The LA Times said in January 2007 'David Ford digs down deep in the heart-and-soul tradition: an English and male Lucinda Williams? He puts everything into every note, every word.'
Ford recorded his debut album 'I Sincerely Apologise For All the Trouble I've Caused' on his own in his cellar flat in Eastbourne during 2005 thinking he was just "doing a bunch of demos". However, the strength of these recordings led to magnoliaMAM taking him on for management and shortly thereafter licensing the 'demos' as a finished album to Independiente for the UK and then, in April 2006, to Columbia Records in New York for the USA and the 'rest of the world'.
The album was widely acclaimed and featured in the best of lists for 2006 in the LA Times, The Sunday Times, The New York Post, The Word and The Toronto Star - who said 'you have to go back to Dylan's 'Idiot Wind'/'Blood on the Tracks' to find such an impressively sustained, bile-soaked round of invective'.
Ford toured extensively in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia during 2006. When performing live, Ford makes use of a 'looping pedal' which allows him to build up layers of vocals, guitars, percussion and keyboards to create extremely powerful and beautiful layers of sound; most notably when playing the song "State Of The Union". (live footage can be seen on both his myspace page and his old archived web site - www.myspace.com/davidford & www.davidford.mu - current website is at www.davidfordmusic.com)
2007 saw the release of his critically-aclaimed, yet widely ignored, album Songs For The Road. Ford spent the most of 2008 in the US promoting it.
February 2010 saw the release of his album, Let The Hard Times Roll, coinciding with a tour of the UK, with dates in the US too.
In April 2011 Ford released his autobiography, I Choose This, covering his musical experience from high school through to touring the United States as a solo artist.
Ford's musical honesty and passionately melodic songwriting has seen him compared to the likes of Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, James Taylor and Elton John.
Nobody Tells Me What To Do
David Ford Lyrics
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Well, I got nowhere else to be
Oh, today, yeah, I woke up
And the whole world was there for me
The hard time comes around
But they can't get me down
'Cause I'm way past caring
Oh, nobody tells me what to do
Oh girl, I cried my last for you
There's not a soul I answer to
No one?s put out when I misbehave
Or if I don't come home for days
Well, I've got nothing to explain
So you give me the same again
To the top
Well, there's no easy way to say
I'm not okay and I'm drained away
A little further every day
The last time comes around
And I just can't make it out
And I'm way past caring
Nobody tells me what to do
Oh, did it mean a thing to you?
There's not a soul I answer to
No one?s put out when I misbehave
Or if I don't come home for days
Well, I've got nothing to explain
Come on, just give me the same again
'Cause I'm way past caring
Oh, nobody tells me what to do
Oh girl, I cried my last for you
There's not a soul I answer to
No one?s put out when I misbehave
Or if I don't come home for days
Well, I got nothing to explain
Come on, just give me the same again
David Ford's song "Nobody Tells Me What To Do" is a song about being independent, enjoying life, and not caring about the opinions of others. The lyrics suggest someone who is living life to their own tune, free from the restrictions of others. The opening lines, "Oh, fill her up to the top, well I got nowhere else to be" suggests someone who is not in a hurry, comfortable in their own company and indifferent to others' schedules. He wakes up feeling optimistic and excited about what the day may bring, implying an unburdened spirit.
As the song progresses, the singer emphasizes the sense of independence and carelessness with a carefree melody that invites the listener to let go and enjoy themselves. The chorus, "Nobody tells me what to do", "There's not a soul I answer to", and "Well, I've got nothing to explain" further cements the theme of independence and living life on one's terms. The singer does not feel accountable to anyone or answerable to anyone for any wrongdoing. Even in his own personal struggle, he still dismisses it with the attitude of enjoying life.
Overall, "Nobody Tells Me What To Do" is an anthem of independence and freedom, a desire to live life on one's terms, and not apologize for it. The song suggests that individual self-determination can offer an unburdened outlook on life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, fill her up to the top
I don't have any other pressing matters to attend to, so I might as well drink to the fullest
Well, I got nowhere else to be
I am currently not obligated to be at any other place or with anyone else
Oh, today, yeah, I woke up
And the whole world was there for me
I feel like I have everything I could ever need or want
The hard time comes around
But they can't get me down
'Cause I'm way past caring
I've been through tough times before, but they no longer affect my emotions
Oh, nobody tells me what to do
I am not under anyone else's authority or influence
Oh girl, I cried my last for you
There's not a soul I answer to
In the past, I may have been more emotional and attached, but now I don't let anyone control my feelings or actions
No one's put out when I misbehave
Or if I don't come home for days
Well, I've got nothing to explain
So you give me the same again
I don't have anyone who cares enough to hold me accountable for my actions, so I can do whatever I want without explanation
Well, there's no easy way to say
I'm not okay and I'm drained away
A little further every day
I'm not doing well and I feel like I'm becoming more and more depleted each day
The last time comes around
And I just can't make it out
And I'm way past caring
I'm tired of trying to make things work and I no longer have the energy to care
Oh, nobody tells me what to do
Oh, did it mean a thing to you?
There's not a soul I answer to
I still have no one to answer to or prioritize except myself, and I'm questioning whether anything I've been through was worth it
No one's put out when I misbehave
Or if I don't come home for days
Well, I've got nothing to explain
Come on, just give me the same again
I still have complete freedom to act as I please without consequences or accountability
'Cause I'm way past caring
I don't care about anyone or anything anymore
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID FORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind