She received much critical acclaim for her 2005 release, Paradise Hotel, which contains songs that strike a chord with listeners in light of recent events. "Requiem" honors Hurricane Katrina and tsunami victims with hopeful pleas to the Virgin Mary, while "Man of God" is a bitter, unapologetic denouncement of President George W. Bush and his administration.
"The actions of this regime do not follow the teachings of Christ, what I call real Christianity," Gilkyson said in August 2005. "I just don't appreciate the religious right acting like I don't love God and my country just because I'm not in their corner. I'm mad and I want other people to be mad about this too."
In 2008, her album Beautiful World came out, again on Red House Records. The songs vary from pop to folk and points in-between, with songs ranging from intimate ballads to rallying cries against the imperialist machine. She recently collaborated on a new album entitled Red Horse with two of her Red House Records label-mates John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky.
In 2011, she came out with Roses at the End of Time. Recorded at her home with the help of her son and co-producer Cisco Ryder, Gilkyson took a longer time in the studio and came out with a more eclectic and personal album. She continues to tour about 150 dates per year in the United States and overseas.
www.elizagilkyson.com
Hard Times In Babylon
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long past midnight, memories bright in the freeze frame
And I'm asking myself why
I see at the Marriott, funny little grin
Driving those drums like a chariot
Did it hurt too much to try?
A shoulder to cry on when I bottomed out at zero
In the hour of the wolf, just before the dawn
Hard times in Babylon.
O.K. so you had to go
Take a walk on the wild side
Down to the valley of the shadow
But it just don't seem like you.
Well you could have called out
There's not a man or woman gathered tonight in the big house
Wouldn't run to pull you through.
An incident so grievous
20 years ago you would have thought this is the way you would leave us
In the hour of the wolf, just before the dawn
Hard times in Babylon.
Got to hang together when the air's this thin
Hand out the masks for the oxygen
Live for something
We're coming upon a time in our lives
When the little dreams live but the big dream dies
Not for nothing, Not for nothing
I know that love don't end
Nothing I can do is gonna bring you back or let me see you again
In the hour of the wolf, just before the dawn
Hard times in Babylon.
In the hour of the wolf, just before the dawn
Hard times in Babylon.
The song "Hard Times in Babylon" by Eliza Gilkyson is a heartfelt tribute to a friend who has passed away named Woody who was once a hero to her. The lyrics begin with her lighting a candle in his name long past midnight while memories of him flood her mind like a freeze frame, and she asks herself why Woody had to leave. The mention of Marriott and the funny little grin are probably references to Woody's performances at the Marriott, which were a source of joy for Eliza as she watched him drive those drums like a chariot. She then wonders if Woody's departure was due to a fear of trying, if it hurt too much to try. The line "Woody, you were my hero, a shoulder to cry on when I bottomed out at zero" speaks to Woody's importance in her life and how he was always there for her when things were tough.
Eliza then reveals that Woody's departure wasn't expected as it doesn't seem like something he would do, and wonders why he didn't call out for help at a time when there wasn't a man or woman who wouldn't have come to his aid. She then refers to an incident that was so grievous that it led to Woody's untimely death, which could have been prevented if he had reached out for help. The chorus speaks to the hard times that the society is going through, and the feeling of despair that often comes with it. The line "got to hang together when the air's this thin, hand out the masks for the oxygen, live for something" speaks to the need for people to come together and support each other in difficult times.
The final verses of the song are Eliza's musings on life and death, and the true nature of love. She knows that love doesn't end with death, but nothing she does can bring Woody back or help her see him again. The term hour of the wolf refers to the time between three and six in the morning, when most people die, blood pressure is at its lowest, and nightmares are at their worst. The line "hard times in Babylon" refers to the difficult times that we all face in life, and how we must strive to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
I light a candle in your name
I am remembering you and honoring your memory.
Long past midnight, memories bright in the freeze frame
Late at night, vivid memories of you flood my mind and are frozen in time.
And I'm asking myself why
I am questioning why you had to go and leave us.
I see at the Marriott, funny little grin
I remember seeing you with a mischievous smile at the Marriott.
Driving those drums like a chariot
You played the drums with such passion and energy, it was like you were driving a chariot.
Did it hurt too much to try?
Did you give up on life because it was too hard to keep trying?
Woody you were my hero
You were my role model and someone I looked up to.
A shoulder to cry on when I bottomed out at zero
You were there for me when I hit rock bottom and needed someone to lean on.
In the hour of the wolf, just before the dawn
During the darkest hour of the night, right before the sun rises.
Hard times in Babylon.
Life is difficult and challenging.
O.K. so you had to go
I accept that you passed away and had to leave this world.
Take a walk on the wild side
You lived life courageously and took risks.
Down to the valley of the shadow
You ventured into the unknown and experienced darkness and fear.
But it just don't seem like you.
It is hard to believe that you are really gone and not here with us anymore.
Well you could have called out
I wish you had reached out for help and support when you were struggling.
There's not a man or woman gathered tonight in the big house
Everyone who knew you would have come to your aid and tried to help you, if you had asked.
Wouldn't run to pull you through.
We would have done whatever it takes to help you overcome your problems and challenges.
An incident so grievous
Your death was a tragedy that deeply affected us.
20 years ago you would have thought this is the way you would leave us
If someone had told us 20 years ago that you would die in such a way, we would never have believed it.
Got to hang together when the air's this thin
We need to stick together and support each other, especially during difficult times.
Hand out the masks for the oxygen
We must be prepared for the struggles and hardships we will face in life.
Live for something
We must have a purpose and meaning in life to keep us going.
We're coming upon a time in our lives
We are approaching a phase in life where we need to make important decisions and choices.
When the little dreams live but the big dream dies
Sometimes, our biggest aspirations and dreams may not come true, but we must keep striving for the smaller ones that keep us going.
Not for nothing, Not for nothing
It is not all meaningless or for no reason.
I know that love don't end
Even though you are gone, the love we shared will continue to exist.
Nothing I can do is gonna bring you back or let me see you again
No matter how much I wish for it, I cannot bring you back or see you again.
In the hour of the wolf, just before the dawn
Even when things seem bleak and hopeless, there is always a glimmer of hope just around the corner.
Hard times in Babylon.
The world can be a tough place to live in with many challenges and struggles.
In the hour of the wolf, just before the dawn
Even when things seem bleak and hopeless, there is always a glimmer of hope just around the corner.
Hard times in Babylon.
The world can be a tough place to live in with many challenges and struggles.
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@CatMagic53
A beautiful, meloncoly song. I always wonder how she is not more popular. A great one not tainted by commercialism.
@victoredwards0530
I see another year has passed, and it is time to give kudos to Eliza, who in my view is one of the best in her genre. Just good listening -- still.
@peggyjohnsonmusic
One of my favorite songs of all time
@systolediastole2
so wonderful...I've been a fan of hers for three years now, and I still can't really listen to this song without crying
@donmussell12
This is a great song. She, much like her father, has the gift.
@justpaulette
In the hour of the wolf, just before dawn, hard times in Babylon. I'm in my own version. Thank goddess she sings of these particular blues.
@victoredwards0530
I keep coming back here year after year. It is as good today as it was then.
@donmatus42
Thanks Dad for sending me this gem of a tune!
@rolandtrenary
One of my favorites, by one of the best.
@SteveHanesFiddleMusic
I have been seeing her for 15 years or so now....every time she is playing anywhere near me I will go see her! Your description is PERFECT! One of my absolute all time favorites....and so captivating live and in person....Glad you discovered her................