It takes a certain type of musician to hop freight trains and barrel across… Read Full Bio ↴It takes a certain type of musician to hop freight trains and barrel across the vastness of North America with his brother and cousin. Especially for an artist who, just years before, sold out Madison Square Garden for three consecutive nights. CHAD “CHADWICK” STOKES is anything but a typical rock star. So, there was the singer-guitarist for bands Dispatch and State Radio, wading across a river to escape the chasing railroad bulls and hanging in the different down and out jungles with other traveling folks. And in the end, after the three had finally reached the West Coast and were laying face down in the dirt at gunpoint care of the NSA, he says it was all well worth it.

“I had ridden the trains a little bit in the past for a day or two but I had never done it for weeks at a time,” Stokes says. “I discovered an America that I knew was out there but had limited experience with. There's all kinds of people out on the rails: people simply trying to get from point A to B, people running from whatever they left behind, people with nowhere else to go. You get to see a part of America that only the trains go through -- remote stretches without any sign of mankind." It was out on these long isolated stretches and in the inner city train yards that Stokes found the inspiration for his solo debut, titled SIMMERKANE II.

At a time when the term Indie-rock refers more to a guitar sound than doing anything truly independent, Stokes is an artist who has genuinely lived the credo. Unassisted by a major label, his band Dispatch arose from the college circuit to become an international musical phenomenon. With only a celebrated live show and a series of self-released albums the band was not only able to sell out Madison Square Garden several times but attract 110,000+ fans to a Boston concert.

While riding the rails, Stokes made a designated stop so his band, State Radio, could play an anti-war concert at the Denver Coliseum with Rage Against The Machine. It is a DIY social consciousness that Stokes came to early in life - growing up as a pacifist, working in Zimbabwe after high school and eventually co-founding the Elias Fund, the Dispatch Foundation, and now Calling All Crows. In 2008, Stokes was honored as Humanitarian of the Year at the Boston Music Awards.

Simmerkane II, a proper follow-up to the State Radio EP (Simmerkane I), is a marked evolution in the musician-songwriter’s creative journey. Produced by John Dragonetti (of The Submarines), the album features background vocals from Carly Simon, Matt Embree (Rx Bandits), The White Buffalo, Blake Hazard (The Submarines), and Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. The sound is an engaging mix of Americana, country, folk and rock in the service of some undeniably evocative lyrics. The songs tell a loose narrative of travel, love and loss, like some re-imagined rock-n-roll odyssey.

The journey begins with “Adelaide,” a fuzzed-out melodic folk rocker containing the prophetic line, “We left Worcester with our boots and our bags - and America undressed herself in front of our eyes.” Next, listeners venture into the “Crowbar Hotel” to discover an underground world populated by hard luck outsiders: “We are sold to the highest bidder, we are down to our very last crumb - May we invite ourselves to dinner, ‘cause we might just have to make a run.” The song “Back To The Races,” has Stokes reflecting on past mistakes and longing for the childhood farm while still seduced by the excitement of the journey and a new love. The symphonic rock-n-roll charges ahead before dropping down for the intimate lyrical refrain “Back to the races - and on with the day.”

The two-disc deluxe package includes three bonus tracks with Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, a musical ensemble of refugees from Sierra Leone’s 1991 civil war. Stokes, who did humanitarian work in Zimbabwe as a youth, has been a longtime fan of the All Stars. The tracks include a lilting African-tinged folk song called “Coffee And Wine,” a reflective reggae track titled, “All My Possessions (Ode To Troy)” and “Don’t Have You” – a heartfelt ballad that eventually erupts in celebration with the All Stars’ backing vocals and percussions carrying the weight of their troubled history and eventual transcendence. “It was such an honor to work with the All Stars,” Stokes explains. “The songs we did were kind of folk songs and one reggae song, so they were a bit out of their element trying to adapt to the folky farm kid and his songs. But you can hear their history in their singing and playing and it adds this amazing power to the songs.”

Simmerkane II is an ambitious album about discovery, loss and moving on. What begun as a journey across an unseen America becomes a moving musical tribute to the resilience of the human heart. “The album was initially inspired by the freight train trip with my brother and that vast underworld that exists out there,” Stokes explains. “But then it’s also about growing up on the farm and losing loved ones; a young man learning about life.” In his spare time, Stokes can still be found hopping trains with his beloved travel companion, Lefty.

Blanket on the Moon
Chadwick Stokes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

so they left me sitting here, I saw them talking with themselves
about the way, about the way, I would hopefully be found

then they crouched down nice and low and they whispered in my ear
about the land about the land, that would have me in the end, my mother whispered to me again

goodbye my love, this is where I disappear, remember to drink and eat
make your transmissions religiously and a ship will come for you I swear

just keep your blanket on the moon

she said the earth is right there, a mere light second away
and the humans all look up in the most peculiar way

with that she brushed the moondust off and turned to hide her tears
are you coming back? I asked, she said it could be years
that I should get some rest, then she tucked me in for the last time as her heart broke in her chest

bye my love, this is where I disappear, remember to drink and eat
make your transmissions religiously and a ship will come for you I swear
just keep your blanket on the moon, a better life awaits you

and I'll be right there, when you're shacked up against the moon, and I'll be right there, I'll be your blanket on the moon

the day the earthship came, I was thrilled to see the light and I waved with all my heart to show the humans I was alright
but as the ship got closer it wasn't the kind that lands more the kind that comes from an air missile defense
and just as I felt the first shock from the supersonic front
I was catapulted into space by the exothermic guns

and I hope I find someone soon, someone who won't destroy their moon, when all my wounds are cauterized, no xenophobic enterprise

and I'll be right there, when you're shacked up against the moon, and I'll be right there

and now I'm reaching out again, I'm reaching out again, I'm reaching out for someone to help me down
I'm reaching out again, reaching out again for someone to help me out

I'm reaching out again, I'm reaching out again, I'm reaching out for someone to help me down
I'm reaching out again, reaching out again

and I hope I find someone soon, someone who won't destroy their moon, when all my wounds are cauterized, no xenophobic enterprise

and I'll be right there, only once removed, and I'll be right there
and I'll be right there, when you're shacked up against the moon
I'll be right there

last thing I remember, I grabbed onto a microsphere and I must've been talking in my sleep to all those who could hear
because I woke up in mid-conversation with these little critters in formal dress
and they motioned for me to come as if I'd already said yes
they said I was lucky to be alive they did not think anything survived

goodbye my love, this is where I disappear, remember to drink and eat

make your transmissions religiously and a ship will come for you I swear
just keep your blanket on the moon, a better life awaits you soon

Overall Meaning

The song "Blanket on the Moon" by Chadwick Stokes tells the story of a person who has been sent to live alone on the moon. The song begins with the person being left alone on the moon by their family who whispered in their ear about the land that will have them in the end. The person's mother reminded them to drink and eat and make their transmissions religiously and a ship would come for them. The person's mother tells them that a better life awaits them if they keep their blanket on the moon.

As the person is left alone on the moon, they ask their mother if she is coming back. She replies that it could be years before she returns, and she tucks them in for the last time as she hides her tears. The person is waiting for a ship to come and rescue them, but when the earthship finally arrives, it is not the kind that lands. Instead, the ship is a missile defense and the person is catapulted into space by the exothermic guns.

The person hopes to find someone who won't destroy their moon and help them down. They dream of a better life and are always reaching out for someone to help them. The person wants to believe that they will be rescued someday and reunited with their loved ones. The song tells a powerful story of loneliness, hope, and perseverance in the face of an unknown and terrifying future.

Line by Line Meaning

so they left me sitting here, I saw them talking with themselves
The singer is left alone on the moon, and he sees their loved ones talking about how they will find him

about the way, about the way, I would hopefully be found
The loved ones are discussing possible ways to save him

then they crouched down nice and low and they whispered in my ear
The loved ones are comforting the singer and sharing information with him

about the land about the land, that would have me in the end, my mother whispered to me again
The loved ones are assuring the artist that they will rescue him and take him to safety

goodbye my love, this is where I disappear, remember to drink and eat
The artist's loved one is bidding him goodbye and reminding him to take care of himself

make your transmissions religiously and a ship will come for you I swear
The loved one is instructing the singer to send regular messages to be rescued

just keep your blanket on the moon
The loved one wants the singer to keep his possessions secure while he waits for rescue

she said the earth is right there, a mere light second away
The loved one is telling the artist that Earth is close so he won't feel alone.

and the humans all look up in the most peculiar way
The loved one reflects on how humans watch the skies in awe from Earth.

with that she brushed the moondust off and turned to hide her tears
The loved one wipes the moondust off and hides her emotions.

are you coming back? I asked, she said it could be years
The singer asks if she'll return, but the loved one admits that it might take a long time

that I should get some rest, then she tucked me in for the last time as her heart broke in her chest
The loved one wants the artist to rest before her final goodbye, she is upset that she won't see him for a long time.

just keep your blanket on the moon, a better life awaits you
The loved one reassures the singer that he will have a better future waiting for him.

and I'll be right there, when you're shacked up against the moon, and I'll be right there, I'll be your blanket on the moon
The loved one is promising to be with the singer in spirit when he's alone on the moon, and to comfort him when he misses home.

the day the earthship came, I was thrilled to see the light and I waved with all my heart to show the humans I was alright
When the rescue ship comes, the singer is happy and relieved, and lets the Earth know that he's still alive

but as the ship got closer it wasn't the kind that lands more the kind that comes from an air missile defense
The ship turns out to be something dangerous rather than a friendly rescue team

and just as I felt the first shock from the supersonic front, I was catapulted into space by the exothermic guns
The artist feels the impact of the guns and gets launched back into space.

and I hope I find someone soon, someone who won't destroy their moon, when all my wounds are cauterized, no xenophobic enterprise
The singer hopes to find someone soon who won't hurt him or the moon, and not to face any prejudice and racism during his time on the moon.

and now I'm reaching out again, I'm reaching out again, I'm reaching out for someone to help me down
The singer is reaching out for help a second time in hopes of getting rescued

I'm reaching out again, reaching out again for someone to help me out
He is crying out for help to people who might hear him

last thing I remember, I grabbed onto a microsphere and I must've been talking in my sleep to all those who could hear
The artist has a flicker of a memory of holding onto a small sphere and talking to someone.

because I woke up in mid-conversation with these little critters in formal dress
The artist wakes up in the middle of a conversation with small creatures who are dressed in formal attire,

and they motioned for me to come as if I'd already said yes
The creatures urge the singer to come with them.

they said I was lucky to be alive they did not think anything survived
The creatures inform the artist that he's lucky to be alive, as they hadn't thought anything survived.

and I'll be right there, only once removed, and I'll be right there
The loved one promises to always be there for the singer in spirit, despite their distance.

and I'll be right there, when you're shacked up against the moon
The loved one reassures the singer once more that she'll be there for him even from a distance.

I'll be right there
The loved one promises her presence for the artist from afar.

goodbye my love, this is where I disappear, remember to drink and eat
The loved one bids one final goodbye to the artist, reminding him to take care of himself

just keep your blanket on the moon, a better life awaits you soon
The loved one reassures the singer that he'll have a better future waiting for him, and that he should hold on to his possessions for comfort.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Charles Stokes Urmston

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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