The band's upbeat approach, solid songwriting, and unique sound allowed them to quickly develop a dedicated following on the touring circuit. Bringing together rock, jazz, folk, celtic and jam-band influences under one umbrella, rooted in Todd Sheaffer's inspired songwriting, From Good Homes forged their own, instantly lovable music Their feel-good vibe prompted one critic to affectionately label the band's blend of influences as "Hick-Pop". They made fans want to kick on the dancin' shoes from day one. As the band members themselves have stated: "We wanted first and foremost to make a real and honest form of music that moved people (both their brains and their butts) and left them, over all, feeling good."
The early 90s saw the band touring regularly up and down the East Coast, soon expanding their circuit to Colorado and other regions. The fan base grew, and the gigs got bigger and bigger. During this period, FGH would frequently perform with other up-and-coming acts, including Hootie & The Blowfish, Dave Matthews Band, and Blues Traveller (all of whom opened shows for them at one point or another). 1994 was a breakthrough year for From Good Homes. In the summer, they released their indie debut - the appropriately titled "Hick-Pop Comin' At Ya" - on their own GRRRrrrr Records label. They also signed a major label deal with RCA Records, and began an annual tradition - a summer concert before thousands of eager hometown fans at Stanhope, NJ's Waterloo Village. With an enthusiastic and ever-growing fan base, and a record deal in place, the future looked bright for the group.
"Open Up The Sky", From Good Homes' major label debut on RCA Records, was released in April, 1995 and the band embarked on a year-long national tour, opening arena dates for Dave Matthews Band, Ratdog, and others, while also headlining many club dates. Two of the band's songs were included in the 1997 Twentieth Century Fox release "Picture Perfect", (featuring Jennifer Aniston & Kevin Bacon). "Open Up The Sky" was followed up with the release of a live EP ("Live At Waterloo") in 1997, and the self-titled "From Good Homes" (1998). In 1998, From Good Homes received an achievement award from Billboard and Irving Plaza for the most consecutive sold-out performances ever (12) at this respected NYC venue.
Parting ways with RCA at the end of 1998, From Good Homes commenced work on a new album during the winter of 1998/1999, but the band decided to call it quits before the project could be fully completed. From Good Homes' swan song was a Farewell performance at Waterloo Village - where they had performed to frenzied crowds every summer since 1994. On August 7, 1999 some 5,000 people turned up to see the band off in style, as FGH worked its way through 3 hours of classic material. The show was professionally recorded for posterity. After multiple encores, the band bid its goodbyes to their loyal following.
Since 1999, the band members have all embarked on their own successful projects, releasing solo records, producing other artists, fronting new bands, etc.
Singer/guitarist/songwriter Todd Sheaffer (www.ToddSheaffer.com) launched a solo career and now also fronts the popular Railroad Earth (www.RailroadEarth.com)
Bassist Brady Rymer (www.RymerSongs.com) released a children's record ("Good Morning Gus").
Drummer Patrick Fitzsimmons (www.PatrickFitzsimmons.net) released a solo record ("The Changing").
Multi-instrumentalist Jamie Coan continues to gig regularly with various NJ artists.
Saxophonist Dan Myers turned to full-time production work at his NYC studio.
But the fan base has remained intact, refusing to acknowledge the demise of their favorite group. In 2002, From Good Homes has teamed up with Washington DC-based indie label BOS Music (www.bosmusic.com) to release a single-disc version of From Good Homes' farewell performance. Largely comprised of previously unreleased songs, "Take Enough Home" captures the best cuts from the final show on a single disc, while highlighting special songs from throughout the band's illustrious career. The disc also includes a bonus - a previously unreleased studio track.
With other recorded material still 'in the vault' - entire records worth of recordings that have never seen the light of day - it would seem that the fans might be able to anticipate future releases as well. The roots of From Good Homes stretch back 20 years, and during that time the band's music has touched a lot of hearts. Increased interest in the band might indicate a well-deserved continuation and growth of their legacy.
Let Go
From Good Homes Lyrics
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Let go, it's a very hard lesson you learn
Like a blind man run down a highway
Is a very good friend of mine
And I'm runnin', I'm yellin', I'm tryin' to catch him
But I keep on fallin' behind
Like a clown stuck out on a high wire
Is a very good friend of mine
Losin' his sense of balance
Reachin' a hand for mine
Let go, it's a hard, hard lesson to learn
Like the empty glass on the table
Is a very good friend of mine
Askin' me if I need one more
Starin' straight into my mind
Let go, let go, let go, let go
The song Let Go by From Good Homes is a message that teaches us about the importance of letting go of certain things in life. The lyrics delve into the idea that sometimes in life, we come across situations where things just don't go as planned, and we must learn to accept that we cannot always control everything. The opening line, "Let go, it's a hard, hard lesson to learn," sets the tone for the song and conveys the difficulty we face when trying to let go of something that we have grown attached to. The singer then goes on to compare this lesson to the experience of a blind man running down a highway. This line is a metaphor for the fact that sometimes it feels like we are blindly going down a path and we cannot always see what is coming our way, but we must keep moving forward.
The lyrics continue with the comparison of a clown stuck on a high wire, again serving as a metaphor for the feeling of being caught in a precarious situation, reaching out for someone's help. As the song progresses, we are then compared to an empty glass on a table. The empty glass represents the feeling of emptiness we may experience in life when we don't have control.
Overall, From Good Homes is advising us to learn the lesson to let go, and while it may be difficult, it is essential. The song emphasizes that we must accept the things we cannot change and find the strength to move on without dwelling on the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Let go, it's a hard, hard lesson to learn
Releasing control over someone or something is a difficult but necessary lesson.
Like a blind man run down a highway
Is a very good friend of mine
And I'm runnin', I'm yellin', I'm tryin' to catch him
But I keep on fallin' behind
Watching a friend make reckless decisions can be frustrating, but attempts to intervene often prove fruitless.
Like a clown stuck out on a high wire
Is a very good friend of mine
Losin' his sense of balance
Reachin' a hand for mine
A friend struggling to maintain their footing in life may turn to you for help, but it's not always possible to provide that support.
Like the empty glass on the table
Is a very good friend of mine
Askin' me if I need one more
Starin' straight into my mind
Friends may offer temptation or enable bad habits, but ultimately it is up to you to make responsible choices.
Let go, let go, let go, let go
Repeatedly reminding oneself to release control and accept what cannot be changed.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TODD SHEAFFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind