At age 16, Doyle Bramhall II toured with Jimmie Vaughan's band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, as second guitarist. In 1992 Doyle formed Arc Angels with Charlie Sexton and Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton (also known as Double Trouble). Doyle became Eric Clapton's second guitarist in 2004 after Andy Fairweather-Low backed out of the tour. He left Clapton's band in 2009 to reform Arc Angels.
"Doyle Bramhall II was raised in a home filled with the blues and rock and roll sounds that are indigenous to his birthplace - Austin, Texas. His father, Doyle Bramhall Senior, was the drummer for blues legend Lightning Hopkins and a regular collaborator with Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
When Doyle was 16 years old, he toured as second guitarist with Jimmy Vaughan's band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Shortly thereafter he and fellow Texan, Charlie Sexton, co-founded the rock band Arc Angels. Doyle and Charlie enlisted the rhythm section from Stevie Ray Vaughan's backing band, Double Trouble, to complete the lineup. The group enjoyed critical acclaim and commercial success.
Following the release of "Jellycream," Doyle's 1999 RCA debut recording, he received phone calls from both Roger Waters and Eric Clapton. Doyle ended up joining Roger Waters for a summer tour while Clapton, along with fellow blues great B.B. King, chose two of Doyle's songs - "Marry You" and "I Wanna Be" - for their collaborative recording entitled "Riding With The King." Upon completion of the "Riding..." project, Doyle, his wife - Susannah Melvoin, and Clapton co-wrote and performed "Superman Inside" for Clapton's album, "Reptile." Doyle's playing is also heavily featured on the album.
The latest offering from Doyle Bramhall II, entitled - "Welcome" - is the purest sampling of Doyle's talents to date. Doyle entered the studio with Smokestack, the band he put together a couple of years ago, and co-producers Benmont Tench and Jim Scott to record the 12 - song set. Joining Doyle in Smokestack is J.J. Johnson on drums and bassist Chris Bruce. Susannah Melvoin contributed background vocals, Benmont Tench pulled keyboard duty and Craig Ross played second guitar.
The album, "Welcome" showcases the diversity of Bramhall's talent; from his songwriting to his intense, soulful vocals and virtuoso guitar playing. Doyle's gravity explosion can be readily heard on such tracks as the driving "Green Light Girl" and the uptempo "Soul Shaker." His dedication to the blues can be felt on tracks like "Life," "So You Want It To Rain" and "Send Some Love."
Doyle and his band are set to open for Eric Clapton on the first leg of a worldwide tour this year".
Official Site
Song From The Grave
Doyle Bramhall II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But songs weren´t coming out of me
I knew I had to get back
I was in way too big of a hole
I will need you there in my life
I will need you there by my side
I will need you there in my life
The road wasn´t good to me
But I learned a lot of things
The smoke was blinding me
I could only sing the way I feel
I will need you there in my life
I will need you there
In the end
It´s only you
Sing me a song from the grave
Sing me a song from the grave
I will need you there by my side
I will need you there in my life
I will need you there
In the end
It´s only you
Darkness is calling for me
I´m standing in my way
If I could only hear it
I wouldn´t be standing here today
Broken dreams all before me
These sounds are in my ear
Whispering how it shoud be
They are distant and not so clear
Darkness is calling for me
I´m distanding in my way
If I could only hear it
I´d still be standing here
I´m shedding crimson tears
I´m breaking all the glass
I need to find a reason
Put my feet on the path
I found a reason
I found a reason
I found a reason
It´s only you
The song "Song From The Grave" by Doyle Bramhall II expresses the struggles of a musician who hits a roadblock in his career. He sets out on the road to fame, but struggles to come up with new songs. He realizes that he needs help and support from those around him, and especially from the person he loves, who he says he will need in his life and by his side. He describes the difficulties he has faced on the road, including smoke blinding him, but explains that he can only sing the way he feels. Despite the challenges he has faced, he knows that ultimately, it is only the person he loves who can truly help him.
The lyrics also touch on themes of darkness and broken dreams, with the musician feeling like he is standing in his own way, but also hearing distant whispers of how things could be. He sheds "crimson tears" and breaks glass, trying to find a reason to continue on the path. Finally, he exclaims, "I found a reason, it's only you", indicating that the person he loves is the motivation that inspires him to keep going.
Overall, the song speaks to the idea that even when things seem tough, having a support system can make all the difference in achieving one's dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I hit the road to fame again
I started pursuing my musical career again, hoping to achieve fame.
But songs weren´t coming out of me
I struggled to write new songs and was experiencing writer's block.
I knew I had to get back
I realized that I needed to refocus and work harder in order to succeed.
I was in way too big of a hole
I felt stuck and in a difficult position that I needed to climb out of.
I will need you there in my life
I understand the importance of having support and love while navigating this challenging journey.
I will need you there by my side
I need someone special to be with me and offer encouragement through the ups and downs of my career.
The road wasn´t good to me
I faced many obstacles and difficulties while pursuing my dreams.
But I learned a lot of things
Despite the hardships, I gained valuable knowledge and experiences.
The smoke was blinding me
I was overwhelmed by obstacles and distractions, making it difficult to see a clear path forward.
I could only sing the way I feel
Despite the difficulties I faced, I continued to create music that was honest and reflective of my emotions.
In the end
Ultimately or eventually.
It´s only you
You are the most important person in my life and my source of strength and motivation.
Sing me a song from the grave
Create something meaningful and emotional, even if it has a somber or mournful tone.
Darkness is calling for me
I am struggling with inner demons or feelings of despair.
I´m standing in my way
I am my own worst enemy, getting in the way of my own happiness and success.
If I could only hear it
If I could only perceive or understand my own emotions or inner voice, I might be able to overcome my obstacles.
I wouldn´t be standing here today
I might have given up or made different choices if I had better understood what I needed to do.
Broken dreams all before me
I have faced many disappointments and setbacks in the past.
These sounds are in my ear
I am haunted by past failures or negative self-talk.
Whispering how it shoud be
I hear voices suggesting how I ought to live my life or pursue my dreams.
They are distant and not so clear
These voices or suggestions are confusing or difficult to understand or act upon.
I´m shedding crimson tears
I am crying or feeling intense emotions that might be represented by the color red.
I´m breaking all the glass
I am defying conventions or shattering preconceived notions of what I am supposed to do or be.
I need to find a reason
I am searching for a purpose or a motivation that will drive me forward.
Put my feet on the path
Find direction or purpose in order to move forward.
I found a reason
I have identified what is motivating or driving me forward.
Contributed by Max W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.