Donna the Buffalo represents one of the most respected brands in the world of touring roots acts. For 21 years DTB has performed feel good, infectious music that often moves listeners physically and spiritually. In the words of a longtime fan, "Their songs are well known to contain lyrics offering poetry and sage commentary on the attractions and struggles with love and politics in this life. Their magnetic musical mix has often been described as dance music, and, for sure, there is everything from foot-tapping to get-up-and-feel-ecstatic moving in their sound; but there is also some deeply satisfying solace in what DTB has to say and how they say it. The dynamic songwriting tandem of Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins have penned over 140 songs in their collaboration with DTB."
Their fervent fan base, self-named The Herd, follows the band with zeal and has created a unique and supportive community online and at DTB shows across the nation. As an extension of this community and the band's own dedication to live roots music, Donna started, and are still the driving force behind, the Finger Lakes Grass Roots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg, NY. 2010 marks the festival's 20th year. Stemming from its success, a second Grass Roots Festival was started in Silk Hope, North Carolina in 2002: the now biannual Shakori Hills Grass Roots Festival.
Over the years, Donna the Buffalo has had the opportunity to collaborate and/or record with musicians such as Jim Lauderdale, Preston and Keith Frank, Bela Fleck, Mamadou Diabate, Claire Lynch, David Hidalgo, The Duhks and Amy Helm, just to name a few. This past year, Nevins also toured with former Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann's band BK3.
The band's 2008 release Silverlined, on Sugar Hill Records, rose to #8 on the Americana Music Chart. With a twenty-one year tenure to celebrate, hundreds of gigs ahead of them, and an ever-evolving grassroots sound; it looks like Donna the Buffalo is riding a cloud that is truly Silverlined.
www.donnathebuffalo.com
All The Time
Donna The Buffalo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once like a seed it was meant to grow
Washed away in the rain before your very eyes
It was a dream you'd begun to know
Let the wind blow on as it may
Let the tears trickle down
Let the time have been rich
As we lay this memory down
Chorus:
All the time
All the time we spent
All the time
Seems was heaven sent
You give with your soul, and your might to the wheel
And the rest is the rest of it all
Give to it what you've got, give to it your all
Shake a tree and watch a river fall
Two and two make four
But four don't make it all
It's a chancy bet
Take the good with the bad
But the best is the deepest
And the richest you will never forget
Stand on your own two feet
As the hardest days go by
Go by, go by
Go by, go by
The difference between you and me will exist
Until the last standing maple tree
It's not wrong, it's not right
It's not black, it's not white
It's just whatever what the difference might be
So forgive and forget
Don't regret but move on
And take the magic of the time with you
Let the good and the love
And the spirit that lifts
Set the groove to keep on pushing you through
Donna The Buffalo's "All The Time" begins with a reflection on a dream or a goal that was once thought to be permanent - perhaps something that had been planned for years - before it was washed away and disappeared right before your eyes. The lyrics suggest that sometimes dreams or plans may not go as planned, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't cherish the time we spent working towards them. We should hold onto the memory of the time spent, even if the dream has changed or disappeared. As the song continues, the lyrics encourage us to keep going; to give our all to the things we care about, and to be brave enough to take chances.
The chorus, "All the time / All the time we spent / All the time / Seems was heaven sent," is a tribute to time spent with loved ones or on our passions - the time that we should never forget. The following lines suggest that while life is uncertain, true love and the deepest joy is never forgotten.
The third verse urges listeners to always stand their ground, especially when times are tough. The song doesn't sugarcoat the fact that life can be difficult, but it encourages listeners to put their all into work and creativity - even when the end isn't immediately apparent.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to remember that while many things in life can be tough and uncertain, memories and good relationships can last forever if they're treated with care.
Line by Line Meaning
Once a dream, once was set in stone
This used to be a dream that was a sure thing.
Once like a seed it was meant to grow
This dream was something meant to grow over time, like a seed.
Washed away in the rain before your very eyes
The dream disappeared before the person got the chance to see it come to fruition.
It was a dream you'd begun to know
The person had started to become familiar with this dream before it disappeared.
Let the wind blow on as it may
Allow things to unfold naturally, without trying to control them.
Let the tears trickle down
It's okay to be emotional and let yourself cry.
Let the time have been rich
Appreciate and cherish the time that has passed and all that it brought with it.
Let us share this thought
Let's all agree on this idea.
As we lay this memory down
As we put this memory to rest.
Chorus: All the time All the time we spent All the time Seems was heaven sent
All the time spent on this dream felt like it was meant to be and brought a sense of peace.
You give with your soul, and your might to the wheel
Put everything you have into your work and your passions.
And the rest is the rest of it all
Whatever comes after that is just extra.
Give to it what you've got, give to it your all
Put in your best effort.
Shake a tree and watch a river fall
Sometimes the smallest actions can cause big results.
Two and two make four
Basic addition.
But four don't make it all
Having the basic knowledge isn't enough to succeed.
It's a chancy bet
Taking risks is always a gamble.
Take the good with the bad
Accept that there will be ups and downs.
But the best is the deepest
The most meaningful experiences are the ones that impact you the most.
And the richest you will never forget
The most valuable experiences stay with you forever.
Stand on your own two feet
Be independent and self-reliant.
As the hardest days go by Go by, go by Go by, go by
As time passes and the hard times become memories.
The difference between you and me will exist
There will always be differences between people.
Until the last standing maple tree
For a very long time.
It's not wrong, it's not right
Things aren't always black and white.
It's just whatever what the difference might be
What matters is acknowledging and accepting our differences.
So forgive and forget
Let go of grudges and move on from the past.
Don't regret but move on
Don't dwell on the past - keep moving forward.
And take the magic of the time with you
Hold onto the memories and positive experiences from the past.
Let the good and the love And the spirit that lifts Set the groove to keep on pushing you through
Use positivity and love to motivate you and keep pushing forward.
Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.