“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.
Hazy Maze
Chadwick Stokes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one that some folks never leave,
Are you a child of wonder?
And are there any others from any lovers never chease?
When the drifters have gone to sleep, and the fog sits up so deep,
And I can't find my way,
That's when I heard for the Green Street stairs,
And start climbing till the mist, it clears,
Hazymaze, you've must come from West Virginia,
Some place where songs are always sung,
Where poets Hem and Haw trip the light of fall,
And the moon confesses what he's done,
And what he's done is not so low,
He cleared a path for you to go,
When you were on your way,
To be a girl with hearts on her knees,
Doing cartwheels in front of the screen,
We see your shadow on the movie in Delores and before us in Hazy Maze,
Hazymaze you've must have come from the top of San Francisco,
Like Rigby and Roosewelt,
Hazymaze you've must stayed up all night singing,
When your heard the mission bell,
Hazymaze you've come from some far-reaching outpost,
On the Golden Gate you climbed,
All your dreams, don't let them fall,
To all the waters far below,
Playing lonely with the tide
The song "Hazy Maze" by Chadwick Stokes tells a story of a mysterious place called Hazy Maze, which the singer suggests can be found in different locations such as the "valley of the dolls," West Virginia, and the top of San Francisco. The singer wonders if Hazy Maze is a child of wonder, born out of love from others who never give up in pursuit of their dreams. When the singer is lost in the fog trying to find his way, he hears of the Green Street stairs, which he climbs until the mist clears and he sees his "meridian" or guiding star. The singer seems to suggest that Hazy Maze represents the dreams and aspirations of people who take risks and go against the norm to achieve their goals. The singer seems to admire the perseverance and resilience of the people of Hazy Maze and exhort them to hold onto their dreams and not let them fall like water to the ocean below.
Line by Line Meaning
Hazy maze, you've must come from the valley of the dolls,
The singer welcomes the hazy, disorienting feeling that is alluded to as a hazy maze, which most likely originated from a deceptive or artificial environment where it's hard to find one's true identity.
The one that some folks never leave,
The maze or the artificial environment is so well-crafted or heavily relied on that some folks are trapped there, never being able to break free.
Are you a child of wonder?
The singer wonders whether the hazy maze is created by a creative or curious individual, someone always in search of wonder.
And are there any others from any lovers never chease?
The artist inquires about whether or not anyone else is trapped in the maze with the hazy maze creator or if they are still chasing after the same unattainable lovers.
When the drifters have gone to sleep, and the fog sits up so deep,
The artist describes a serene moment of calmness where everything stops as the night sets and the fog rises to cover everything with a feeling of mystery.
And I can't find my way,
The singer is admitting they are confused and lost in the maze, unable to find a way out.
That's when I heard for the Green Street stairs,
The singer recalls hearing about the Green Street stairs, giving them hope that this path might help them find a way out of the maze.
And start climbing till the mist, it clears,
The artist starts their climb up the Green Street stairs, hoping that by the time they reach the top, the fog will have cleared and they can see their way forward.
It's there I see my meridian like Rocky is to Gideon and Hazy Maze,
Once the fog clears, the artist finds themselves at a point of orientation, much like one would use a meridian to navigate the open seas. The artist likens this point to something as foundational as the relationship between Rocky and Gideon, characters with a reliable and unshakable bond that they can depend on to clear their path.
Hazymaze, you've must come from West Virginia,
The artist imagines the hazy maze originates in a location like West Virginia, where music is deeply rooted in the culture and the landscape has many winding paths.
Some place where songs are always sung,
The singer pictures the location where the hazy maze was created as a dreamy environment where people are always singing and creating art.
Where poets Hem and Haw trip the light of fall,
The artist further romanticizes the place where the hazy maze was created by bringing up famous poets, describing them joyously dancing and stumbling through an autumn field.
And the moon confesses what he's done,
The singer imagines the moon in this location as one who owns up to his actions and makes up for his mistakes by paving a path for the hazy maze creator.
And what he's done is not so low,
The singer clarifies that the moon's actions in paving the way for the creator of the hazy maze are admirable and kind-hearted.
He cleared a path for you to go,
Again, the singer emphasizes how the moon paved a way for the hazy maze creator to find inspiration and create the hazy maze through their unique journey.
When you were on your way,
The artist suggests that the creator of the hazy maze was lost, confused, or had no clear direction before the moon paved the way.
To be a girl with hearts on her knees,
The artist is possibly referencing a specific type of person who the hazy maze creator was trying to become. This idiom could indicate the act of supplication, with the hearts on her knees signifying an over-reliance on love and emotions over logic and reasoning.
Doing cartwheels in front of the screen,
The singer describes the hazy maze creator being carefree and happy, performing cartwheels, and possibly living in their own world, perhaps a product of how media and technology shape their thoughts and beliefs.
We see your shadow on the movie in Delores and before us in Hazy Maze,
The singer imagines sees the hazy maze creator's experiences in what they see on the screen and what they experience in the hazy maze, perhaps suggesting that the creator's life reflects in their works of art.
Hazymaze you've must have come from the top of San Francisco,
The artist imagines the hazy maze creator being from the top of San Francisco, which is both a place and a metaphorical statement. San Francisco is a city filled with variety and diversity but can also represent the pinnacle of success and freedom.
Like Rigby and Roosewelt,
The artist is drawing a comparison between the hazy maze creator and Rigby and Roosewelt, perhaps referencing similar historical figures who came from the top of San Francisco, accomplished great feats of achievement, and created their own unique paths.
Hazymaze you've must stayed up all night singing,
The artist believes the hazy maze creator stayed up all night singing, perhaps finding inspiration from their surroundings, and creating a vivid, surrealistic scene with their art.
When your heard the mission bell,
The singer is suggesting that the hazy maze creator's artistry and inspiration stem from the story of the mission bell, which could hold different cultural or personal meanings.
Hazymaze you've come from some far-reaching outpost,
The artist is suggesting that the hazy maze creator has come from a faraway place, possibly a place in between an old and familiar world and a new, exciting one.
On the Golden Gate you climbed,
The singer imagines the creator of the hazy maze to have climbed the Golden Gate Bridge or metaphorically signifies that the creator overcame obstacles in their life or career.
All your dreams, don't let them fall,
The singer encourages the creator not to give up on their dreams, even when things get tough because they are essential to them and their art.
To all the waters far below,
The singer is saying that it's a long way down if the creator gives up or loses the strength to hold onto their dreams.
Playing lonely with the tide
The artist describes the creator playing with or battling against the tide and the ups and downs of their emotions, which is a somewhat lonely or solitary journey.
Contributed by Henry H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.