His 2002 solo project "Songs from the Drive-In" showcased "his formidable storytelling talents," according to the The Boston Phoenix. In 2003, Chris Trapper received a prestigious SOCAN award (Canadian songwriters and music publishers) for his songwriting contribution to Great Big Sea's Sea of No Cares album. His album Gone Again spawned a series of live music videos by director Christopher Seufert. He also toured the Push Stars with Matchbox Twenty.
Chris Trapper's songs have been winning awards as well as the hearts of devoted listeners ever since his arrival on the Boston music scene in 1995. He is most widely known as the front man for the nationally acclaimed pop/rock band The Push Stars, whose "honest, heartfelt songs with timeless melodies" were described as "the kind of music that songwriters love" by Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty.
With The Push Stars, Chris has written material for four studio albums and six self-produced discs. Several of his songs have been picked up for major motion picture soundtracks including There's Something About Mary and Say It Isn't So and for television shows such as Privileged, Pepper Dennis, ER, and Malcolm in the Middle. His 2002 solo project "Songs from the Drive-In" showcased "his formidable storytelling talents," according to the Boston Phoenix.
His second solo release, Gone Again, serves up 11 new songs with a Dixieland flavor provided by Boston's renowned Wolverine Jazz Band. Hey, You, his third release, is his first rock/pop solo record, featuring guest appearances by The Push Stars, Great Big Sea, Sonando, Martin Sexton, Matt Beck (Matchbox Twenty) and Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter). Following that was It's Christmas Time, an album consisting of original holiday songs that reflect current Holiday situations. His fifth album, Songs from the Middle of the World, show a maturity beyond his years. His sixth album, Til the Last Leaf Falls, includes This Time, originally written for August Rush, which the soundtrack was nominated for a 2009 Grammy award.
In addition to numerous Boston Music Awards, Chris Trapper received two Gold Records, a Platinum record, and the prestigious SOCAN Award twice for his songwriting work with Newfoundland's Great Big Sea. Additionally in 2008 Chris cowrote on two songs with Séan McCann, Long Lost Love and Dream to Live on Great Big Sea's gold record Fortune's Favour, Antigone Rising covered his song Waiting, Watching, Wishing on their latest album release. In 2006, he filmed cameo appearances for an episode of "Pepper Dennis," the WB romantic comedy, and for "August Rush," an upcoming film with Robin Williams. In 2008 Chris performed his original song "Mission of the Sun" at the United Nations Headquarters International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Avalanche
Chris Trapper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bring on the weather
I feel we're prepared for anything
Boatloads of lightning
Fire-fighting
Electric cinema in the air
We need no rehearsal to dance
We're well aware this may be our last chance
So bring on the avalanche, bring on the avalanche
Soon to be forgotten
Old and running
A box of bones buried underground
Like numbers on a race car
Rusted in the junkyard
With weeds in the wheels that say "Superstar"
We are the ones who are never afraid
We need no rehearsal to dance
We're well aware this may be our last chance
So bring on the avalanche, bring on the avalanche
We are the ones, it seems, everyone comes to
To find a direction to go
The over-and-under as our work is done here
But we'll be the last ones to know
Sat in a small town
Lost in a big town
And the in-between isn't anything
TV's and traffic jams
A slick traveling salesmen
Says "What is disposable?" Everything
We are the ones who are never afraid
We need no rehearsal to dance
We're well aware this may be our last chance
So bring on the avalanche, bring on the avalanche
Bring on the avalanche, bring on the avalanche
The opening lines of Chris Trapper's "Avalanche" lay out a sense of optimism tinged with a hint of apprehension. The singer declares that he's beginning to feel better and that he's ready for whatever comes, while also acknowledging that they are "prepared for anything." This mood is reflected by the second verse, which describes a tense, electric atmosphere of "boatloads of lightning" and the need for "fire-fighting" that nevertheless feels strangely thrilling thanks to the "electric cinema" created by the storm.
However, this sense of excitement and anticipation is tempered by the chorus, which repeats the refrain "We are the ones who are never afraid" several times, emphasizing the importance of resilience and bravery in the face of adversity. At the same time, the acknowledgment that "this may be our last chance" adds a darker edge to the song, suggesting that the stakes are high and that the future is uncertain.
The final verses return to this theme of uncertainty and change, describing a sense of being lost and out of place in both small towns and big cities alike. The image of a rusted race car with weeds growing through its wheels and the word "Superstar" written on its side reinforces the sense of fading glory and forgotten dreams, while the slick salesman who declares that "everything is disposable" speaks to a nihilistic modern world where nothing is meant to last. Despite all this, however, the singer remains unbroken and ready to face whatever comes his way, ending the song on a defiant note with the repeated call to "bring on the avalanche."
Line by Line Meaning
Starting to feel better
I am starting to feel better from a difficult time
Bring on the weather
I am now ready to face any challenges that come my way
I feel we're prepared for anything
I am confident that we are ready to tackle any situation
Boatloads of lightning
There is lightning in the sky, creating a dramatic effect
Fire-fighting
There is an intense firefighting mission taking place
Electric cinema in the air
There is an action-packed atmosphere around, as if it's a movie
We are the ones who are never afraid
We are a fearless group of people
We need no rehearsal to dance
We are confident and capable of handling any situation that arises
We're well aware this may be our last chance
We understand the importance of making the most of every opportunity
So bring on the avalanche, bring on the avalanche
We are ready for anything life throws at us
Soon to be forgotten
The importance and relevance of something is about to diminish
Old and running
Something that was once useful is now outdated and almost out of use
A box of bones buried underground
There is something that has been buried and forgotten long ago
Like numbers on a race car
Something once relevant has now diminished in importance and is just another number
Rusted in the junkyard
Something useful has been left to rot and is no longer functional
With weeds in the wheels that say "Superstar"
There are remnants of fame and glory attached to something that is now neglected and abandoned
We are the ones, it seems, everyone comes to
We have become a reliable source of support for many people
To find a direction to go
People seek our guidance and support to find their way forward
The over-and-under as our work is done here
Our work is done and it's time to move on to something new
But we'll be the last ones to know
We may not see the ending coming and will be the last to realize it
Sat in a small town
Feeling trapped or stuck in a small-town situation
Lost in a big town
Feeling overwhelmed or lost in a big-city environment
And the in-between isn't anything
Feeling like there is no middle ground or compromise between two opposing situations
TV's and traffic jams
The mundanity and stress of everyday life
A slick traveling salesmen
Someone who is manipulative and only interested in profit
Says "What is disposable?" Everything
Everything is seen as disposable and replaceable by the salesperson
Bring on the avalanche, bring on the avalanche
We are still ready for anything life throws at us
Contributed by Hudson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.