“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’!”
She Was
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She ain't worth the tears
She ain't worth the barroom fight
A restless night her ghost still here
She ain't worth the roses
Lost among the thorns
She ain't worth the words you'd waste
To mend the trust that's torn
She ain't worth the midnight
She ain't worth the dawn
She ain't worth the pedestal
That you placed her on
She ain't worth the hotel sheets
Twisted on the bed
She ain't worth the tremblin'
Or the whispers that you said
But she was
In truth
You know
She was
She was
And you're
Fooling yourself
Because
She was
She ain't worth the mystery
She ain't worth the risk
She ain't worth the medicine
Brushed across the lips
She ain't worth the vertigo
She ain't worth the fall
She ain't worth surrender to
The drama of it all
She ain't worth apologies
She ain't worth the right or wrong
She ain't worth the melody
She ain't worth this song
But she was
Ellis Paul's song "She Was" is a poignant exploration of a complicated relationship that has turned sour. In the lyrics, the singer warns against getting caught up in the drama of trying to salvage a relationship that is beyond repair. Despite acknowledging the pain and lost time that this person has caused, the singer cannot deny the depth of their emotions and the hold that this person still has over them.
The song begins by stating that "she ain't worth the whiskey, she ain't worth the tears, she ain't worth the barroom fight." The singer has come to the conclusion that this person is not worth the emotional turmoil and physical harm that pursuing them might cause. However, the chorus is a poignant reminder that while the singer can try to move on, they can't escape the fact that this person was once someone they loved deeply: "But she was, in truth, you know she was, she was, and you're fooling yourself because she was."
The second verse elaborates on this idea, stating that this person isn't worth the risk or the heartbreak of what comes with trying to continue the relationship. The singer believes that this person is not worth the effort of trying to "mend the trust that's torn." Despite this rational approach, the chorus reminds us that the singer still can't fully let go of their feelings for this person, who once held a special place in their life.
In the bridge of the song, the singer reflects that this person isn't worth the apologies, the "right or wrong," or the melody of a song. While they cannot deny the pain and heartbreak that this person has caused, they also cannot deny the depth of their emotions and the fact that, at one point, this person was someone they loved deeply.
Overall, "She Was" is a powerful exploration of love, heartbreak, and the struggle to move on from someone who once held a special place in our lives. Despite the pain and hurt that this person has caused, the singer cannot deny the depth of their emotions and the hold that this person still has over them.
Line by Line Meaning
She ain't worth the whiskey
The woman is not worth the alcohol that could be spent on drinking.
She ain't worth the tears
Crying over the woman is not a valuable use of emotions.
She ain't worth the barroom fight
Getting into a physical altercation over the woman is not worth the trouble.
A restless night her ghost still here
The memory of the woman may still haunt you, causing you to have trouble sleeping.
She ain't worth the roses
Buying the woman flowers is not worth the effort or expense.
Lost among the thorns
The woman is insignificant in comparison to other things in life.
She ain't worth the words you'd waste
Trying to fix the relationship with the woman is not worth the time or energy.
To mend the trust that's torn
Even if you did try to fix the relationship, it would be difficult to regain the trust that was lost.
She ain't worth the midnight
Staying up late thinking about the woman is not worth losing sleep over.
She ain't worth the dawn
Waking up early to think about the woman is not a valuable use of time.
She ain't worth the pedestal
Putting the woman on a pedestal and idolizing her is not worth the effort.
That you placed her on
The woman may have been important to you in the past, but she is no longer worth that level of admiration.
She ain't worth the hotel sheets
Sleeping with the woman in a hotel is not worth the expense or effort.
Twisted on the bed
The memory of sleeping with the woman may still be confusing or cause discomfort.
She ain't worth the tremblin'
The woman is not worth the physical or emotional reaction of trembling in her presence.
Or the whispers that you said
The words spoken in privacy with the woman are not worth the effort to remember or repeat.
But she was
Even though the woman is not worth much now, she was still important to you at one point.
In truth
This is an honest reflection on the past relationship and feelings towards the woman.
You know
Deep down, this realization is something you already understand.
She was
The woman played an important role in your life at one point, even though she is not worth much now.
And you're
The artist is addressing a person or group of people who may be in denial about this fact.
Fooling yourself
Denying the woman's past importance is not being honest with oneself.
Because
The singer is about to give further explanation to support the previous statements.
She was
The woman was once valuable and meaningful.
She ain't worth the mystery
Continuing to try and unravel the mystery of what went wrong is not worth the effort.
She ain't worth the risk
Taking a chance on pursuing the woman further is not worth the potential negative consequences.
She ain't worth the medicine
Trying to numb the pain of missing the woman is not worth the expense or side effects of medication.
Brushed across the lips
ingesting the medicine in an attempt to forget about the woman may cause more harm than good.
She ain't worth the vertigo
The dizzying feeling of trying to regain the relationship with the woman is not a valuable use of energy.
She ain't worth the fall
Putting effort into the woman and then ultimately failing is not worth the risk of getting hurt.
She ain't worth surrender to
Giving up other important aspects of life to try and regain the woman is not worth the sacrifice.
The drama of it all
The artist is referring to the dramatic and emotional nature of trying to fix the relationship with the woman.
She ain't worth apologies
Apologizing to the woman for past mistakes is not worth the effort.
She ain't worth the right or wrong
Trying to figure out who was right or wrong in the past relationship is not worth dwelling on.
She ain't worth the melody
Writing a song about the woman is not worth the effort or emotions.
She ain't worth this song
The woman is not worth the time spent writing and performing music about her.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., MAGIC RAT MUSIC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ELLIS PAUL, JEFFREY THOMAS PLANKENHORN, SLAID CLEAVES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind