After signing a contract with the Atlantic Records label Lava Records in 1994, his first major-label album, Honor Among Thieves, was issued in 1995. His second album, Misguided Roses, spawned I'll Be, a major single in 1998. Two more albums (Messenger and Far from Over) followed, but at the end of 2001, he split from Lava. In 2003 he released a collection of acoustic versions of songs both old and new called The Austin Sessions via ATC Records, a Nashville-based independent record label (at which McCain was the first artist signed following its creation in 2001). Mid-2004 saw the arrival of his first studio album in three years, entitled Scream & Whisper, which was released on another indie label, DRT Entertainment.
He has released two DVDs to date. The first was through ATC records in late 2002, called Mile Marker: Songs and Stories from the Acoustic Highway, and it consisted of interviews, live performances, and other material. The other was in late 2004, Tinsel & Tap Shoes. It was his first live concert DVD, recorded at The House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
A new CD was released in April, 2006 titled, Lost in America. Edwin recently signed a contract with Vanguard Records. This album (#8) is said to be a true "rock 'n roll" collection.
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Dragons
Edwin McCain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As they make another claim
He used to be a friend of mine,
I called him by his name
Well there's nothing you can say
To nirvana when it's packed up in a syringe
We'll call up your mama and bus in all your friends
Well I'm watching the dragons
As they slither out of sight
And I wonder who'll be
Sleeping alone tonight
Beth lost her sister, they came
And they took her away
And there ain't enough pills in the world
And nothing I can say
So I tell her I love her
And that she's a friend
And each time I leave her,
I wonder if I'll see her again
Well I'm watching the dragons
As they slither out of sight
And I wonder who'll be
Sleeping alone tonight
Then I look in the mirror
The dragon has many forms
I wonder if he's coming for me
Because I have been forewarned
Well I'm watching the dragons
As they slither out of sight
And I wonder who'll be
Sleeping alone tonight
The song "Dragons" by Edwin McCain talks about the challenges of watching people struggle with addiction and mental illness. The dragons in the song can be interpreted as these afflictions that seem to take control of people's lives. The singer is watching as these dragons make another claim, and he used to know the person they seem to be taking over. The song talks about how hard it is to communicate with someone who is struggling with addiction, symbolized by Nirvana being packed up in a syringe. The singer feels almost helpless, calling up the person's mother and bus in all their friends to try and help.
The next verse talks about Beth losing her sister to something similar, with not enough pills in the world to save her. The singer tries to offer words of comfort to Beth, saying he loves her and that she's a friend. But each time he leaves her, he's left wondering if he'll see her again. This sense of uncertainty is common when dealing with addiction and mental illness. Finally, the last verse takes the focus onto the singer's own struggles, as he looks in the mirror and wonders if the dragon will come for him too.
Overall, the song is a poignant representation of the challenges people face when dealing with addiction and mental illness. It offers a glimpse into the feeling of helplessness felt by those on the sidelines, watching their loved ones struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm watching the dragons
The singer is observing the effects of addiction, often referred to as 'dragons'
As they make another claim
The addiction is gaining control over someone else's life, causing them to lose touch with reality
He used to be a friend of mine, I called him by his name
The singer is familiar with the person being affected and has lost connection with them due to their addiction
Well there's nothing you can say To nirvana when it's packed up in a syringe
Addiction can bring a sense of false happiness that is hard to escape and the artist cannot reason with that state
We'll call up your mama and bus in all your friends
The people close to the addicted person are powerless in helping them, despite their efforts
As they slither out of sight
Addiction is often hidden from view and the singer can only observe its destructive effects
And I wonder who'll be Sleeping alone tonight
The loneliness and despair caused by addiction can leave one feeling isolated and abandoned, even amongst loved ones
Beth lost her sister, they came And they took her away
The artist knows someone who experienced loss due to addiction taking them away
And there ain't enough pills in the world And nothing I can say
No amount of medication or reassurance can replace the damage caused by addiction
So I tell her I love her And that she's a friend
The artist offers emotional support and friendship to someone affected by addiction
And each time I leave her, I wonder if I'll see her again
The uncertainty and unpredictability of addiction's impact can leave one feeling hopeless and fearing for their loved one's safety
Then I look in the mirror The dragon has many forms
The artist realizes that addiction can affect anyone, and even they are not immune
I wonder if he's coming for me Because I have been forewarned
The singer understands the dangers of addiction and worries that they too may become its victim
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWIN COLE MC CAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind