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
To Be Young
Dave Rawlings Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Young boy done me bad I went and did you wrong
And I got high
Lord I got high
I got a bone to pick with you
And I'm sure you know its true
Oh one day when you're looking back
When your young you get sad
When your young you get sad
and you get high
Ohh Man
Young Girl, you done me bad, now I went and did you wrong
Young Girl, you done me bad, so I went and did you wrong
And I got high igh igh igh
Lord I got high
You got a bone to pick with me
Lord I wish you'd let me be
Oh one day when you're looking back
You were young, and man you were sad
When your young you get sad
When your young you get sad
and you get high
x2
oh the days the rain would fall your way
oh the days the rain would fall your way
And you'll be high
Cause you got sad
you got sad cause you got high
Ohh Man
The lyrics of Dave Rawlings Machine's song "To Be Young" appear to be describing a cycle of hurt and revenge in young love that is exacerbated by substance abuse. The opening lines suggest that a young boy has wronged the singer in some way which prompts them to do the same to someone else while under the influence of drugs (presumably marijuana based on the reference to getting "high"). The repetition of "And I got high, Lord I got high" throughout the song reinforces the idea that drugs are a key factor in the situation.
The chorus, repeated twice, serves as a reflection on the transitory and often melancholy nature of youth. The singer acknowledges that being young can be sad, a sentiment that is repeated several times. The final lines of the song, "Oh the days the rain would fall your way/And you'll be high/Cause you got sad/you got sad cause you got high" further illustrates the connection between drug use and the emotional struggles of youth.
Overall, the song appears to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting caught up in a cycle of pain and revenge fueled by substance abuse. It suggests that in order to break this cycle, young people need to find healthier ways to cope with their emotions and avoid using drugs as a means of escape.
Line by Line Meaning
Young boy done me bad when he did you wrong
A young boy hurt me when he hurt you
Young boy done me bad I went and did you wrong
I wronged you as well after that boy hurt us
And I got high
I turned to drugs as a coping mechanism
Lord I got high
I got very high from the drugs
I got a bone to pick with you
I have a problem with you that I need to address
And I'm sure you know its true
You know what I'm saying is true
Young Girl, you done me bad, now I went and did you wrong
You hurt me, and then I hurt you in return
Young Girl, you done me bad, so I went and did you wrong
I hurt you because of what you did to me
And I got high igh igh igh
I got very high, multiple times
You got a bone to pick with me
You have a problem with me that needs to be addressed
Lord I wish you'd let me be
I wish you would leave me alone
Oh one day when you're looking back
One day when you remember this moment
You were young, and man you were sad
We were young, and we were both sad
When your young you get sad
Being young can make you feel unhappy
and you get high
Some people turn to drugs when they're sad
oh the days the rain would fall your way
The rainy days that affected you
Cause you got sad
You felt sad
you got sad cause you got high
Using drugs made you feel even sadder
Ohh Man
Expressing frustration or disappointment
Writer(s): Ryan Adams, David Rawlings Copyright: Barland Music, Cracklin' Music
Contributed by Maya R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lachlan Heycox
Getting this to sound right through one SM57 is an inhuman feat. Amazing.
Michiel Lombaers
Top quality music through cheap equipment will still be top quality music.
Bob Martens
Can't beat live performance skills like these.
John Mohr
Lachlan Heycox i was just thinking that... really? Just an SM-57?
Jack Vero
yo seriously its magic i have a hard time doing that with my voice and guitar
Denver Mclendon
First time hearing this band, I appreciate the music they play
Philias Gauthier
Flawless harmonies
Marcel Miagi
Gillian stood out as an all-star to me. You can tell she is in her element. Well done.
Todd Hooper
So much talent, love it!
Cheetah Thunders.
dave sings (and plays) great, what's with the hating? the world needs dave songs and gillian welch songs.