After a solo tour in the fall of 2003, Alexakis decided to continue with Everclear, organizing a new band that made its debut in March of 2004. The new lineup consisted of bass player Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, and drummer Eric Bretl. In the summer of 2004, the band added keyboard player Josh Crawley, and swapped Bretl for former Everclear drum tech Brett Snyder. The new lineup released its first recording, a cover of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, that summer. A self-released EP of performances recorded for XM Satellite Radio called Closure was given out at shows in the fall of 2004.
Free of a major label, Alexakis spent the ensuing year and half slowly recording material for a new Everclear release. He admitted that the time after the breakup of the original lineup served as a "wake up call", during which he suffered his third divorce and a filing for bankruptcy. Alexakis announced the completion of the album in early 2006,titled Welcome To The Drama Club. The new band is now on Eleven Seven Music.
In August of 2008, drummer Brett Snyder left the band after four years. He was then replaced by Tommy Stewart, who previously played in bands Fuel and Godsmack.
Southern Girls
Everclear Lyrics
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There's only one place I know where to find you
And you Southern girls got a way with your words and you show it
You say hump and I'll jump
You say go and I know, waste no time gettin' so close to you
And you remember the way to find out that I wanted to thank you
[Chorus]
You get out on the street, you got nothing to lose
I feel your crazy and everyone says it
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
I've been up, I've been down
I've been weak, I've been strong
But I've never met someone like you
And you'll never know that if I found you I'd thank you
You say hump and I'll jump
You say go and I know, waste no time gettin' so close to you
And all you Southern girls got a way with your words and you show it
[Chorus]
You might think this boy he loves you, Southern girl
You make it hard, oh so hard
I been north, I been east, to the California beach
There's only one place I know where to find you
And you Southern girls got a way with your words and you show it
[Chorus]
Everclear's song "Southern Girls" is a love letter to the charm and allure of southern women. The lyrics speak of the singer's travels to different parts of the country, but ultimately finding himself drawn to the south where he believes the women are enchanting and full of life. He describes their unique way with words, a way that makes them irresistible to him. He acknowledges that he has been through high and low points in his life but has never found anyone quite like the Southern girls. The chorus speaks to their fearless and wild spirit, advocating that they live life to the fullest and not be afraid to take risks.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be pleading with the Southern girls, flattered and maybe a little intimidated by their strong personalities. He acknowledges that their confidence and vivaciousness make it hard for him to resist their charm. The lyrics hint that something has happened in the past between the singer and the Southern women, but the exact details are left up to interpretation. Ultimately, the Southern girls' free-spirited nature and fierce joy in life leave a lasting impression on the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I been north, I been east, to the California beach
I've traveled far and wide, but the only place I know I can find you is in the South
There's only one place I know where to find you
Out of all the places I've been, the South is the only place I consistently find you
And you Southern girls got a way with your words and you show it
Southern girls have a charming way of speaking and they don't hesitate to show it
You say hump and I'll jump
You have the power to move me with just a word
You say go and I know, waste no time gettin' so close to you
If you give me the green light, I won't hesitate to come close to you
And you remember the way to find out that I wanted to thank you
You know exactly how to make me grateful for your presence
Oh baby needs some brand new shoes
I need some new experiences in my life
You get out on the street, you got nothing to lose
You fearlessly take on the world without hesitation
I feel your crazy and everyone says it
I sense your wild spirit and everyone else has noticed it too
Southern girls, you got nothing to lose
You live life to the fullest and take risks without fear
I've been up, I've been down
I've experienced both highs and lows in life
I've been weak, I've been strong
I've felt both vulnerable and powerful at different times
But I've never met someone like you
Out of all the people I've met, you are truly unique and special to me
You might think this boy he loves you, Southern girl
You may interpret my actions as love, Southern girl
You make it hard, oh so hard
You have a powerful effect on me, making it difficult to resist your charm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOSEPH SCOTT SAPPINGTON, PAUL ALLEN CROSBY, DAVID A. NOVOTNY, WAYNE A. SWINNY, BOB MARLETTE, JOHN MONTOYA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind