“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’!”
Who Killed John Lennon
Ellis Paul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The man kills John Lennon, now he's on TV again
He's blaming Holden Caulfield in the face of the lens
And each time he does it, he kills him again
Who killed John Lennon?
A loser with a pistol, a martyr's best friend
And each time he's televised, he kills him again
And each time he's mentioned, murder is done
So, who killed John Lennon?
A no one
He's on TV again
He's playing the hero
The networks won't let the story end
He brings in the ratings for them
He's playing the hero
But he's a killer
He's been convicted
He's been convicted
His lawyer must think it's a game
Though he knows Lennon's songs, both in word and by name
He cold calls the networks, retrieves all the funds
Then he scrapes his percentage when the programs are run
Who killed John Lennon?
A lawyer, an agent
Big money's best friend
And each time he's televised, they kill him again
It's the prize that they wanted when he emptied the gun
And each time he's mentioned, murder is done
So who killed John Lennon?
A no one
A no one
Ellis Paul's song "Who Killed John Lennon" sheds light on the aftermath of one of the most iconic assassinations in history. The song condemns the media's glorification of Lennon's killer, who allegedly sought fame and attention by committing the heinous crime. The phrase "Do not mention his name" suggests that Paul does not want to give attention to the killer, whose name deserves to be forgotten.
The song highlights how the killer, who Paul refers to as a "loser with a pistol" sought to achieve notoriety by blaming Holden Caulfield, the singer of J.D Salinger's novel "The Catcher in the Rye." The media's sensationalization of the killer's story and his televised interviews further perpetuated the cycle of violence and motivated other potential killers.
Paul questions who is truly responsible for the murder of John Lennon, and suggests that it is not just the killer, but those who profit from the tragedy. The song accuses the media, who employ the killer's lawyer and agent, of benefiting from the tragedy by exploiting the sensational coverage.
Line by Line Meaning
Do not mention his name
The name of the man who killed John Lennon should not be spoken.
The man kills John Lennon, now he's on TV again
John Lennon was killed by a man who is now being featured on television.
He's blaming Holden Caulfield in the face of the lens
The man who killed John Lennon is publicly blaming a fictional character for his actions.
And each time he does it, he kills him again
Every time the man who killed John Lennon speaks publicly about the crime, he is metaphorically killing John Lennon again.
Who killed John Lennon?
The song's main question is who is responsible for the death of John Lennon.
A loser with a pistol, a martyr's best friend
The man who killed John Lennon was a nobody with a gun who saw himself as a hero for taking the life of a famous musician.
It's the prize that he wanted when he loaded the gun
The reward the killer wanted was attention and a feeling of importance he believed he could achieve by killing John Lennon.
And each time he's mentioned, murder is done
Every time the man who killed John Lennon is talked about or identified, the murder is committed again in a way, through re-living the trauma.
So, who killed John Lennon?
The song poses the question once again, asking who is truly responsible for the death of John Lennon.
He brings in the ratings for them
The man who killed John Lennon is a source of audience interest, which benefits the television networks airing stories about him.
He's playing the hero
The man who killed John Lennon sees himself as a hero, though others view him as a murderer.
But he's a killer
Despite his own version of heroism, the man who killed John Lennon cannot escape the fact that he committed murder.
He's been convicted
The man who killed John Lennon has been found guilty of the crime and has been sentenced accordingly.
His lawyer must think it's a game
The lawyer representing the man who killed John Lennon seems to be taking the case lightly or insensitively.
Though he knows Lennon's songs, both in word and by name
The man who is the lawyer for the killer of John Lennon is familiar with Lennon's music and lyrics.
He cold calls the networks, retrieves all the funds
The lawyer for the man who killed John Lennon is making business-like calls to television networks in order to secure earnings from programs about the case.
Then he scrapes his percentage when the programs are run
The lawyer is taking a portion of the earnings generated by programs about the man who killed John Lennon.
A lawyer, an agent
The song suggests that lawyers who profit from tragedy are complicit in murder in many ways, hence are labeled as agents
Big money's best friend
The lawyer for the killer of John Lennon is working for financial gain and to maximize profits.
A no one
Ultimately, the song concludes that the man who killed John Lennon was a nobody or a no one, and his act will never gain him the hero status that he aspired for.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, ELLIS PAUL PUBLISHING
Written by: ELLIS PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind