“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’!”
Once Upon A Summertime
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody set the stars loose
You brought a blanket
I brought strawberry wine
We waited on the sky
Dusk, on the fourth of July
You kept my hands from crossing the line
That night it was recorded like a movie
I play it back in my mind
Hey, I wrote this song to thank you
For a sacred night that rang true
Once upon a summertime
The sky turned to flame
I carved our names
Beneath the magnolia
I told you my heart
Wouldn't change
Do your eyes still shine?
Like it's summertime
At the drive-in we'd meet
In the Buick's back seat
And find the cracker jack prize in the dark
Back home, your father would come out
He'd say, "What was the movie about?"
I said, "A ghost".
You said, "A great white shark."
Did I dream you like some vision?
You moved me like religion
Like a prophet, I said,
"You'll be mine"
I was singing halleluiah
Ain't love so peculiar?
When spring gives into summertime?
How how could I lose?
How could you refuse?
After the very first time
Everything changes
Everything changes
Ellis Paul's song "Once Upon a Summertime" narrates a romantic story of two young lovers spending a memorable night on a rooftop on the fourth of July. The beginning of the song depicts a serene night with stars twinkling in the sky, where the singer and his lover lay down on a blanket sipping strawberry wine in each other's arms. As they waited for dusk, their hands intertwined, and they gazed upon the beauty of the sky. As fireworks exploded in the sky, they embraced the moment, not wanting to forget "like a movie."
The second verse takes a more intimate turn, where the singer compares his love for his partner to the burning sky during the fourth of July fireworks. As they carved their names under a magnolia tree, the singer expressed his feelings, assuring his partner of his unwavering love. The third verse is filled with more youthful memories where the duo would spend time at the drive-in theatre, in the back seat of a Buick, and even have conversations about movies with her father. The singer then reflects on how much his partner moved him and how her presence made him believe in the power and beauty of love.
Overall, the song "Once Upon a Summertime" is an ode to young summer love that will remain imprinted in the singer's mind forever. The lyrics encapsulate the emotions of innocence and nostalgia, leaving the listener longing for their nostalgic moments in life.
Line by Line Meaning
A summer night on your roof
The singer is describing the setting of the story.
Somebody set the stars loose
The singer is trying to build up a magical atmosphere by describing the free-floating stars.
You brought a blanket
The singer thanks his love interest for bringing a blanket to sit on.
I brought strawberry wine
The artist brought some wine to share.
We waited on the sky
The two of them were sitting on the roof, waiting for the sky to get dark enough for fireworks.
Dusk, on the fourth of July
The event takes place on the Fourth of July just as night begins to fall.
You kept my hands from crossing the line
The singer thanks his love interest for preventing him from getting too forward on their date.
And when, the fireworks exploded
The fireworks began and the sky lit up.
That night it was recorded like a movie
The artist remembers the night like a scene out of a movie.
I play it back in my mind
Years later, the artist still remembers the night clearly and often reminisces about it.
Hey, I wrote this song to thank you
The song is the singer's way of expressing gratitude for the magical night.
For a sacred night that rang true
The artist describes the night as sacred because it was full of meaning for him and his love interest.
Once upon a summertime
The beginning of a fairytale-like story the singer is telling.
The sky turned to flame
The fireworks were so bright and beautiful that they made it seem like the sky was on fire.
I carved our names
The singer is describing how he and his love interest carved their names beneath the magnolia tree.
Beneath the magnolia
The artist describes the setting, which is a romantic location under a magnolia tree.
I told you my heart
The artist describes how he opened up to his love interest about his feelings.
Wouldn't change
The singer assures his love interest that his feelings for her won't change.
Do your eyes still shine?
The singer is asking his love interest if she still has the same spark in her eyes that she did on that magical night.
Like it's summertime
The artist is comparing his love interest's eyes to the bright and lively feeling of summertime.
At the drive-in we'd meet
The artist is reminiscing about another date they went on, which took place at a drive-in movie theater.
In the Buick's back seat
The artist describes the setting of where they watched the movie at the drive-in theater.
And find the cracker jack prize in the dark
The singer is describing a cute moment where he and his love interest searched for the prize inside the cracker jack box together.
Back home, your father would come out
The artist is now home with his love interest and her father comes out to talk to them.
He'd say, "What was the movie about?"
The father is making small talk, asking the kids what they watched at the movie theater.
I said, "A ghost".
The singer is playfully lying about what they watched to impress his love interest.
You said, "A great white shark."
The love interest goes along with the playful lying and comes up with her own answer about what they watched.
Did I dream you like some vision?
The artist is reflecting on his memories and questioning if his love interest was real or a figment of his imagination.
You moved me like religion
The artist is describing how his love interest impacted him deeply, like religion.
Like a prophet, I said, "You'll be mine"
The singer is describing how he knew from the start that he wanted to be with his love interest.
I was singing halleluiah
The singer is expressing how happy he was when he was with his love interest.
Ain't love so peculiar?
The artist is acknowledging the strange and mysterious nature of love.
When spring gives into summertime?
The artist is describing how love can happen suddenly, just like the changing seasons.
How how could I lose?
The artist is questioning how he could let such a special person slip away.
How could you refuse?
The singer is wondering why his love interest didn't want to be with him anymore.
After the very first time
The artist is reflecting on how much he has changed since his first interaction with his love interest.
Everything changes
The singer is coming to terms with the fact that everything changes over time, even feelings and relationships.
Lyrics © ELLIS PAUL PUBLISHING, BMG Rights Management
Written by: ELLIS PAUL, KRISTIAN BUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
abcdefgiorgia
your music is beautiful.
Beth Coull
i would pay big bucks to see this guy if he came to the UK. alas! all US tour dates :(