Fred Eaglesmith (born as Frederick Elgersma on July 9, 1957 in Caistor Cent… Read Full Bio ↴Fred Eaglesmith (born as Frederick Elgersma on July 9, 1957 in Caistor Centre, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter. Some of his albums have been credited to Fred J. Eaglesmith. Eaglesmith was one of nine children of an immigrant family from the Dutch province Friesland and raised in rural Southern Ontario. As a teenager, he hopped a freight train out to Western Canada, and began writing songs and performing. He is known for writing songs about machines or vehicles, including songs about trains, tractors, trucks, cars, and engines. Rural life, dogs, guns, drinking and farming/ranching are other common themes. Many of his songs are about failing farms and small businesses. Eaglesmith's songs are populated with down and out characters dealing with loss of love or livelihood, and quirky rural folk. His songwriting uses many of the techniques of short-story writing, including unreliable narrators, surprise endings, and plot twists.

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

When
Fred Eaglesmith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If not now
when
If not now
when
If not now
when
If not now
If not now

when
If not now
when
If not now
when
If not now

Not yesterday no no
not tomorrow woe oh
not a minute ahead
not a minute behind

Not next time no no
no last time woe oh

not a fleeting hour
not a setting sun

Overall Meaning

The repetitive lyrics of Fred Eaglesmith's song "If Not Now" emphasize a sense of urgency in making decisions and taking action. With each repetition of "If not now, when?" the listener is compelled to consider the current moment, rather than dwelling on the past or waiting for the future. The verses build on this theme, with lines like "not yesterday, not tomorrow" and "not next time, no last time" emphasizing that the time to act is now.

The song could be interpreted as a call to action for social or political change, encouraging the listener to take an active role in creating a better future. It could also be interpreted on a more personal level, urging the listener to make the most of their current opportunities and not put off important decisions or actions.

Overall, "If Not Now" is a simple but powerful song that encourages the listener to seize the moment and take control of their destiny.

Line by Line Meaning

If not now
If you do not take action at this very moment

when
Then when will you ever take action?

Not yesterday no no
Do not dwell in the past, it is gone and cannot be changed

not tomorrow woe oh
Do not wait for the future, it may never come or be different than you expect

not a minute ahead
Do not try to plan too far ahead, focus on the present instead

not a minute behind
Do not live in regret or miss opportunities that have already passed

Not next time no no
Do not wait for another chance or opportunity, you may never get it

no last time woe oh
Do not try to recreate or hold onto past experiences, they cannot be replicated

not a fleeting hour
Do not waste time or let it slip away without taking action

not a setting sun
Do not wait until the end of the day or life to take action, do it now while you still can