TED SONGS, by Drew Smith, is the sixth release from the Austin, Texas based recording artist. Shifting away from the inspiration and soulful pop of The Lonely Choir album, this collection of songs was stirred by a new acoustic framed project called TED. The group is comprised of multi instrumentalist Brian Beken (South Austin Jug Band), accomplished percussionist Rob Hooper and Lonely Choir bassist Ryan Bowman. Drew and his bandmates recorded the material in February of 2010 during a “magical” weeklong snowstorm in Brooklyn, NY with producer Roger Greenwalt (Ben Kweller, The Pierces). From this creative council, Drew Smith came away with five songs full of characters, storylines, adhering hooks and yet another dimension of color and tone in his musical landscape.
Still, this landmark is just one spot on Drew Smith’s horizon for 2011. More music releases are expected from The Lonely Choir and the most recent shape in Drew’s musical kaleidoscope, a 70’s suit & tie three-piece rock band called All The Elements.
TED
Andrew Smith - Guitars, Wurlitzer, Vocals
Brian Beken - Fiddle, Mandolin, Electric Guitars, Pedal Steel
Ryan Beef Bowman - Bass: Upright, Electric, and Bowed
Rob Hooper - Drums, Balck Swan, Percussion
The Lonely Choir
Andrew Smith - Guitars, Vocals
Matt Russell - Piano, Organ, Rhodes
Ryan Bowman - Bass
Kyle Thompson - Drums
Jake Owen - Electric Guitar
Shane Pitsch - Trumpet
Russell Haight - Saxophone
All The Elements
Andrew Smith – Bass, Vocals
Brian Beken - Electric Guitar
Joe Humel – Drums
Discography
TED SONGS by Drew Smith - 2011
Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir - 2009
The People Sing La La La 2006
To: You, From: Me - 2006
...We Will Love - 2005
Drew Smith - 2003
Links
www.drewsmithmusic.com
www.drewsmith.bandcamp.com
www.myspace.com/drewsmithmusic
www.facebook.com/drewsmithmusicworld
www.sonicbids.com/drewsmith
www.representaustin.com
www.fatcaddyrecords.com
Contact
Booking – booking@theundergroundagency.com
Publicity – info1@representaustin.com
Band – drewsmith@drewsmithmusic.com
Press
"Drew Smith's obvious pleasure in the obvious pleasure of hooks feels both old-fashioned and completely revolutionary" -- Steve Almond, author of 'Rock n Roll Saved My Soul' and frequent NPR critic
“a sound simultaneously pop-hook catchy (for the here and now) and smart-art NPR-ready (for the critical immortality)” -- Austin.com
“Austin-based singer-songwriter Drew Smith, offers classic sounding songs kept honest with nostalgic considerations about American life. So full of talent and promise." -- Big Takeover Magazine
Drew Smith creates “perfect pop classics that will warm the ears of Newman and Nilsson fans – and likely the fans of indie acts like Spoon and The Shins." -- Austin Sound
Drew Smith is “as capable of jaunty pop ('Follow Me down,' 'Diamonds') as he is of Van Morrison-style balladry ('Silver Pictures'), but his neatest trick is making it seamlessly his own sound." -- Austin Chronicle
"Drew Smith's Lonely Choir has restored my faith in Austin somehow. It's smart pop, no doubt, but with an immediately recognizable down-home vibe that strikes a free-spirit chord." -- Houston Press
"One of my favorite albums to come out of Austin this year, Smith plays contrast with a mad scientists glee, pitting a bouncing Bacharach like piano against a weepy pedal steel on 'New Year's Day', strings and a banjo on 'NYC Song', sloppy bop-ba-da's bounce nicely against brass on 'Diamonds.'" -- Houston Chronicle
“Giving generally good music a label is no fun. It’s usually inaccurate, and it’s always limiting. When you encounter groups like Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir, the best thing to do is just say it’s an amalgamation of so many of the good aspects of several genres like rock, indie, blues even jazz. But, if you want the best description, you have got to check out the Austin group yourself…” Austinist.com
"…Drew Smith's incredibly well-crafted lyrics; inventive melodies proffering pop, blues and even twang; some Sgt. Pepper's/Kinksian/post-Vaudeville flourishes; and a roster of well-known supporting players convey this is no first-timer's effort." -- Texas Music Magazine
“Drew's music is supremely smile-inducing." -- Dryvetyme Onlyne
"Sometimes lost in the roots-rock, alt-country sound that has come to typify Austin music is a handful of very, very good pop bands with chart-topping success, such as Spoon and Fastball. Such a band is Drew Smith's Lonely Choir. Smith is a self-described disciple of '70s pop, a sound that — on his new album — is freshly updated and beautifully delivered."
--..Blog Critics Review
“Smith has no intention of blowing your mind with over the top production or jaw-droppingly shocking lyrics. Instead, he writes perfectly-crafted pop songs that will make you happy, sad, lonely and hopeful, sometimes all in one song." -- Atlanta Music Guide
"Drew Smith has carved a well-deserved place for himself and his brand of poppy, retro rock.” -- madeloud.com
"All sorts of other media have been singing their praise and it seems I am arriving late to the party. But, better late than ever. ." -- Party Ends
"I have to be honest and say that I had not heard of this cat before today, but I am really impressed." -- Omaha's The Grind
The Truth
Drew Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I should've never lied
That night in Jackson
I should've come clean
Told ya everything
Instead of all this acting
Like who I wanna be
Instead of who I really am
It's hard to be open
Baby I'm broken
And I was terrified
If you'd have ever known
You'd have been gone
Before the next sunrise
You were so put together
And even my messes are a mess
So what chance did I have 'cause
I've broken every commandment
How could you ever love that
I guess I didn't understand that you wanted to
If I'd have known what I had when I had it
I would've shown you every inch of the sadness
I guess I got lost in the madness of not losing you
You loved every lie until you knew
You would've even loved the truth
Girl I know you think
You never meant a thing
I was just killing time
And everything I said
Even in your bed
Was just a worn-out line
I know you hate me
And I gave you every right
'Cause I tried to hide that
I've broken every commandment
How could you ever love that
I guess I didn't understand that you wanted to
If I'd have known what I had when I had it
I would've shown you every inch of the sadness
I guess I got lost in the madness of not losing you
You loved every lie until you knew
You would've even loved the truth
Everybody loses when you hide your bruises
From a different life
Hell we've all got 'em if I'd have been honest
You'd be here tonight but
I've broken every commandment
How could you ever love that
I didn't understand that you wanted to
If I'd have known what I had when I had it
I would've shown you every inch of the sadness
I guess I got lost in the madness of not losing you
You loved every lie until you knew
You would've even loved the truth
You would've even loved the truth
The lyrics of Drew Smith’s song The Truth express regret and sorrow over a failed relationship. The song’s narrator looks back on his mistakes and recognizes that he should have been honest with his partner, instead of lying and pretending to be someone he wasn’t. He admits to breaking every commandment, which suggests that his actions were morally wrong and had consequences. Despite his deception, the singer suggests that his partner would have loved him even if he had been truthful. He feels that he missed an opportunity for true connection by not being authentic and feels remorseful for his behavior.
The song also explores the theme of vulnerability and the fear of exposing one’s true self to others. The singer acknowledges that he was scared to be open with his partner because he felt broken and flawed. He feared that if she knew the real him, she would reject him. The song suggests that hiding one’s flaws and insecurities can ultimately lead to the loss of a relationship. The singer recognizes that if he had been honest, his partner might still be with him.
Overall, The Truth is a powerful expression of regret and self-reflection. It acknowledges the importance of honesty and authenticity in relationships and encourages listeners to be true to themselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
You should've never cried
I regret making you upset
I should've never lied
I regret not being honest with you
That night in Jackson
Referring to a specific moment in the past
I should've come clean
I should have told you the truth
Told ya everything
I should have been completely honest with you
Instead of all this acting
Instead of pretending to be someone I'm not
Like who I wanna be
Pretending to be the person I wish to become
Instead of who I really am
Pretending instead of being true to myself
It's hard to be open
Expressing emotions is difficult
Baby I'm broken
I am emotionally damaged
And I was terrified
I was afraid of the potential consequences of honesty
If you'd have ever known
If you had ever found out the truth
You'd have been gone
You would have left me
Before the next sunrise
You would have left me immediately
You were so put together
You seemed to have it all figured out
And even my messes are a mess
My problems are worse than yours
So what chance did I have 'cause
I felt like I couldn't measure up to you
I've broken every commandment
I have sinned in every way possible
How could you ever love that
How could you love someone like me, who has done wrong?
I guess I didn't understand that you wanted to
I failed to realize that you truly cared for me
If I'd have known what I had when I had it
If I had realized the importance of our relationship earlier
I would've shown you every inch of the sadness
I would have shared with you all of my emotional struggles
I guess I got lost in the madness of not losing you
I was so afraid of losing you that I lost sight of what was truly important
You loved every lie until you knew
You believed my lies until you discovered the truth
You would've even loved the truth
You would have loved me even if I had been completely honest from the beginning
Girl I know you think
I am aware that you believe
You never meant a thing
You think I didn't truly care about you
I was just killing time
I was simply passing the time, not taking our relationship seriously
And everything I said
All of the things I said to you
Even in your bed
Even during intimate moments
Was just a worn-out line
Were just cliches or empty declarations
I know you hate me
You probably have negative feelings towards me
And I gave you every right
I am the reason you have a reason to hate me
'Cause I tried to hide that
Because I attempted to keep the truth hidden
Everybody loses when you hide your bruises
It is never good to keep one's emotional wounds hidden
From a different life
From experiences that happened prior to our relationship
Hell we've all got 'em if I'd have been honest
Everyone struggles with emotional issues, and if I had been honest about my own, things might have turned out differently
You'd be here tonight but
Perhaps you would still be here with me if I had been honest
You would've even loved the truth
You would have loved me even if I had been completely upfront about everything
Writer(s): Jeffery Andrew Smith
Contributed by Jordyn J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.