“Ellis Paul is one of Boston’s best-ever songwriting exports...” – The Boston Globe. The Day After Everything Changed, the 2010 album from singer- songwriter Ellis Paul, was released on Ellis’ label, Black Wolf Records. Since emerging from the Boston music scene, Paul’s music has been consistently recognized and celebrated worldwide. The new record reinforces this acclaim and is sure to cement his place as one of America’s most talented songwriters.
Recorded in Nashville, the 15-song album was produced by Thad Beaty and Jason Collum and features five songs co-written by Paul’s longtime friend and collaborator, Kristian Bush, founder of the Grammy Award winning band Sugarland. Several of the Sugarland musicians served as Ellis’ backing band for the recording. Throughout 2011, to keep the collaboration alive, Paul will continue to open numerous sold-out arena dates for Sugarland on the current Incredible Machine Tour.
“Ellis has a voice that is so powerful that you know who it is the second he comes through your radio. His music and songs are a new birth in American sound that makes me want to go see concerts again.” -Kristian Bush / Sugarland
“The Day After Everything Changed” is Paul’s first studio album in five years and his 16th release to date. The project was 100% funded by his loyal fan base. The songs on the record reflect Paul’s commitment to storytelling, exemplified in the title track “The Day After Everything Changed.” Described by Paul himself, the songs on the album are about people who are at a crossroads in their life. “I like songs to be cultural events, little ones, that somehow tell me what it feels like to be living here on this planet, in this country, at this time. I want to hear about people’s joys and woes and apply them to my own. You can’t fake real life stories. When you’re faking it --it’s obvious. As long as the writing feels real -- it works in any genre.”
Movie director Peter Farrelly, of the Farrelly Brothers, praises Ellis Paul as “a national treasure”. Ellis’ songs have appeared in the soundtracks for three Farrelly Bothers movies, “Me Myself & Irene” with Jim Carey, “Shallow Hal” with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow, and in February 2011, the Farrelly Brothers latest project, "Hall Pass" starring Owen Wilson and Alyssa Milano will showcase up to 9 musical tracks off of Ellis' latest album The Day After Everything Changed as the score of this hit movie. This is Ellis’ third Hollywood blockbuster credit.
With “The Day After Everything Changed” we're struck more by the fact that Paul is still playing at the top of his game to such an extraordinary degree. It is, as always, the quality not the quantity but in this case we're rewarded with both. / Direct Current
Ellis celebrated his 20th anniversary of being a touring musician on July 2010 when the Mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino, declared July 9th 2010 “Ellis Paul Day” to honor one of Boston’s leading musical exports. Ellis will be anointing his 2 decades of song during his “20th Anniversary Tour” throughout 2011. Over the past two decades Paul has garnered numerous honors including 14 Boston Music Awards, second only to Aerosmith. He has performed with countless acclaimed musicians, including Patty Griffin, John Mayer, Ani Difranco, John Prine, Sugarland, and at the request of Woody’s daughter Nora Guthrie and after several trips to the Woody Guthrie archives, Ellis even has a co-write with Woody, their song “God’s Promise”.
Woody Guthrie’s daughter Nora says of Ellis, “A singer songwriter is only as good as the times he reflects. Wise, tender, brilliant and biting, Ellis is one of our best human compasses, marking in melodies and poems where we’ve been and where we might go if we so choose to. Personally Ellis, I’m goin’ where you’re goin’!”
Goodbye Hollywood
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said, "here's your piece of hollywood"
You gave me your reasons
You say you miss the four seasons
You said the angels here are up to no good
I've seen you walk like charlie chaplin
I've seen you cry like natalie wood
Like a silent movie caption
'cause if I could get in your head
You know I would
I would
You said, "let's pack our boots
Our rhinestone suits and
Take a walk on the wire
Feel the weight of the truth
Sometimes, you gotta tear
The big top down, down
I gave the town all that I could
Say goodbye to hollywood"
I get this postcard from iowa
You're on a wrap-around porch
In a sunflower sea
You're running with the scarecrows
You got me spinning like a windmill
'cause there's an empty stool in la
Next to me
Turn the lights on the marquee low
'cause baby I'm ready to go
So I packed a one way suitcase
With my books
And my wing-tipped shoes
A pair of blue jeans
A postcard and my six-string
And a picture that I took of you
Sometimes you know you gotta leave and then you should
Say goodbye to hollywood
The song "Goodbye Hollywood" by Ellis Paul describes a relationship where one person wants to leave Hollywood, but the other is reluctant to go. The first verse paints a picture of someone trying to convince the other person to leave by saying that the angels in Hollywood are up to no good and offers them sand as a parting gift. The second verse suggests that the two have a history and highlights the difficulty of understanding the other's emotions, even though they have been around a long time.
The chorus then takes on metaphorical significance in detailing the Hollywood spectacle as a circus that can sometimes be artifice or a facade. The song also makes the point that sometimes one has to leave behind the glitz and glamor in order to follow one's own path. The postcard from Iowa is seen as a hopeful sign that the other person is finally moving on and has found happiness. The final verse is a declaration of the singer's acceptance that it is time to leave as well and find their own way beyond Hollywood.
Overall, the song reflects the tension of two people in different places in their journey, one wanting to leave behind a life of superficiality for something more organic, while the other is still caught up in the seduction and allure of fame and success.
Line by Line Meaning
You poured sand in my pockets
You made it difficult for me to achieve success in Hollywood
You said, "here's your piece of hollywood"
You gave me a small part in Hollywood, but it wasn't worth the sacrifices I had to make
You gave me your reasons
You justified why you thought Hollywood was worth pursuing, but I didn't agree
You say you miss the four seasons
You miss the variety of weather in other places, which Hollywood doesn't offer
You said the angels here are up to no good
You warned me that the people in Hollywood aren't trustworthy
I've seen you walk like charlie chaplin
I've seen you act silly and playful, like Chaplin did in his movies
I've seen you cry like natalie wood
I've seen you express deep emotion, like Natalie Wood did in her roles
Sometimes I wish I could read you
Sometimes I wish I understood you better
Like a silent movie caption
Like a written description of what's happening on screen in a silent movie
'cause if I could get in your head
Because if I could understand what you're thinking
You know I would
You know I would try
You said, "let's pack our boots
You suggested that we leave Hollywood behind
Our rhinestone suits and
Our flashy outfits that represent our show business ambitions
Take a walk on the wire
Take a big risk, like walking on a tightrope
Feel the weight of the truth
Confront reality and accept the consequences of our decisions
Sometimes, you gotta tear
Sometimes, you have to break things apart
The big top down, down
The big tent that houses a circus, which represents the entertainment industry
I gave the town all that I could
I did everything I could to succeed in Hollywood
Say goodbye to hollywood
Leave Hollywood permanently
I get this postcard from iowa
I receive a message from someone who's moved away from Hollywood to a simpler place
You're on a wrap-around porch
You're living in a more spacious and comfortable home than you had in Hollywood
In a sunflower sea
Surrounded by fields of sunflowers
You're running with the scarecrows
You're laughing and dancing in a carefree manner
You got me spinning like a windmill
You're making me feel dizzy and overwhelmed with joy
'cause there's an empty stool in la
Because there's an empty spot where I used to sit in Los Angeles
Next to me
Because we used to be together
Turn the lights on the marquee low
Reduce the brightness of the signs that advertise Hollywood movies
'cause baby I'm ready to go
Because I'm ready to leave Hollywood and move on with my life
So I packed a one way suitcase
I packed all of my belongings with the intention of not returning to Hollywood
With my books
With my personal interests and intellectual pursuits
And my wing-tipped shoes
And my fancy shoes that I wore to show business events
A pair of blue jeans
A more humble and practical clothing option
A postcard and my six-string
A way to express myself through writing and music
And a picture that I took of you
A reminder of the past and of what I've left behind
Sometimes you know you gotta leave and then you should
Sometimes it's necessary to depart from what's not working, and it's the right decision to make
Say goodbye to hollywood
Say goodbye to the city of dreams and disappointment, and find a new path in life
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ELLIS PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bodhrani jam
sounds like a 12 string.