In addition to his own albums, Eaglesmith frequently collaborated with the late Willie P. Bennett, a past member of Eaglesmith's band, who had to step down after a heart attack in spring 2007. Eaglesmith's fans are known as Fredheads because of the similarities to deadheads. He has appeared in several movies, including "The Gift" and "50 Odd Dollars." His band is known as The Flying Squirrels or The Flathead Noodlers. Both bands have the same lineup, but play different styles. The Flathead Noodlers play bluegrass, while the Flying Squirrels play more folk and rock. An early incarnation of the band was known as The Smokin' Losers. When Fred does solo appearances he bills himself as Fred J. Eaglesmith. In addition to the songs, a typical Fred Eaglesmith show includes several lengthy between-song comic monologues by Fred. Topics in the past have included stories about crossing the U.S./Canada border, Newfoundlanders, and some friends from an Indian reserve. Eaglesmith is the owner and president of A Major Label, which publishes his records.
Current band members
* Fred J. Eaglesmith - Guitars, Vocals
* Matt Simpson - Acoustic guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
* Kori Heppner - Drums
* Luke Stackhouse - Bass, Vocals
Former members
* Willie P. Bennett - Mandolin, Harmonica, Vocals
* David Essig - Mandolin, Guitar
* Kevin Komatsu - Drums
* Roger Marin Jr. - Pedal Steel, Guitar, Vocals
* Ralph Schipper - Bass
* Jude Waldman - Drums
* Dan Walsh - Dobro, Guitar, Vocals
* Skip Wamsteeker - Drums
* Washboard Hank - Washboard, Dobro
* Darcy Yates - Bass
Discography
* Fred Eaglesmith (1980)
* The Boy That Just Went Wrong (1983)
* Indiana Road (1987)
* There Ain't No Easy Road (1991)
* Things Is Changin' (1993)
* Paradise Motel (1994)
* Drive-In Movie (1995)
* Lipstick, Lies and Gasoline (1997)
* 50 Odd Dollars (1999)
* Live: Ralph's Last Show (2001)
* Falling Stars and Broken Hearts (2002)
* The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 1' (2002)
* Balin (2003)
* The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 2' (2004)
* Dusty (2004)
* Milly's Cafe (2006)
* Tinderbox (2008)
www.fredeaglesmith.com
Rodeo Boy
Fred Eaglesmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out there in the noonday heat
Dusty hair and tired feet
Wondering about her
Kicking them old tin cans
Clicking sticks along the fence
Wondering where the good times went
A rodeo boy
In one horse town
And down at the old cafe
People throwing looks my way
I guess they don't know what to say
Since they heard the news
A small town boy a city girl
She took him right out of his world
Left him standing on the curb
Now he's got the blues
A rodeo boy
In one horse town
So I don't ride anymore
My saddle hangs behind the door
My boots are scattered on the floor
I walk around in shoes
I guess I could catch the train
But I'm hoping that her mind will change
Hoping she'll come back again
I guess I'm just a fool
A rodeo boy
In one horse town
The song "Rodeo Boy" by Fred Eaglesmith speaks of a man in a small, one horse town who is feeling lost and alone after being left behind by the woman he loved. He walks up and down empty streets, in the heat of the day with dusty hair and tired feet, pondering where his life is going. He kicks old tin cans and clicks sticks along the fence, wondering where the good times went but not quite sure which direction to take. He is feeling like a cowboy in a one horse town, stuck in a place where not much is happening and he has few choices for his future. At the old café, people are throwing looks his way since they heard the news that his city girl left him standing on the curb, feeling the blues.
He reveals that he no longer rides for rodeos, despite his passion for horses, and that he's left his saddle hanging behind the door with his boots scattered on the floor. The only hope he's holding onto is the chance that his lost love will return to him, but he's not sure if he's just a fool for holding onto that dream. The song conveys a sense of melancholy and longing, with a touch of nostalgia for a life that seems to have slipped away.
Overall, "Rodeo Boy" by Fred Eaglesmith is a poignant reflection on love and loss, painted against the backdrop of a small town with limited prospects. The singer is left to struggle with his sadness and uncertainty, uncertain of what the future holds.
Line by Line Meaning
Well up and down these empty streets
I walk aimlessly through the deserted streets.
Out there in the noonday heat
Scorching heat surrounds me as I wander the streets.
Dusty hair and tired feet
My unkempt hair and exhausted feet reflect my state of mind.
Wondering about her
My thoughts are consumed by yearning for my lost love.
Kicking them old tin cans
I aimlessly kick objects to pass the time and distract myself.
Clicking sticks along the fence
I drum my hands on the fence to create a beat and distract myself.
Wondering where the good times went
I ponder what happened to the happy moments I used to share with my love.
I'm not really sure
But I can't seem to find an answer to my questions.
A rodeo boy
I am a heartbroken cowboy.
In one horse town
In a small and isolated town with no escape from my heartbreak.
And down at the old cafe
People keep staring at me as I sit at the local café.
People throwing looks my way
I feel the judgment and sympathy from others around me.
I guess they don't know what to say
They don't know how to console me or what to say.
Since they heard the news
Ever since my love left me, my heartbreak has become the town's gossip.
A small town boy a city girl
I fell for a girl who was not from my town, and the relationship did not last.
She took him right out of his world
She showed me love and new experiences that I had never felt before.
Left him standing on the curb
And then abruptly left my life with no warning.
Now he's got the blues
My heart is heavy with sadness and longing.
So I don't ride anymore
I lost my passion for rodeo after my love left me.
My saddle hangs behind the door
My rodeo equipment and tools are no longer useful in my life.
My boots are scattered on the floor
My boots, which symbolized my career and identity, are now mere household objects.
I walk around in shoes
I no longer feel like the cowboy I once was, but rather an average person.
I guess I could catch the train
I have the option to leave this town and start anew.
But I'm hoping that her mind will change
However, I am still holding onto hope that my love will return to me.
Hoping she'll come back again
And I pray that I will be given a second chance with her.
I guess I'm just a fool
Despite knowing the chances are slim, I still harbor hope for my love's return.
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Fred Elgersma
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tim Duffin
on John Deere B
"The original B" s/b "The original paint"
"Then I saw I saw the mirror" s/b "Then I saw them narrow"