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.
Bad Apple
David Wilcox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I may be bruised but I still taste sweet
Some people call me a bad apple
But I may be the sweetest apple on the tree
I've got the notion to tell you about my history, people
I've got the notion to tell you about how I came up in the world yeah
Now look, I used to go to school and act a clown and fool
Gimme some
I used to spend my money and tried acting funny
Until I hit my nose on the ground
Ow!
Some people call me a bad apple
Well I may be bruised but I still taste sweet
Some people call me a bad apple
But I may be the sweetest apple on the tree
Now my teacher tried to tell me
That I could never succeed in the world of business, yeah.
I said, "That's o.k. teacher.
Cause I never did want to give anybody the business. No."
But teacher listen
Teacher, teacher we got a message for you now
Goes like this teacher
Oh teacher
You egghead
You think you've got the world sewed up
You never did learn how to treat a man
You need to eat a slice of humble pie
And the longer you wait the worse it's gonna taste
Some people call me a bad apple
Well I may be bruised but I still taste sweet
Some people call me a bad apple
But I may be the sweetest apple on the tree
It's my time
Hey!
I want everybody to listen to me now
It's my time
Hey!
And I want everybody to listen to me now
Look listen to the record
I'll admit I have been lazy
And I've been called crazy
In my time I've played and played
But I can get down
And quit foolin' around
When the weather gets rough
Situation gets tough
Some people call me a bad apple
Well I may be bruised but I still taste sweet
Some people call me a bad apple
But I may be the sweetest apple on the tree
Some people call me a bad apple
Well I may be the sweetest apple on the tree
I may be the sweetest sweet apple on the tree
I may be the sweetest sweet apple on the tree
The song "Bad Apple" by David Wilcox is about a person who has been labeled as a bad apple by others, but he doesn't let that hurt his spirit. Instead, he considers himself as a sweet apple, even when he's bruised. The singer talks about his past - spending money recklessly, chasing girls, and acting foolishly. Despite his missteps, he stands by his sweet nature.
The lyrics also touch on a teacher who told the singer that he couldn't make it in the business world. He responds that he was never interested in giving anyone the business. The song ends with the singer expressing that he's had his share of playing, but he can also knuckle down when things get tough.
The song has a positive message about self-acceptance and staying true to oneself, no matter how others may judge you. It's a reminder that we all have value, even if we aren't perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people call me a bad apple
Despite what others may think or say about me, I am still a good person
Well I may be bruised but I still taste sweet
Although I have gone through tough times and faced challenges, I still have value and am worthy
But I may be the sweetest apple on the tree
I am unique and have qualities that make me special and worthwhile, even if others can't see it
I've got the notion to tell you about my history, people
I feel compelled to share my story and experiences with others
I've got the notion to tell you about how I came up in the world yeah
I want to explain how I navigated life and the challenges I faced to become the person I am today
Now look, I used to go to school and act a clown and fool
In the past, I used to act silly and misbehave in school
And I used to chase the ladies all around
I used to be interested in dating and flirting with women
Gimme some
This is an expression of desire, likely for a physical or emotional connection
I used to spend my money and tried acting funny
I used to waste my money and try to be humorous or entertaining, but it didn't get me far
Until I hit my nose on the ground, Ow!
I eventually faced a harsh reality and experienced pain, both physical and metaphorical
Now my teacher tried to tell me
My teacher attempted to advise or caution me
That I could never succeed in the world of business, yeah
My teacher suggested that I was not cut out for business success
I said, "That's o.k. teacher.
I responded to my teacher's pessimism with a positive or indifferent attitude
Cause I never did want to give anybody the business. No."
I didn't have an interest in exploiting or manipulating others for personal gain
But teacher listen
I want to make sure my teacher is paying attention
Teacher, teacher we got a message for you now
I have a message on behalf of myself and others
Goes like this teacher
I am about to share a message or idea with my teacher
Oh teacher
This is an exclamation to get my teacher's attention
You egghead
This is a teasing or sarcastic insult towards my teacher
You think you've got the world sewed up
You believe you have everything figured out or under control
You never did learn how to treat a man
You lack empathy or understanding when it comes to interacting with others
You need to eat a slice of humble pie
You should experience a humbling or humiliating situation to gain perspective and empathy
And the longer you wait the worse it's gonna taste
If you continue to resist or delay learning empathy, it will become harder and more unpleasant
It's my time, Hey!
I am ready to take control and make my mark
I want everybody to listen to me now
I want to be heard and understood by everyone
I'll admit I have been lazy
I can acknowledge that I have procrastinated or not put in enough effort
And I've been called crazy
Others have labeled me as strange or weird
In my time I've played and played
I have had fun and enjoyed myself in the past, perhaps too much
But I can get down
I am capable of being serious and productive
And quit foolin' around
I need to stop wasting time or being unproductive
When the weather gets rough
In difficult times or situations
Situation gets tough
When there are challenges or obstacles to overcome
Well I may be the sweetest apple on the tree
I am confident in my value and worth as a person
I may be the sweetest sweet apple on the tree
I am doubling down on my assertion that I am a wonderful and valuable person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@frankgood7300
Been listening to David Wilcox over 35 years. Seen him live many times and met him in person in a book shop in North Bay, Ontario one afternoon and got an autograph. Great musician.
@littletreatgang4867
i met him in thunder bay one time and he tried to hit on my mom
@losingfocus5127
jezz lucky, im 18 never met him always wanted to though
@crush42mash6
He is definitely a Canadian legend, I’ve seen them numerous times across Canada, so great
@losingfocus5127
David Wilcox is definitely the best, im 18 from Ontario, people always get confused why a kid my age is listing to older music, well because i like it
@diamondmetal3062
Wait a sec, this ain’t Touhou.
@johnxina2140
I clicked on it and thought the exact same damn thing lmao
@jaybuck1078
Same I thought it was like a rock version
@TitanChromeE
It ain’t.
@jaybuck1078
@@TitanChromeE I'm saying my guess (☞͡͡°͜ʖ͡͡°)☞