I. David Wilcox i… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists named David Wilcox.
I. David Wilcox is a Canadian rock and blues musician.
II. David Wilcox is an American folk musician and singer-songwriter guitarist.
I. More than three decades into his career, singer/songwriter David Wilcox continues to push himself, just as he always has. Wilcox, by so many measures, is a quintessential folk singer, telling stories full of heart, humor, and hope, substance, searching, and style. His innate sense of adventure and authenticity is why critics and colleagues, alike, have always praised not just his artistry, but his humanity, as well.
That's not by accident; it's very much by design. It's the result of a man giving himself over in gratitude and service to something bigger than himself. “I'm grateful to music,” he says. “I have a life that feels deeply good, but when I started playing music, nothing in my life felt that good. I started to write songs because I wanted to find a way to make my life feel as good as I felt when I heard a great song. I don't think I'd be alive now if it had not been for music.”
An early '80s move to Warren Wilson College in North Carolina set his wheels in motion, as he started playing guitar and writing songs, processing his own inner workings and accessing his own inner wisdom. In 1987, within a couple of years of graduating, Wilcox had released his first independent album, The Nightshift Watchman. A year later, he won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Award and, in 1989, he signed with A&M Records, selling more than 100,000 copies of his A&M debut, How Did You Find Me Here.
In the 30 years and more than 20 records since — whether with a major label, an indie company, or his own imprint — Wilcox has continued to hone his craft, pairing thoughtful insights with his warm baritone, open tunings, and deft technique. He's also kept up a brisk and thorough tour itinerary, performing 80 to 100 shows a year throughout the U.S., and regularly deploying his talents by improvising a “Musical Medicine” song for an audience member in need. In recent years he’s taken that process a step further, carefully writing and recording dozens of his “Custom Songs” for long-time fans who seek his help in commemorating and explaining the key milestones in their lives.
Lest anyone think that he's lost his touch, Wilcox pulled no punches on his most recent release, 2018's The View From the Edge. Not only does the song cycle find him delving into mental health, family legacies, spiritual contemplations, and topical concerns, the song “We Make the Way By Walking" also won him the Grand Prize in the 2018 USA Songwriting Contest.
"I think the coolest thing about this kind of music is that, if you listen to a night's worth of music, you should know that person,” he explains. “If you're hearing a performer sing all these songs, you should know not only where he gets his joy and what he loves, but you should know what pisses him off and what frightens him and what runs him off the rails, what takes him apart and what puts him back together.”
To attain that level of revelatory honesty, Wilcox follows a song to its deepest truth, even when it haunts him, a practice which demands the strength of vulnerability that he has sought since his teen years. That honesty is why Rolling Stone has written that his “ongoing musical journey is compelling and richly deserving of a listen.” It's also why Blue Ridge Public Radio has noted that, “The connection people feel with David’s music is also the connection they feel with each other.”
But Wilcox's unique brand of storytelling doesn't come easily. And it doesn't come quickly. “I could always think of a lot of possible ways the song could go, but the trick was recognizing truth amidst all the cleverness,” he confesses. “The more time I took, the more my deep heart could speak to me through the process of songwriting. I could gradually craft a song that felt like it was coming from the place I was going. If you decide to trust heart over cleverness, you not only get a song that moves you, you get a song that moves you toward being who you want to be. The time you spend immersed in the emotion of a song changes you. The song shows you the world through a particular point of view. Once you have seen the world that way, you can't un-see it.”
Website: David Wilcox
II. The American David Wilcox was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His work features lyrical insight, asmooth baritone voice, virtuosic guitar chops, and creative open tunings. He released an independent album in 1987, won the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk award in 1988, and by 1989 he had signed with A&M Records. His first release on the label, ‘How Did You Find Me Here’, sold over 100,000 copies its first year. 17 albums later his songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. lang and many others.
Apple A Day
David Wilcox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thank God we get so scared
We can't see behind this curtain
So this world seems so unfair
Look, imagine life some other way
Picture-perfect every day
Indoor weather makes this blue sky stay
Bring an apple a day"
This climb makes us stumble
Ten million ways to fall
Our childish faith will crumble
So this world will break us all
But imagine life the other way
A cozy fishbowl on display
With no chance that we might drift astray
So they say, "Vacation in Eden, bring an apple a day
When you get there life is easy
Winning every game you play
But every day is just the same
Nothing lost and nothing gained
Same old re-run on some child-proof stage
So they say, "Vacation in Eden, bring an apple a day
Bring an apple a day"
In the land of childish wonder
Climb the fence and run away
It's pretty to visit, but it's hell to stay
Vacation in Eden, bring an apple a day
Bring an apple a day
Bring an apple a day
Bring an apple a day
Do you wanna bring an apple everyday?
Bring an apple a day
It's pretty to visit, but it's hell to stay
The song "Apple A Day" by David Wilcox is an insightful reflection on the uncertainties of life and the true essence of happiness. The first stanza of the song acknowledges that life is uncertain and scary, but that is what makes it interesting and worthwhile to live. The line "we can't see behind this curtain" refers to the unknown future and the things that we cannot control in life. The singer of the song is grateful for the challenges and the obstacles that they face each day, as it gives life meaning and purpose. The line "so this world seems so unfair" is a nod to the injustices and the hardships of life, but the singer chooses to focus on the positive aspects of existence.
The second stanza of the song takes a hypothetical approach to life, imagining a world where everything is perfect and easy. The line "indoor weather makes this blue sky stay" suggests that everything is controlled and predictable, with little room for spontaneity or adventure. The singer of the song recognizes that this kind of life might seem appealing, but it would be dull and unfulfilling. The line "vacation in Eden, but bring an apple a day" alludes to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived in paradise but were still required to work and be responsible.
The final stanza of the song contrasts the two worlds and concludes that it is better to live in the uncertain but exciting world. The line "when you get there life is easy, winning every game you play" suggests that life without challenges and difficulties might seem desirable, but it quickly grows boring and monotonous. The line "nothing lost and nothing gained" refers to the lack of meaningful experiences and personal growth in a perfect world. The final line of the song "vacation in Eden, bring an apple a day" is a call to embrace the uncertainties of life and to enjoy the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Thank God, life's uncertain
The unpredictability of life is a blessing.
Thank God we get so scared
Fear is a natural response to uncertainty, but it keeps us alert and alive.
We can't see behind this curtain
We cannot predict the future and must accept that some things are beyond our control.
So this world seems so unfair
When we face challenges and obstacles, we may feel that life is unjust.
Look, imagine life some other way
Consider different perspectives and possibilities.
Picture-perfect every day
A life without challenges or difficulties.
Indoor weather makes this blue sky stay
Artificial conditions create a sense of comfort and stability.
So they say, "Vacation in Eden, but bring an apple a day
People promote the idea of an ideal, worry-free existence, but acknowledge the need for nourishment and sustenance.
This climb makes us stumble
The journey of life can be difficult and full of obstacles.
Ten million ways to fall
There are countless ways to fail or make mistakes.
Our childish faith will crumble
Our naive beliefs and assumptions can be shattered as we experience more of the world.
So this world will break us all
Life can be harsh and wear us down over time.
A cozy fishbowl on display
An environment that is small, safe, and predictable.
With no chance that we might drift astray
Without the possibility of exploration, risk-taking, or growth.
When you get there life is easy
A life with no challenges or obstacles can seem effortless.
Winning every game you play
Success is guaranteed in a flawless world.
But every day is just the same
Without variation or novelty, life can become monotonous and unfulfilling.
Nothing lost and nothing gained
No risks means no rewards, growth, or learning.
Same old re-run on some child-proof stage
A repetitive, simplistic existence that does not challenge or stimulate the mind.
In the land of childish wonder
An imaginary realm of innocence and simplicity.
Climb the fence and run away
Leave behind the safety and limitations of an idealized world.
It's pretty to visit, but it's hell to stay
A stark contrast between the appeal and the reality of a perfect world.
Do you wanna bring an apple everyday?
Are you willing to sustain yourself in a challenging environment?
Lyrics © SOROKA MUSIC LTD.
Written by: DAVID WILCOX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind