James Stinson chose the alias, 'Clarence G' as a reference to an author 'Clarence G. Hamilton' who wrote books regarding music theory and music history. Some of the titles of the books are:
- Epochs in Musical Progress
- Outlines of Music History
- Sound: And Its Relation To Music
- Touch and Expression in Piano Playing
Drexciya, James Stinson, were very secretive in their production techniques and influences, but this is one of many Drexciyan mysteries solved.
Drifter
Clarence Lyrics
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There's a feeling inside of me
Nothing new
I've felt it before
Like the voice of hunger
Inside of me crying out
There's got to be more
I'll put my faith
In the arms of an open road
And you can come along
If you choose
'Cause there's places
That I've never been to
Sunsets to be ridden into
Not a lot I can do
But give in to the drifter
There's a drifter in me
Though I've tried it
I'm just not a settler
And nine to five
Don't make it with me
Why deny it
It makes me feel better
To come alive
And prove that I'm free
I wear no chains
And I carry no heavy load
So much to gain
And nothing to lose
'Cause there's places
That I've never been to
Sunsets to be ridden into
Not a lot I can do
But give in to the drifter
There's a drifter in me
Clarence Carter's song "Drifter" is a poignant and emotional reflection on the singer's restless and wandering spirit. In the song, Carter describes a feeling of restlessness and a desire for adventure that has been with him for as long as he can remember. He compares this feeling to the "voice of hunger" inside of him, always crying out for more.
Carter puts his faith in the open road, believing that it will lead him to new and exciting places. He invites others to join him on his journey, acknowledging that he is a drifter at heart and cannot be tied down to one place or one way of life. He revels in the freedom he has to explore and experience the world, unencumbered by the chains of a nine-to-five job or other responsibilities.
Throughout the song, Carter implies that his drifter spirit is not a choice, but rather an inherent part of his being that he cannot deny. He sees his wandering ways as a positive attribute, one that allows him to see and experience everything the world has to offer. Ultimately, the song is a celebration of freedom, adventure, and the indomitable human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Once again
As is often the case,
There's a feeling inside of me
I have an internal sensation,
Nothing new
It's familiar,
I've felt it before
I've experienced this before,
Like the voice of hunger
Similar to a sense of starvation,
Inside of me crying out
I have a strong desire,
There's got to be more
There must be additional possibilities,
I'll put my faith
I'll trust,
In the arms of an open road
In the opportunities that present themselves,
And you can come along
You have the option to join me,
If you choose
If you'd like,
'Cause there's places
Because there are locations,
That I've never been to
That I haven't visited,
Sunsets to be ridden into
Sunsets that I can experience,
Not a lot I can do
There aren't many options,
But give in to the drifter
Except to embrace my identity as a wanderer,
There's a drifter in me
I have an inherent tendency to wander,
Though I've tried it
Even though I've attempted to settle down,
I'm just not a settler
I just can't seem to commit to a sedentary lifestyle,
And nine to five
Working a traditional job,
Don't make it with me
Isn't satisfying for me,
Why deny it
Why pretend otherwise,
It makes me feel better
It's more fulfilling for me,
To come alive
To feel alive,
And prove that I'm free
And assert my autonomy,
I wear no chains
I am not bound by obligations or restrictions,
And I carry no heavy load
I have no excessive responsibilities or burdens,
So much to gain
There are so many opportunities,
And nothing to lose
And few consequences,
'Cause there's places
Because there are locations,
That I've never been to
That I haven't visited,
Sunsets to be ridden into
Sunsets that I can experience,
Not a lot I can do
There aren't many options,
But give in to the drifter
Except to embrace my identity as a wanderer,
There's a drifter in me
I have an inherent tendency to wander,
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DENNIS EMANUEL BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind