Drummer Aly, guitarist Withrow, and percussionist Bush went to the same high school as singer Brickell in Dallas, Texas but didn't really know her then. According to Houser, Edie was there for art. (Spin magazine, March 1989 (Vol 4, Number 12). Houser attended Hillcrest High School (Dallas) and lived in the same neighborhood as the others. He played in various neighborhood bands like The Knobs which included Kenny, and was also a Munch Puppy.
The New Bohemians started as a three-piece ska-style band in the early eighties, cutting their teeth in the new Deep Ellum neighborhood in downtown Dallas. The original line-up featured Brad Houser on bass, Eric Presswood on guitar, and Brandon Aly on drums.
The future core members joined in 1985. Edie became the singer after being encouraged to join the band onstage during a show (the famous Jack Daniels story). It was soon after that first show that local agent Deanna Mercer, who was at the time booking bands at Rick's Casablanca, was brought to hear the band. The band actually signed a 6 month management contract with Mercer which brought with it better paying gigs at Rick's. When the 6 months ended, the band wanted something more and hired Lon Bixby as the manager. They started regular gigging in Deep Ellum at this time (D Magazine Jan, 1989). Presswood left and Kenny Withrow took up the guitar duties, playing his first show in July, 1985 at the Starck Club in Dallas. John Bush joined on percussion in September of that year. His first show with the band was September 12, 1985 at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, when the band was backing Bo Diddley.
The New Bos were always a local favorite, packing in the fans at now infamous Deep Ellum venues such as Theater Gallery, 500 Cafe, and Club Dada. The Bohemians were also regular performers at the annual Fry Street Fair on the University of North Texas campus in Denton, Texas. During this period of the band's history, Edie's name was not used in the band's name. This was a strategy used by Geffen Records in the event the band didn't remain the same. They would always have Edie.
The New Bohemians have released compilations and a live album, and have recorded some new material in recent years, notably as a short-lived band named The Slip that included Brickell, but most former members have moved on to other projects. Drummer Matt Chamberlain has been an in-demand tour drummer with bands ranging from Pearl Jam and Garbage to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, as well as a stint on the Saturday Night Live house band.
In 1991, Edie is married to Paul Simon, and the couple has three children.
Carter Albrecht was killed in Dallas, on September 3, 2007.
The band played live at the North Oak Cliff Music Festival in October 2014 with the current lineup as well as keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard.
The band reunited again in April 2017 with three concerts at the Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff.
On February 19, 2021, the band released its second album since reuniting, entitled Hunter and the Dog Star.
early morning
Edie Brickell and New Bohemians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We snuck out without making a sound
Through the window and into the night
To the street with the soft yellow light
And I waited in hope that you would
Take my hand and tell me something good
When a shiver went all through the trees
It was the early morning wake up
It was the rise and fall of us
You were the only boy in my heart
The one I love
And those guys in the car slowing down
Looked at us and we looked at the ground
Freaking out, we took off up the bluff
We were running and laughing so hard
It was the early morning wake up
It was the rise and fall of us
You were the only boy in my heart
The one I love
Finding it hard to stay apart
I'm determined to try
Finding it hard to say goodbye
It was the early morning wake up
It was the rise and fall of us
It was the world the way forever?
It was the night and we were young
You were the only boy in my heart
The one I love
"Early Morning" by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians is a nostalgic song that takes the listener back in time to a moment of youthful rebellion and romance. The lyrics describe two lovers who sneak out in the dead of night, unafraid of the danger around them, and venture into the street with the soft yellow light. The singer hopes that her lover will take her hand and tell her something good, but instead, they are interrupted by a shiver that goes through the trees and a feeling that goes all over her. Despite this, their love seems strong and unshakeable as they run and laugh together, determined to try and stay together despite the challenges they face.
The song captures the fleeting, intense passion and thrill of young love, as well as the desire to hold onto those moments even as they slip away. The lyrics are vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a moment frozen in time. The melody is gentle and wistful, adding to the sense of longing and nostalgia. Overall, "Early Morning" is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the bittersweet memories of youth and first love.
Line by Line Meaning
Unafraid of the dangers around
We didn't fear any risks that may come our way
We snuck out without making a sound
We left quietly so as not to be heard or caught
Through the window and into the night
We went out of the window and into the darkness outside
To the street with the soft yellow light
We went towards the road where there was a dim yellow light
And I waited in hope that you would
I hoped you would come to me
Take my hand and tell me something good
You would hold my hand and say something sweet
When a shiver went all through the trees
The trees shivered with us
And a feeling went all over me
I felt something strong and overwhelming
It was the early morning wake up
It was the start of a new day
It was the rise and fall of us
Our relationship had its ups and downs
You were the only boy in my heart
You were the only person I loved
The one I love
My true love
And those guys in the car slowing down
The men in the car nearby started driving slowly
Looked at us and we looked at the ground
They looked at us and we avoided eye contact by looking down
Freaking out, we took off up the bluff
We got scared and ran up the cliff
We were running and laughing so hard
We were running and laughing loudly
Finding it hard to stay apart
It was difficult for us to stay away from each other
I'm determined to try
But I am determined to make it work
Finding it hard to say goodbye
It was difficult for us to say goodbye to each other
It was the world the way forever?
Was the world always going to be this way?
It was the night and we were young
We were young and it was the night
You were the only boy in my heart
You were the only person I loved
The one I love
My true love
Contributed by Jayce E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.