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.
Profile photo by ASHLittle.
No Choice
Edwin McCain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Til it swelled and finally burst apart
And where the love spilled out they called it art
But he never really had no choice
Chorus
Whoa, he had no choice
No, he never had no choice
He never really had no choice.
He was thinking that the pain came much too soon
When he locked himself up inside his room
Well it hurt real bad to write that tune
But he never really had no choice
And there were some who could not understand
When he built those castles with his hands
And he knew damn well they were only sand
But he never really had no choice.
Chorus
Sometimes a man sometimes a boy
And he made some music and he made some noise
But he felt his pain and he felt his joy
But he never really had no choice.
There was a beautiful fire inside of him
As he balanced his way out on that limb
Could of burned right through that branch so thin
But he never really had no choice
(Chorus)
And they all talked about him when he died
They studied and they theorized
But when he was through they'd laughed and cried
And he never really had no choice
It was a love so big that it filled his heart
'Til it swelled and finally burst apart
Where the loved spilled out they called it art
But he never really had no choice
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
The lyrics of Edwin McCain's "No Choice" tell the story of a man who was compelled to create art, despite the pain and hardship it caused him. The opening verse describes the size of the love the man had in his heart, comparing it to a swelling river that eventually burst apart. When the love spilled out of him, it became art. This suggests that the man felt a deep emotional connection to his art, and that he couldn't help but create because of it.
The chorus repeats the refrain, "He never really had no choice," emphasizing the idea that the man felt compelled to create, even if it was difficult. The second verse describes the pain the man felt when he wrote a particular song, but that he did it anyway because he had no choice. Some people didn't understand why he did what he did or created the things he did, but it didn't matter because he couldn't help it.
The final verse discusses the man's death and how people studied and analyzed his work. Despite the attention, the man's art was something that came from within him and there was nothing he could do about it. The overriding theme of this song is that true art comes from within and it is not a choice.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a love so big that it filled his heart
His passion for music was so immense it consumed him entirely.
Til it swelled and finally burst apart
His love for music grew and grew until it became too much for him to contain.
And where the love spilled out they called it art
His musical creations were an expression of the intense love he had for his craft.
But he never really had no choice
Despite any pain or struggle, music was his calling and he couldn't help but pursue it.
Whoa, he had no choice
He had to follow his passion for music no matter what.
No, he never had no choice
He could never turn away from music, it was a part of who he was.
When he gave his river a voice
Through his music he was able to express himself and let his emotions flow.
He was thinking that the pain came much too soon
He felt as if the downsides of his passion for music came earlier than expected.
When he locked himself up inside his room
In order to create and perfect his music, he needed to isolate himself from distractions.
Well it hurt real bad to write that tune
Conjuring up his emotions and channeling them into a song was not always easy, it took effort and often led to emotional pain.
And there were some who could not understand
Not everyone could comprehend the depth and importance music held in his life.
When he built those castles with his hands
Through his music he was able to create masterpieces that were a representation of his love and passion.
And he knew damn well they were only sand
He was aware that his musical creations were temporary, but that didn't stop him from putting all his heart and soul into them.
Sometimes a man sometimes a boy
He fluctuated between feeling like a competent adult and like a lost child trying to make his way in the world.
And he made some music and he made some noise
He experimented with different sounds and styles all in the pursuit of perfecting his craft.
But he felt his pain and he felt his joy
His music was a medium for him to fully explore and express his deepest emotions and feelings.
There was a beautiful fire inside of him
The passion he held for music burned brightly within him.
As he balanced his way out on that limb
He took risks, put himself out there, and gave everything he had to his music.
Could of burned right through that branch so thin
He was aware that the path he followed was not always easy, and that it was a risk that could have adverse consequences.
And they all talked about him when he died
Even after his death, his impact and influence on music continued to resonate with people.
They studied and they theorized
People analyzed and dug deep into his music to understand the meaning behind it.
But when he was through they'd laughed and cried
His music evoked different emotions in different people, making them laugh and cry at different times.
It was a love so big that it filled his heart
His intense love for music was something that took up a significant space in his heart and soul.
Where the loved spilled out they called it art
The music he created, which sprang from his overflowing love of music, was art in its purest form.
But he never really had no choice
His passion for music was so intense and inherent, that it was not a choice he made, but an essential part of who he was.
Whoa, he had no choice
He had to follow his love for music, no matter where it took him.
No, he never had no choice
He could never turn away from music, as it was embedded in his very being.
When he gave his river a voice
Through his inspired music, he was able to give voice to the overwhelming currents of his passion and emotions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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