“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’!”
Take Me Down
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in a town that reminds me of my home town streets
I roamed the aisles a thousand miles from what I was looking for
A familiar face that would smile at me sweetly
(If you)
Take me down
To where I'm whole
Deep as a soul can go
If you take me down
I gotta know
Did you really know me
Deeply
As a soul can go?
We'd drive up the canyon to watch the stars fall down
Watch them turn off the lights on the church down on second street
There's jack's old man, he's still the only cop in town
He's patrolling the sidewalk on the graveyard beat
And everybody needs a place to call home
A roof over head a bed for dreams of their own
I've never been so lonely as when I told you I was leaving
This time I'm really leaving
The first verse of Ellis Paul's song Take Me Down describes the singer as a one man line at a twenty-four hour store in a town that reminds him of his hometown streets. He wanders the aisles searching for a familiar face that would sweetly smile at him, but alas, he doesn't find one. The singer yearns to be taken down to a place where he's whole, where everybody knows him deeply as a soul can go. The second verse talks about the singer's memories of driving up the canyon to watch the stars fall down, and the church down second street that turns off its lights. The only cop in town is still Jack's old man, who's patrolling the sidewalk on his graveyard beat. The bridge of the song talks about how everyone needs a place to call home, a roof over their head, and a bed for their dreams. The singer feels the most lonely when he tells someone he's leaving for good.
The song seems to express the idea of longing for home and belonging. The singer is searching for familiarity and a sense of belonging in a place that's not quite home. He wants to be recognized and remembered deeply for who he is, not just a stranger in a strange town. The bridge of the song emphasizes the importance of having a place to call home, and how it affects one's sense of loneliness and belonging. The line "this time I'm really leaving" suggests that the singer has been searching for a place to belong but hasn't found it yet.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a one man line at the twenty-four hour store
I am the only customer at the store that's open throughout the day and night
I'm in a town that reminds me of my home town streets
The streets in this town bring back memories of my hometown
I roamed the aisles a thousand miles from what I was looking for
I walked through the entire store but couldn't find what I was hoping to buy
A familiar face that would smile at me sweetly
I am searching for someone who recognizes me and greets me with a kind smile
(If you) Take me down
If you bring me back
To where I'm whole
To a place where I feel complete
Where everybody knows me
To a place where everyone is familiar with me
Deep as a soul can go
To a level that is extremely profound
If you take me down
If you bring me back
I gotta know
I want to be certain
Did you really know me
Did you truly understand who I am
Deeply
At the deepest level
We'd drive up the canyon to watch the stars fall down
We would go to the valley to witness the shooting stars
Watch them turn off the lights on the church down on second street
Observe the church lights being turned off on the street located in the second block
There's jack's old man, he's still the only cop in town
Jack's father is the only police officer in this town
He's patrolling the sidewalk on the graveyard beat
He's walking on the sidewalk and monitoring the graveyard during his shift
And everybody needs a place to call home
Everyone needs a place to live and feel a sense of belonging
A roof over head a bed for dreams of their own
A home with a shelter and bed to pursue individual aspirations
I've never been so lonely as when I told you I was leaving
I felt the most isolated when I informed you that I'm departing
This time I'm really leaving
I'm genuinely departing this time
Lyrics © ELLIS PAUL PUBLISHING
Written by: ELLIS PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind