“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’!”
Looking for my Friends
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or put me on some couch like Sigmund Freud.
Your textbooks filled with hypothetical answers.
So summarize, she called it null and void.
What do you want me to tell you?
What do you want me to say?
I've been cut by the rose again.
Now I'm left with the thorn and the stem.
I'm out looking for my friends, looking for my friends.
She left the note in the sleeve of my coat, that was not nice --
I called her on the phone, the voice that spoke, it was cold, it was hard as ice.
I tried to speak,
the connection was weak
'Cause I was talking to a machine.
She said, "If this is you, we're totally through,"
And that's the last of her I've seen.
What do you want me to tell you?
I got the message loud and clear --
Now I can't talk, 'cause talk is cheap.
I'm in a no-win situation.
There are no words that I could speak that would mend this broken rose.
So here I am, on the couch of a friend who submits his observations,
He says love just comes and goes...
The lyrics of the song "Looking for my Friends" by Ellis Paul talks about a failed relationship and the aftermath of a breakup. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer does not want to dwell on the past nor does he want to seek help from a professional psychotherapist like Sigmund Freud. He dismisses the methodology of seeking answers from textbooks and summarizes the relationship as "null and void". The singer is hurt that he once again fell for someone who broke his heart. He is left alone with the thorn in his hand as a reminder of the beautiful rose he lost.
The song then goes on to recount how the girl broke up with the singer by leaving a note in the sleeve of his coat, which was not a nice gesture. He tries to call her but gets her answering machine and is informed that they are completely through. The singer is accepting the reality of the situation and is not interested in trying to fix things or win her back. Instead, he seeks solace in the company of his friends, who are there to listen, but have no answers or solutions to his emotional pain. They tell him that love is unpredictable and can come and go.
Line by Line Meaning
This time let's not bring up my disasters,
Let's not talk about my past failures this time.
Or put me on some couch like Sigmund Freud.
Let's not analyze me like a psychologist would.
Your textbooks filled with hypothetical answers.
I know you have theoretical answers, but I need practical advice.
So summarize, she called it null and void.
She said it's over, and it's final.
What do you want me to tell you?
What do you want me to say?
I've been cut by the rose again.
I've been hurt in love again.
All the petals have fallen to pieces.
The relationship has fallen apart.
Now I'm left with the thorn and the stem.
All I have left is the pain and the memory.
I'm out looking for my friends, looking for my friends.
I need to find support from my friends to help me through this.
She left the note in the sleeve of my coat, that was not nice --
She ended the relationship in a cowardly way.
I called her on the phone, the voice that spoke, it was cold, it was hard as ice.
She was emotionless and unsympathetic when I called her.
I tried to speak,
I tried to reason with her.
the connection was weak
Our communication was poor.
'Cause I was talking to a machine.
It seemed like I was talking to a robot.
She said, 'If this is you, we're totally through,'
She made it clear that we were done.
And that's the last of her I've seen.
I haven't seen or talked to her since then.
What do you want me to tell you?
What exactly do you want me to say about this?
I got the message loud and clear --
I understand completely what she meant.
Now I can't talk, 'cause talk is cheap.
I can't just talk my way out of this situation.
I'm in a no-win situation.
There's no good outcome for me in this situation.
There are no words that I could speak that would mend this broken rose.
There's nothing I can say to fix the relationship.
So here I am, on the couch of a friend who submits his observations,
I'm talking to a friend who's giving me advice.
He says love just comes and goes...
My friend believes that relationships are unpredictable and fleeting.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ELLIS PAUL PUBLISHING
Written by: ELLIS PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind