The only album to date is A Friend of a Friend, released in November 2009. Rawlings recorded the album in Nashville, and produced it himself. Co-writers and musicians on the album include Welch, members of Old Crow Medicine Show, Bright Eyes, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
"It's hard to believe A Friend of a Friend is David Rawlings' first album under his own name."
- Paste Magazine
How's About You
Dave Rawlings Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shoes on my feet
I been walking
Up and down the street
Buddy I've seen
A thing or two
How's about you?
Ain't you been walking too?
It seems a lot of good people
Been getting bad news.
How's about you?
Ain't you got nothing to say?
Oh I used to have a dollar
Gonna have a dime someday.
I ain't got a nickel
I'm a broken down flat.
Wish I had one of them
Pork pie hats
Cause this old rain's about
To soak through.
How's about you?
How's about you?
Ain't you been walking too?
It seems a lot of good people
Are getting bad news.
How's about you?
Ain't you got nothing to say?
Oh I used to have a dollar
I'm gonna have a dime someday.
The criminal man
He ain't behind bars
He's driving one of his Cadillac cars.
I'm gonna switch sides real soon.
How's about you?
How's about you?
Ain't you been hard up too?
Seems a lot of good people
Are getting bad news.
How's about you?
Ain't you got nothing to say?
Oh I used to have a dollar
I'm gonna have a dime someday.
The man in the church
The men on the hill
They swear it won't hurt me
But I know it will.
And I been worried
The whole night through.
How's about you?
How's about you?
Ain't you got nothing to say?
You know I used to have a dollar
I'm gonna have a dime someday.
Oh I used to have a dollar
I'm gonna have a dime someday.
The lyrics of Dave Rawlings Machine's "How's About You" speak about the struggles and hardships of everyday life. The song talks about the different experiences of people trying to make ends meet, from walking down the street in worn-out shoes with mud on them to not having any money left except for a single dime. The lyrics reflect the challenges faced by ordinary people in society, with some experiencing worse than others. The line "It seems a lot of good people have been getting bad news" suggests the universal nature of problems that exist in society.
The song also portrays the desperation and helplessness of the situation. It highlights the contrast between the rich and the poor, where the criminal man can afford to drive a Cadillac while others struggle to get through the day. The verse "The man in the church, the men on the hill, they swear it won't hurt me, but I know it will" suggests that even those in power and the religious institutions have little to offer to those struggling with their lot in life.
"How's About You" is a commentary on struggles and inequalities and how everyone, regardless of social status or wealth, faces some form of hardship. The lyrics convey the idea that it is essential to recognize and empathize with those experiencing those struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Mud on my shoes
I've been outside walking and my shoes are dirty and covered in mud
Shoes on my feet
I'm wearing shoes while walking
I been walking
I've been going around and exploring the streets
Up and down the street
I've been moving around on the street
Buddy I've seen
I've seen all kinds of things
A thing or two
A considerable amount of things
How's about you?
Have you experienced anything similar to this?
Ain't you been walking too?
Have you been outside walking and exploring like me?
It seems a lot of good people
It appears that many people
Been getting bad news.
Are receiving unfortunate or unhappy information
Ain't you got nothing to say?
Don't you have anything to talk about?
Oh I used to have a dollar
I formerly had money
Gonna have a dime someday.
I'll likely have very little money in future
I ain't got a nickel
I have almost no money
I'm a broken down flat.
I'm a ruined and withered person
Wish I had one of them
I would fancy possessing something
Pork pie hats
A type of hat popular in the 1930s-50s
Cause this old rain's about
Because it's raining outside
To soak through.
And my clothes are almost soaked
The criminal man
A person who commits crimes
He ain't behind bars
He hasn't been imprisoned
He's driving one of his Cadillac cars.
Instead, he can afford to drive an expensive car
I'm gonna switch sides real soon.
I'm thinking of joining the side of the wealthy and powerful
The man in the church
Perhaps, someone in the church community
The men on the hill
Referring to rich people living on hills, living in expensive houses
They swear it won't hurt me
They're telling me I won't be affected by their actions
But I know it will.
But I'm certain it will hurt me
And I been worried
I've been anxious and upset
The whole night through.
For the whole night
You know I used to have a dollar
As I said earlier, I formerly had money
I'm gonna have a dime someday.
But I predict I'll have very little money in future
Oh I used to have a dollar
Yes, I did have some money before
I'm gonna have a dime someday.
But as said many times, I probably won't have much money in future
Writer(s): DAVID RAWLINGS, GILLIAN HOWARD WELCH, DAVID TODD RAWLINGS
Contributed by Julian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
downhill2400
That is a sweet sound!
nick wogatzke
Damn good! I just drove through Virginia and you popped up on the radio. Mighty fine mighty fine woo!
Angie D
Great video, super singing and playing.....
Joe McNally
somewhere, Woody Guthrie is smiling down on these folks
Maddy Tube
FINE!!! I am a huge fan!
Lynn Ann Horvath
LOVE <3 MORE! I may be your biggest New York fan. Love, Lena - Station Manager, RKVS Internet Radio
Brian Franklin
Sweet! I wish I had me one of them pork pie hats too!
Texas Red
The theme song of 1930/2008.
Just Us
And 2020