Love and family have always been sources of inspiration for critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician Rodriguez, but never have they featured so prominently than on her release Love & Circumstance, a covers album that includes songs written by her father, and once performed by her great aunt.
Rodriguez' journey from teenage violin student to touring the world with the likes of Chip Taylor (famed songwriter of "Wild Thing), Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo, has resulted in a prodigious output of recordings - eight albums in as many years - for the young musician; with the new album, Carrie relies on others to handle the songwriting duties, she provides the interpretations.
"In 2009, after a very busy few years, I felt like I should take a step back and assess the situation," she says, during a quick stop between tours. "The idea of doing a covers record had been developing for a while, and had been prompted by requests I get at every show for a recording of some of the covers I play live, especially 'La Punalada Trapera.' I stated to wonder what kind of album I could make that would be a fit for that song."
Besides the contributions from her immediate family, Love & Circumstance, includes compositions from her extended musical family and friends, including John Hiatt/Nick Lowe/Ry Cooder/Jim Keltner (aka Little Village), Buddy Miller & Julie Miller, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Richard Thompson, Townes Van Zandt, M. Ward, Merle Haggard & Bonnie Owens, Hank Williams, and Lucinda Williams.
"It was very important for me to go back to my roots with this record and concentrate on what was important to me," Rodriguez explains, "songwriters like Richard Thompson, Townes, Hank, they're the ones who initially inspired me." And Rodriguez' inspirations are being admired, with Thompson exclaiming "It is always a thrill to write a song and have someone else take it to unexpected places. Thank you (Carrie) for the heartfelt and impassioned performance."
Rodriguez' professional career was launched in 2001 after a show at South By Southwest introduced her to Taylor, with whom she has recorded four full albums and an EP. Her musical development started much earlier, however, and at the hands of an equally seasoned songwriting veteran, her father David Rodriquez. "My dad gave me a Leonard Cohen record for my ninth birthday! I hated it. But of course I rediscovered it at thirteen and loved it." By fifteen Rodriguez and her dad were touring the Netherlands together; chops were being honed.
Rodriguez' maternal side of the family also influenced her musical upbringing. Not only was her mother a fanatical opera enthusiast, her great-aunt, Eva Garza, was a popular Latin recording artist in the 50's, and it was from Garza that Rodriguez first heard 'La Punalada Trapera,' which soon became a mainstay in her live set. Having family friends include Lyle Lovett, who invited Rodriguez to sit in with his band when she was at college, also helped her develop as a performer.
The list of bold faced names that have come into Rodriguez' orbit over the years also includes Lee Townsend, the famed producer, who collaborated with Carrie on the selection of songs for the album, and ultimately produced the project at her new label's (Ninth Street Opus) studios in Berkeley and at the renowned Fantasy Studios.
As might be expected from her and Townsend's A-list connections, the list of players on Love & Circumstance includes a sterling roster of music greats including Bill Frisell (guitars), Greg Leisz (pedal steel & slide guitars), Aoife O'Donovan (background vocals), and Buddy Miller (background vocals).
"Greg Leisz is the greatest pedal steel player in the world, and for someone with a Bill Frisell record collection getting to play with him is a dream," gushes Rodriguez, reminding us that despite a decade and a half in the trenches she's still a young (31) and impassioned music fan.
Those who have been following Carrie Rodriguez throughout her career will find Love & Circumstance an exciting addition to her oeuvre, new fans will get a glimpse of the rising star's influences; both will revel in the sterling musicianship and heartfelt interpretations of new and classic songs.
"This is a really important record for me,' says Rodriguez, 'not just because it gave me the chance to go back to my roots, but also because it celebrates my family."
And for those who need a more intimate experience with Carrie Rodriguez, you'll find her where she started, live and on the road.
02/10 - A. Pollock
Rex's Blues
Carrie Rodriguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll lead you down through misery
Leave you low, come, time to go
Alone and low as low can be
If I had a nickel, I'd find a game
If I won a dollar, I'd make it rain
If it rained an ocean, I'd drink it dry
Oh, lay me down dissatisfied
It's legs to walk and thoughts to fly
Eyes to laugh and lips to cry
A restless tongue to classify
All born to grow and grown to die
So tell my baby I said, "So long"
Tell my mother I done no wrong
Tell my brother to watch his own
And tell my friends to mourn me none
Oh, tell my friends to mourn me none
I'm chained upon the face of time
Feelin' full of foolish rhyme
There ain't no dark till something shines
I'm bound to leave this dark behind
So ride the blue wind high and free
She'll lead you down through misery
Leave you low, come, time to go
Alone and low as low can be
Alone and low as low can be
Alone and low as low can be
The song, Rex's Blues, by Carrie Rodriguez, is a melancholic tune that deals with themes of loneliness, regret, and mortality. The singer of the song seems to be a troubled soul who is restless and dissatisfied with life. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is searching for meaning and purpose but is lost in the world. The opening line of the song, "ride the blue wind high and free," could be interpreted as a metaphorical call to adventure or a plea for liberation from the mundane.
The line, "She'll lead you down through misery," suggests that even though the journey may be liberating, it will not be easy. The singer warns that the road to self-discovery may be a painful one. The verse, "If I had a nickel, I'd find a game, if I won a dollar, I'd make it rain," can be seen as a lament for a wasted life that lacks direction or purpose. The singer seems to suggest a desire for something more, but also a fear of failure or disappointment.
The chorus, "Alone and low as low can be," encapsulates the central theme of the song. The singer is a lonely soul who is trapped in his own misery. The song's final lines, "So ride the blue wind high and free, She'll lead you down through misery, Leave you low, come, time to go, Alone and low as low can be," bring the song full circle. The singer seems resigned to his fate, but also acknowledges that life is a journey, and eventually, it must end.
Line by Line Meaning
Ride the blue wind high and free
Embrace the freedom and opportunities life presents you with
She'll lead you down through misery
Even when you follow your dreams, you may encounter difficulties
Leave you low, come, time to go
When it's time to move on, you may find yourself feeling defeated
Alone and low as low can be
In times of defeat, you may feel isolated and despairing
If I had a nickel, I'd find a game
If I had a little bit of money, I'd use it to have some fun and take risks
If I won a dollar, I'd make it rain
If I had a little bit of luck, I would use it to make the most of life
If it rained an ocean, I'd drink it dry
If the impossible happened and everything went my way, I would still not be satisfied
And lay me down dissatisfied
No matter what I achieve, I will always feel incomplete
It's legs to walk and thoughts to fly
We are given the ability to physically travel and mentally explore
Eyes to laugh and lips to cry
We experience joy and sorrow through sight and sound
A restless tongue to classify
We have the tendency to put things into boxes and categories, but life is not that simple
All born to grow and grown to die
We are all on a journey, and that journey will come to an end
So tell my baby I said, "So long"
Say goodbye to my loved ones for me
Tell my mother I done no wrong
Assure my mother that I lived with honor
Tell my brother to watch his own
Advise my brother to look out for himself
And tell my friends to mourn me none
Ask my friends not to grieve my passing
I'm chained upon the face of time
I am a prisoner to the inevitability of aging and death
Feelin' full of foolish rhyme
Feeling overwhelmed with uncertainty and doubt
There ain't no dark till something shines
Without negativity, there can be no positivity
I'm bound to leave this dark behind
I will eventually move past my struggles and hardships
Alone and low as low can be
In the end, we face our mortality alone and without hope
Alone and low as low can be
In the end, we face our mortality alone and without hope
Alone and low as low can be
In the end, we face our mortality alone and without hope
Contributed by Jacob I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.