Raised in Connecticut, Pureka is said to have begun writing songs at the age of eight; by 16 they were playing the guitar. Following performances at local coffee houses and open mics, they began opening shows for such artists as Erin McKeown and Pamela Means while completing a degree in biology at Wesleyan University. After graduating, they worked in a microbiology research lab at Smith College in Northampton, eventually leaving to focus on their music full-time. In June 2001, they recorded a self-titled seven-song EP in preparation for a three-month nationwide tour with lesbian folk poet Alix Olson.
In 2004, Pureka released Driving North, their first full-length album, earning rave reviews from fans and fellow artists alike. In 2006, they released Dryland, and toured the US a second time as a headlining act. In May 2007, Pureka was a member of the month-long New American Songwriter Tour in New York City, Philadelphia, and Massachusetts. The tour also featured Krystle Warren, Jesse Harris and Ryan Scott. In July 2007, Pureka's song, "Swann Song" won 1st Place in the Acoustic competition on the independent music site OurStage.com.
In October 2007, Pureka was nominated for 2007's Outstanding Folk Act by the Boston Music Awards. They were also awarded an ASCAPLUS award in the summer of 2007.
Pureka is the founder of their label, Sad Rabbit Music. As well as their own releases, they have lent their vocals and guitar playing to several tracks by artists like Olson and Arjuna Greist; a notable track is "Checking My Pulse" with Olson, which went on to become a relative hit for Olson.
Pureka identifies as genderqueer and cultivates an androgynous appearance. They have received positive reviews in the long-running radical feminist publication off our backs and other magazines. Pureka's music does not deal explicitly with LGBT issues, focusing instead on emotional interactions between individuals.
On January 20, 2009, Pureka released a fourth album, an EP entitled Chimera. In April 2010, Pureka released their fifth album, How I Learned To See In The Dark
www.chrispureka.com
Wagon Wheel
Chris Pureka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thumbin' my way into North Carolina
Starin' up the road
And pray to God I see headlights
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I'm a hopin' for Raleigh
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel
Rock me, mama, anyway you feel
Hey, mama, rock me
Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain
Rock me, mama, like a southbound train
Hey, mama, rock me
I was runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band
My baby plays the guitar
I pick a banjo now
These north country winters are gettin' me down
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
But I ain't a turnin' back
To livin' that old life no more
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel
Rock me, mama, anyway you feel
Hey, mama, rock me
Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain
Rock me, mama, like a southbound train
Hey, mama, rock me
Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly
Had a nice long toke
But he's headin' west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
I hear my baby callin' my name
And I know that she's the only one
And if I die in Raleigh
At least I will die free
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel
Rock me, mama, anyway you feel
Hey, mama, rock me
Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain
Rock me, mama, like a southbound train
Hey, mama, rock me
The opening lines of this song 'Wagon Wheel' by Chris Pureka describe the singer's journey. He is hitchhiking his way through North Carolina, hoping to make it to Raleigh to see his baby, but fearing he won't find a ride. The song derives its name from the hitchhiking term called 'wagon wheel,' which refers to the hand gesture a person makes while hitchhiking, resembling the spokes of a wagon wheel. He is singing to his mama and asking her to rock him like a wagon wheel in parallel to the journey he is on with the ups and downs of hitchhiking. The song is infectious and easy to sing-along, thus making it a popular choice in the folk and country music circles.
The second verse tells us more about the singer. He is a fiddler who has left New England in search of his true calling. He falls in love with a girl who plays the guitar, and they aspire to play old-time string music together. But their journey's fortunes take a turn for the worse when he loses all his money playing poker, and they have to leave town. However, the singer is determined, and he states that he will not turn back to the old life.
The third verse signifies the end of this journey, as he moves on out of Roanoke, and continues on a truck with a driver he meets. This verse underscores the importance of being independent and free. The singer's journey has broadened his perspective, and he is now determined to live life on his own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
I was headed down south to the land of the pines
I was traveling south to a place with large pine trees.
Thumbin' my way into North Carolina
I was hitchhiking my way to North Carolina.
Starin' up the road
I was looking ahead on the road.
And pray to God I see headlights
I hoped to see the lights of a car coming my way.
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
It took me seventeen hours to travel down the coast.
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
I collected a bunch of dogwood flowers.
And I'm a hopin' for Raleigh
I'm hoping to reach Raleigh.
I can see my baby tonight
I can finally be with my loved one tonight.
So rock me, mama, like a wagon wheel
Mama, keep me moving and make me feel alive.
Rock me, mama, anyway you feel
Mama, please rock me in your own way.
Hey, mama, rock me
Mama, keep me rocking and rolling through life.
Rock me, mama, like the wind and the rain
Mama, rock me with the wind and the rain, give me life.
Rock me, mama, like a southbound train
Mama, rock me like a train heading southward, give my life momentum.
Hey, mama, rock me
Mama, keep me moving and feeling alive.
I was runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was escaping the cold weather in New England.
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band
Music runs in my blood and I was meant to play the fiddle in an old-time string band.
My baby plays the guitar
My partner plays the guitar.
I pick a banjo now
Now I play the banjo.
These north country winters are gettin' me down
The winters up north are depressing me.
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
I lost all my money playing poker and had to leave town quickly.
But I ain't a turnin' back
But I'm not going back to my old life.
To livin' that old life no more
I'm not going back to the way I used to live.
Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
I walked southward out of Roanoke.
I caught a trucker out of Philly
A truck driver from Philadelphia picked me up.
Had a nice long toke
I smoked marijuana with the trucker.
But he's headin' west from the Cumberland Gap
But the truck driver was going west from the Cumberland Gap.
To Johnson City, Tennessee
The trucker was going to Johnson City, Tennessee.
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
And I had to keep moving before the sun sets.
I hear my baby callin' my name
I can hear my loved one calling my name.
And I know that she's the only one
I know that she's the only one for me.
And if I die in Raleigh
And if I were to die in Raleigh.
At least I will die free
At least I will have lived my life freely.
Contributed by Alexander A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.