That said 16&1 doesn’t play like some pensive re-examination of the past. It may find the band taking a trip down memory lane at times, but it’s a lane with a big old bush party waiting at the end of it, and a trip Doc Walker seem intent on taking at high speed in a vintage Silverado…
Named for the crossroads of two major prairie lifelines not far from where Doc Walker settled in to record their 5th record on Canadian country label, Open Road Recordings, 16&1 represents something of a homecoming for the Manitoba based band, particularly for lead singer, Chris Thorsteinson. In fact, by choosing a former schoolhouse in Westbourne, Manitoba as the site for recording the album, Thorsteinson is touching down very close to home, literally across the road from the house he grew up in. “From grades one to six it’s actually where I went to school,” he says. “I never thought we’d be recording our seventh record in a town of 100 people, in a classroom where I used to sit, while I’m looking out the window at my parents place.”
Although many the songs on 16&1 were born out of the region the band grew up in, guitarist/vocalist Murray Pulver says, it also represents a departure from past efforts, both sonically and in terms of the band’s recording process, which, for Thorsteinson, involved a dramatic expansion of his role in the studio.
When Westbourne Old School first closed down, Thorsteinson and his father bought the property, but were unsure of what to do with it until the band began looking for a place to record. After going a little gear crazy while trolling E-Bay for equipment to put into his freshly christened ‘Old School Studio’, Thorsteinson soon found himself acting as de facto assistant engineer for 16&1 producer, John MacArthur Ellis (Jane Siberry, Jeremy Fisher, Ridley Bent) – an experience that’s changed his perspective on recording irrevocably. “Assistant engineers are my new heroes,” he says. “They just never stop.”
Typically, when Doc Walker recorded in Nashville in the past, Thorsteinson admits he was often the first to light out of the studio when his vocals were finished – Not an option when you’re both studio owner and the person largely responsible for outfitting the studio with occasionally impenetrable, vintage recording technology.
Overall, however, recording close to home resulted in a far more relaxed vibe says guitarist/vocalist Dave Wasyliw. “When you’re spending $1000.00 a day in a studio, you’re always watching the clock.” It’s very much like taking a long cab ride, he adds. “You’re always watching the meter and that’s not the best way to get your best performance on tape.”
“Musically,” Pulver adds, “it also really made things flow. We had no pre-conceived notions as to what something should sound like.” That’s clear right from the opening riff of lead single ‘Country Girl’, a song that showcases the band’s adoption of a decidedly more freewheeling, riff-based, electric sound that stands in stark contrast to their previous acoustic heavy efforts.
It’s also a product of recording the entire record with their longtime rhythm section, Brent Pearon (bass) and Steve Broadhurst (drums). That approach energized the band’s writing and recording process substantially, Wasyliw says, describing the communication between Pearon, Broadhurst and the rest of the band as being almost akin to telepathy. “On stage, we rely on subtle gestures and expressions to communicate, and that allowed us to really read each other during the recording process to judge what was working, or, more importantly, what wasn’t.”
Ripping it up in the studio with Broadhurst and Pearon also found Wasiliw and Pulver making subtle, but definite nods to the signature brand of prairie rock they grew up on. Particularly on tracks like ‘Never Letting Go’ and the standout ‘Where I Belong’; a celebration of small town life in Westbourne that’s so rich in detail, you can almost smell the breeze off the lake and feel the dust of the back roads settling on your skin.
That doesn’t mean the band has lost sight of the core elements that have traditionally made their music stand out from the pack. Their blindingly tight, trademark harmonies, compact arrangements and relentlessly hooky sing along choruses are all still there. On 16&1, however, Doc Walker have definitely ramped up the rock a notch or six, and nowhere more so than on their blazing cover of the Bob Seger car chase classic, ‘Get Out Of Denver’ and album closer ‘Tailgate Revolution’, with it’s dueling guitars and amped up R&B vocal arrangements.
16&1 is still country to the core, but it’s definitely sonically denser than 2009’s GO, featuring instrumental highlights like the contributions of sax player Kirsten Nash and one man horn section, Colin Weinmaster on ‘I Disappear Now’, for example – a Crash Test Dummies cover on which Brad Roberts also joins Thorsteinson on lead vocals. On every track, however, Ellis’ production style leaves ample room for each voice to shine through. Ellis also lends his own substantial talents as a keyboardist, slide and pedal steel player to songs like ‘Hard Act To Follow’ and country ballad ‘Do It Right’, among others.
While 16&1 finds the band stretching out some musically, that’s a natural extension of the ethic on which they’ve built a reputation as one of Canada’s hardest working live acts; an ethic that’s served them exceptionally well over time, garnering the band some of the Canadian Music Industry’s highest awards. Among them, the 2009 Juno for Country Recording of the Year and a total of 11 Canadian Country Music Awards, including the 2008 CCMA Fan’s Choice Award, as well as Album, Single and Songwriters of the Year for 2008’s Beautiful Life.
On the strength of GO, the band has also received multiple nominations for the 2011 CCMA’s, including Fans’ Choice, Group or Duo of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, and Country Music Program or Special of the Year. Additionally, Pulver and drummer Steve Broadhurst have been nominated individually in the 2011 CCMA All Star Band Category.
Even with several mantelpieces worth of hardware to their credit, and a growing international profile that has resulted in three Australian tours in the past 18 months, Doc Walker refuse to rest on past laurels. “After awhile the ‘tried and true’ becomes ‘been there, done that’,” Wasyliw says simply. “With every new album we evolved to some degree. It’s a little more drastic this time out, but I think it’s exciting to go to work and not know what’ll happen next.”
Even when they first began compiling ideas for 16&1 while jamming on stage and in their tour bus, Doc Walker knew they were on to something fresh. “When we got together and wrote the riffs for ‘Are You With Me Tonight’ I remember thinking, man, imagine playing this live,” says Wasyliw. And although the track sounds like a love song, it’s actually meant to speak directly to their audience, he says. “We had a gig coming up in Dawson, so, in our minds, we were thinking about how to get the crowd on our side, and to do that you have to ask ‘Are You With Me Tonight?’ The ‘relationship’ aspect we actually added later.”
Though 16&1 is a bit of a sea change for Doc Walker, it reflects the values that have made them so enduringly popular over time and speaks as much about their pride in their roots as it does of the affection and gratitude they have for the fans that continue to flock to their shows year after year. And that, at the heart of it, is the most important thing, Thorsteinson says. “Let’s not kid ourselves, everybody wants to sell a million records, but on this record we forgot all about that. All we wanted to do was write a record that we love, and that we know our fans are going to love and want to sing along to.”
Beautiful Life
Doc Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This old house,has seen better days
This old car has turned from red into rust
This old car dreams of the old highway
Well this old river it still twist and turns
This old river used to run untamed
This old town well it's heart still burns
This old town it still runs through my veins.
It's been a beautiful life
Oh I've been along for one hell of a ride
Even though I may be falling apart whoa it's been a beautiful life
These old shoes they've walked for miles and miles
These old shoes they've walked through life unafraid
This old guitar I got it when I was a child
This old guitar well it still has something to say
All of these eyes have seen laughter and tears
And these eyes have seen something new
This old heart it still has a few more years
This old heart will always love you
Such a beautiful life
Such a beautiful life
The song "Beautiful Life" by Doc Walker is a tribute to the past, as the lyrics describe the aging objects of a house, a car, a river, a town, a pair of shoes, a guitar, and the singer's own eyes and heart. Throughout the verses, the imagery evokes a sense of nostalgia and wistfulness, as the objects are depicted as worn-out yet still possessing some beauty and character. For instance, the old car dreams of the old highway, just as the singer may dream of his youth and adventure. The old guitar still has something to say, suggesting that memories and emotions can still be expressed through music. The chorus reinforces the idea that despite the imperfections and limitations of life, it can still be considered beautiful and worthwhile.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it encourages listeners to appreciate the journey of life, with all its ups and downs, instead of focusing on the destination or outcomes. The repeated phrase "it's been a beautiful life" suggests that the singer has no regrets or complaints about his experiences, even if he admits that he may be falling apart. By acknowledging the value of all the things he has seen, including laughter and tears, he can find meaning and significance in his existence. The final line, "this old heart will always love you," may refer to a person, a place, a memory, or a spiritual belief, depending on the listener's perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
This old house,It's covered in dust
The singer's current home is old and needs to be cleaned.
This old house,has seen better days
The singer recognizes that while their home isn't in the best shape, it has a history and has held many memories.
This old car has turned from red into rust
The singer's car used to be new and vibrant, but now is old and worn down.
This old car dreams of the old highway
The car reminds the artist of the adventures they had on the open road in the past.
Well this old river it still twist and turns
The river may have changed over the years, but it still has its own unique path and journey.
This old river used to run untamed
The singer remembers a time when the river was wild and free.
This old town well it's heart still burns
The singer's hometown may have changed, but its people and passions remain.
This old town it still runs through my veins.
The artist will always have a connection to their hometown, no matter where they go.
It's been a beautiful life
The artist reflects on their past and recognizes that their life has been full of ups and downs, but it has been beautiful overall.
Oh I've been along for one hell of a ride
The artist has experienced a lot throughout their life, both good and bad.
Even though I may be falling apart whoa it's been a beautiful life
Even though the singer may be struggling in the present, they still recognize the beauty in their overall life.
These old shoes they've walked for miles and miles
The artist has been through a lot and their shoes reflect that by being well-worn.
These old shoes they've walked through life unafraid
Through all their experiences, the singer has remained strong and unafraid.
This old guitar I got it when I was a child
The singer's guitar has been with them for a long time, since their childhood.
This old guitar well it still has something to say
The guitar still has music and stories to share, even after all these years.
All of these eyes have seen laughter and tears
The artist's eyes have witnessed moments of joy and sorrow throughout their life.
And these eyes have seen something new
Even with all their experiences, the artist remains open to new things and continues to learn.
This old heart it still has a few more years
The singer still has life in them and wants to make the most of it.
This old heart will always love you
No matter what happens in the future, the singer's heart will always hold love for someone dear to them.
Such a beautiful life
The artist concludes that their life has been beautiful, despite all the challenges they've faced.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw, Murray Pulver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Denise Martin
They are so underrated I mean I think this is probably the best country group ever :)
Nicole Iwaszewski
Denise Martin YES!
ImThatMurray91
True!
2113mario
My dad went to the same high school with him
Dawson C
I might have to agree,this song gets me
A rural mother
I think so too.
wendy craig
That's the MOST beautiful song I ever heard .I went to one of there concert's and Chris said it was the last song his mom heard before she passed .She must of been so proud .My favorite
Hmsdeacon
Just randomly started singing this today, really sticks with me still :)
Angelique Newman
I truly love this song and video!
Amber Song
This song is amazing :D The drummer, Rich Redmond, did a presentation for our band, it was so inspirational! :)