Blues guitar phenom Eric Gales was born and raised in Memphis, learning to … Read Full Bio ↴Blues guitar phenom Eric Gales was born and raised in Memphis, learning to play at age four from older brothers Eugene and Manuel in imitation of their upside-down, left-handed style (a tradition actually passed down from their grandfather, Dempsey Garrett Sr., who was known to jam with the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf). Winning his first blues contest at 11, four years later Eric signed to Elektra to issue his 1991 debut LP, recorded with Eugene on bass; Picture of a Thousand Faces followed in 1993. Manuel (who previously performed under the alias Little Jimmy King) reunited with his siblings for 1995's Left Hand Band, credited to the Gales Brothers.

A newly matured Gales returned in spring 2001 to release his debut for MCA, That's What I Am. Often billed as the second coming of Jimi Hendrix, Gales, an adequate singer at best but a dynamite guitarist, suffered for the comparison. With Gales always influenced by Hendrix and the power trio format, his next albums, 2006's Crystal Vision and 2007's Psychedelic Underground, both released by Blues Bureau Records, seemed like facsimile Hendrix albums, right down to the album art. His next two releases from Blues Bureau, 2008's The Story of My Life and 2009's Layin' Down the Blues, found the Hendrix influence muted somewhat, but Gales, a breathtaking guitarist at times, still seemed to be looking for a way out of the Hendrix shadow and into his own voice. Gales returned in 2010 with Relentless, a collection of 13 originals, and followed it with the passionate Transformation a year later in 2011.

Eric Gales is a very talented Blues-Rock guitarist and vocalist from Memphis, Tennessee, USA. His music is a fusion of Hard-Rock, Blues and Funk. Eric Gales has released nine studio albums so far, his latest being "Relentless".

Discography

2011 Transformation
2010 Relentless
2009 Layin' Down the Blues (compilation)
2008 The Story of My Life
2007 Psychedelic Underground
2006 Crystal Vision
2001 That's What I Am
1995 Left Hand Brand
1993 Picture of a Thousand Faces
1993 Eric Gales
1991 The Eric Gales Band

Freedom From My Demons
Eric Gales Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Freedom From My Demons

For six long months
I walked the narrow line,
For six long months
I walked the narrow line ya'll yeah yeah
Give me freedom from my demons,
And give me some peace of mind

Yeah yeah yeah

The hell hounds are howling,
They're at my front door, all the time
The hell hounds are howling,
They're at my front door, all the time yeah
Give me freedom from demons,
And give me some peace of mind

The dealer is dealing,
What he's selling, sure looks fine
The dealer is dealing,
And what he's selling, sure looks fine
(Sure looks fine)
Give me freedom from my demons,
And give me some peace of mind

The winers are drinking
They're drowning in cheap wine
The winers are drinking
They're drowning in cheap wine

Give me freedom from my demons,
And give me some peace of mind

Overall Meaning

The song 'Freedom From My Demons' by Eric Gales is a soulful and emotional expression of the singer's struggles with addiction, and his intense desire to break free from its hold on him. The repetition of the phrase 'give me freedom from my demons and give me some peace of mind' throughout the song highlights his deep longing to be released from the burden of addiction and to find inner peace. The line 'for six long months I walked the narrow line' reveals the difficult journey that he has been on, trying to stay away from the temptations that threaten to undo all his hard work.

The repeated references to 'hellhounds howling at my front door' and 'dealers dealing what looks fine' speak to the pervasive presence of addiction in his life, and the constant struggle to resist its pull. The image of 'winers drowning in cheap wine' paints a vivid picture of the despair that comes with addiction, and the singer's plea for freedom from his demons becomes all the more urgent and heartfelt.

In conclusion, the song 'Freedom From My Demons' is a poignant and deeply personal expression of the struggle with addiction, and the search for release and inner peace.

Line by Line Meaning

For six long months I walked the narrow line, For six long months I walked the narrow line ya'll yeah yeah
I struggled for a long time, trying to do the right thing and live a good life.

Give me freedom from my demons, And give me some peace of mind Yeah yeah yeah
I hope to find a way to overcome my inner struggles and find peace.

The hell hounds are howling, They're at my front door, all the time The hell hounds are howling, They're at my front door, all the time yeah
My inner demons are always present, and it's hard to escape them.

The dealer is dealing, What he's selling, sure looks fine The dealer is dealing, And what he's selling, sure looks fine (Sure looks fine)
Even though I know I shouldn't, I'm tempted to turn to drugs or other vices to numb my pain.

The winers are drinking They're drowning in cheap wine The winers are drinking They're drowning in cheap wine
Others are also struggling to cope with their problems, but they're using unhealthy methods that only make things worse.

Give me freedom from my demons, And give me some peace of mind
Despite all the challenges I face, I still hope to find a way to overcome my inner struggles and find peace.

Writer(s): MICHAEL M. VARNEY, ERIC GALES

Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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