trying to get ahead
And shake these blues away
There's nothin' happenin' here, anyway

Yeah, broken hands, I'm down and out
Gimme a smile and I'll pull ya out
Yeah, broken hands

Yeah, broken hands, I'm a broken man

Yeah, broken hands, I'm down and out
Gimme a smile and I'll pull ya out

Overall Meaning

The song "See The Light" by Carla Olson & Mick Taylor is an upbeat rock ballad that expresses the feelings of a broken man. The lyrics are quite introspective as they talk about the struggles of life and how music has become an outlet of expression for the singer. The opening lines "Yeah, I got broken hands, God" sets the stage for the rest of the song, as it touches upon the hardships that the singer has endured. The lines "Feel so loose and I feel so free, Running so fast that you can't catch me" reveal the singer's desire to break free from his struggles and run towards a better future.

Throughout the song, the singer talks about driving down the highway trying to escape the difficulties of life. The lyrics "This life's so hard, hit and run, There's nothin' happenin' here, anyway" illustrate the singer's frustration with the mundane nature of life. The chorus, which repeats the words "broken hands" and "broken man," highlights the internal turmoil that the singer is going through.

Towards the end of the song, the singer expresses hope for a brighter future. The lines "Gimme a smile and I'll pull ya out" suggest that the singer is willing to help others even though he is struggling himself. Overall, "See The Light" is a poignant reminder that no matter how difficult our lives may be, we should never lose hope and always strive towards a better future.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, I got broken hands, God
I am physically and emotionally broken, looking toward a higher power for guidance.

Feel so loose and I feel so free
Despite my brokenness, I am unencumbered and unafraid.

Running so fast that you can't catch me
I am moving forward in life, leaving those who try to hold me back behind.

Play the night like a dream machine
I am living my life fully, taking chances and pushing boundaries.

Play my guitar 'cause I feel so mean
I use my passion for music as a release for my inner turmoil.

Drivin' down the highway
I am on a journey, both physically and metaphorically.

Trying to get ahead
I am striving to improve my life and circumstances.

And I shake the blues away, yeah
I use my experiences and emotions to create something beautiful and positive.

Ah baby, where are we?
I am questioning the direction and purpose of my life.

Howling winds on a heavy sea
I am facing turbulent times and forces beyond my control.

Always think that you got it made
I am surrounded by people who appear to have everything figured out.

I can never see you behind your shades
I am unable to connect with these people on a deeper level.

Fools are around me, the devils inside
I am surrounded by negative influences and struggling with inner demons.

So much craziness to exercise
I am dealing with a lot of chaos and confusion in my life.

Let's get small and get some lovin' done
I am yearning for intimacy and connection amidst the madness.

This life's so hard, hit and run
I am frustrated by the relentless challenges and fleeting moments of joy in life.

There's nothin' happenin' here, anyway
I am disillusioned with my current situation and looking for something more meaningful.

If we sit around much longer we're gonna slide away
I am afraid of stagnation and losing momentum in life.

Mesmerizing, washed out eyes
I am surrounded by people who are blindly following the status quo.

Users and losers, hypnotized
I am frustrated by those who are content with mediocrity and lack of ambition.

I like music that sounds so sweet
I find solace and joy in music that is beautiful and uplifting.

I like to dance and move my feet
I use music as a release for my emotions and a way to connect with others.

When I hear such a heavy sound
I am drawn to music that is intense and powerful.

Come on baby, let's get down
I am inviting someone to share my love for music and experience of life.

Yeah, broken hands, I'm down and out
I am acknowledging my struggle and limitations.

Gimme a smile and I'll pull ya out
Despite my own struggles, I am willing to help others who are also in need.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LORENZO DUNN, LORENZO RUSSELL DUNN, LOUISE HARDY, PHILIP BAILEY, PHILIP JAMES BAILEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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