The Gathering Field line-up ultimately became Bill Deasy vocals and acoustic guitar), Dave Brown (lead guitar), Eric Riebling (bass) and Ray DeFade (drums). (After DeFade left the group he was replaced with Joe Zelek.) Their first independent release, entitled "The Gathering Field", was met with great reception around the region and they started playing to packed clubs. However, the band's popularity really skyrocketed when one of the region's most powerful rock radio stations, WDVE, began playing a song called, "Lost in America" and it remained in rotation for over 7 months. Based on the success of the independent release which bore the same name, the group garnered a major label deal with Atlantic Records, who re-released the CD.
Soon after they signed to Atlantic Records and "Lost in America" was re-released, there was turmoil at the label. The album charted on the Billboard Top 100 album chart, Radio and Records and various other industry publications but ultimately the CD and group got lost in the shuffle, largely due to Matchbox 20. When Matchbox 20 signed, the Gathering Field was forgotten, and the struggling band attempted to be released from their contract. When they finally succeeded, they released two more CDs; "Reliance" and "So Close to Home," the latter consisting of songs the band had played live for several years but never recorded. During that time Deasy also released a semi-acoustic solo album called "Spring Lies Waiting", produced by Brown. The band ultimately called it quits in 2002 and went their separate ways but their legacy includes a still loyal fan base across the United States and in several countries abroad, most notably (but not limited to) the Netherlands and Germany, where they received a stellar review in that country's edition of Rolling Stone. Lead singer-songwriter Bill Deasy now records as a solo artist and continues to be a prolific songwriter. His songs have also been recorded by several major label artists and used in a national television campaign for Good Morning America in which he also appeared.
Distant Thunder
Gathering Field Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it's hard to settle down
Once you get the hang of flying
it's hard to touch back down
Girl I know you're from the old school
find a man and start a home
But I can hear the sound of distant thunder
calling us to roam
Over yonder
I can hear the sound of distant thunder
I can see our destiny unfurl
And I wonder
at the mystery and beauty we'll discover
When we embark and make our mark upon the world
I can see your mama's worried
that I won't take care of you
'cause I ain't got no steady income
no realistic point of view
Don't she know that heaven smiles
on those who live the life they love
That's why you hear the sound of distant thunder
coming from above
Over yonder…
In Gathering Field's song "Distant Thunder," the singer is speaking to a woman who is hesitant to leave her old way of life behind and start something new with him. He acknowledges that it's hard to give up the comfortable familiarity of the past once you've tasted the excitement of freedom and new experiences. Despite this, the singer feels drawn toward a life of travel and adventure. He hears the "sound of distant thunder" calling them to explore the unknown, to embark on a journey to someplace new.
The lyrics capture the apprehension and excitement that comes with making a choice to leave what's known for what's unknown. The singer recognizes that the woman he's speaking to comes from a traditional background where women are expected to settle down, but he wants something different for them. He paints a vivid picture of the possibilities that await them in the distance, alluding to the "mystery and beauty we'll discover." The last line, "coming from above," adds a layer of spirituality to the call of adventure.
Ultimately, "Distant Thunder" is a song about taking a leap of faith, about trusting in the journey even though the destination may be unknown. It's about breaking away from convention and discovering the things that truly make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Once you get a taste of freedom
Having experienced the feeling of freedom, it becomes difficult to settle for anything less
it's hard to settle down
Settling down becomes difficult for those who have tasted freedom
Once you get the hang of flying
Once the feeling of flying is experienced, coming back down becomes difficult
it's hard to touch back down
Returning back to reality becomes difficult after experiencing something incredible
Girl I know you're from the old school
I know you come from a traditional background
find a man and start a home
It is expected for you to find a partner and start a family
But I can hear the sound of distant thunder
I can sense an opportunity for adventure and excitement in the near future
calling us to roam
This opportunity is urging us to leave our comfort zone and explore
Over yonder
In the distance
I can see the sound of distant thunder
I can sense the opportunity for adventure and excitement in the near future
I can see our destiny unfurl
I am beginning to understand the path that we are destined to take
And I wonder
I am curious
at the mystery and beauty we'll discover
I am excited for the unknown and the wonders we will experience
When we embark and make our mark upon the world
When we venture out and begin to leave our impact on the world
I can see your mama's worried
I can tell that your mother is concerned
that I won't take care of you
That I will not be able to provide or support you
'cause I ain't got no steady income
Because I do not have a stable or consistent source of money
no realistic point of view
I may not have a practical outlook on life
Don't she know that heaven smiles
Doesn't she realize that good things come to those who follow their passions
on those who live the life they love
Success and happiness come to those who pursue their dreams and live life on their own terms
That's why you hear the sound of distant thunder
This is why we sense the opportunity for adventure and excitement in the near future
coming from above
This opportunity is coming from a higher power or destiny
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.