The year 2008 is shaping up to be a big one for Lacombe, Alberta's Gord Bamford. Gord continues his winning ways with the July release of his third single from the acclaimed "Honkytonks And Heartaches" album. "Postcard from Pasadena" was written by Gord and song writing partner Byron Hill. The award winning Stephano Barberis produced the video for the song and filmed it in the desert atmosphere of Osoyoos B.C.
In January Gord had released his second single and the song "Stayed ‘Til Two" rocketed into the top ten after only four weeks of release. The song, again penned by Gord and co-producer Byron Hill tells the familiar story of the guy who went for "one" and time just slipped away.
It was in early February that Gord also received his first Juno nomination, with the aforementioned album being nominated for "Country Recording Of The Year". An appearance on the 2008 Juno Awards show followed in April, as "Stayed ‘Til Two" reached the top of the national radio and video charts.
In May, Gord was approached by The Calgary Stampede to write a song commemorating the saga and tradition of the cowboy hat. Gord, along with co-writer Hill penned “This Old Hat”. The song was premiered at the Stampede’s Media Conference and gained local play in Southern Alberta. Gord commented on the song, “First of all I was very honoured that the Calgary Stampede asked me to write this song and even more excited that it was well received. The title “This Old Hat” was something that I felt I could write about without having to dig too deep within myself. I was brought up in a rural Alberta town and amongst a family that lives the true Western Heritage. My upbringing was exemplified by hard work and integrity. This song therefore struck a real chord with me as a person and how I strive to live my life.”
Since the release of the album in September 2007, Gord has quickly established himself as one of the "young guns" of country music. The first single "Blame It On That Red Dress" was released to radio in early August and by mid-October was firmly entrenched in the Top Ten in Canada, as well as being the highest charted single by a Canadian artist at that point. The video for "Blame It On That Red Dress" was filmed on the beach in Tofino, B.C. and in early November reached the Number One spot on CMT's Chevy Top Twenty.
In October, 2007, Gord was featured in the cover story of Country Music News, and the publisher Larry Delaney, says of the new album, “…just watch what this one should deliver. It’s the stuff that “Album Of The Year” are made of!!” True enough, the album was selected as Country Music News’ Canadian Album Of The Year.
Gord got his start in the way that many artists do, playing bars, opening for stars too numerous to mention, and saving enough money to go into the studio. Those efforts resulted in the release of his first album “God’s Green Earth” in 2001, followed by the breakthrough release “Life Is Good” in 2004. The album generated six top twenty radio hits and firmly established Gord as an up and coming star on Canada’s country music scene.
Gord spent 2006 doing what he does best – song writing and touring. He once again turned to his writing friends and started putting together songs for what would be his third album, “Honkytonks And Heartaches”. Gord also wrote in earnest with Byron Hill on frequent trips to Nashville, and those efforts resulted in nine songs for the new album. The album was recorded in Nashville and Saskatoon in 2007, with Gord and Byron at the production helm, and noted Canadian producer Bart McKay, spearheading vocal mixing.
Byron says of Gord, “He’s a true country artist and is destined to be a huge star. His very likeable personality will endear him to even the harshest critics of the genre, and those who really know the genre will instantly hear Gord’s roots. Gord Bamford lives it, breathes it and sings it. Alberta better hurry up and name a street after this guy before Texas does. He’s earned his song writing stripes with this album”.
Raise The Bar
Gord Bamford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some guy got up and I and I made my move
Can't believe he left that pretty girl all alone
So I sat down, said howdy mam
And I'm still right here where I am
Ain't going nowhere even though I'm dry as a bone, so
Raise the bar bring it over here
Cause I've got cute girl whispering in my ear
I knew when I first saw her face
If I get up I'm gonna lose my place
Raise the bar, bring it over here
Rip it up from the floor nails and all
But don't spill a drop of that alcohol
Move the party to this side of the room
And if someone has a problem with that
They can come on over to where we're at
As long as they drag their own bar stool
Raise the bar bring it over here
From where I'm sitting can't reach my beer
'Cause I've got cute girl whispering in my ear
I knew when I first saw her face
If I get up I'm gonna lose my place
Raise the bar, bring it over here
Raise the bar bring it over here
From where I'm sitting can't reach my beer
'Cause I've got cute girl whispering in my ear
I knew when I first saw her face
If I get up I'm gonna lose my place
Raise the bar, bring it over here
Yeah you can raise the bar (raise the bar)
Raise the bar (raise the bar)
Raise the bar, bring it over here
The lyrics to Gord Bamford's song Raise The Bar are a lighthearted celebration of a night out. The singer finds himself in a room where the party is in full swing, with the band playing and everyone up on their feet. He sees a pretty girl who has been left alone and decides to make his move, striking up a conversation with her. He's so into her that he doesn't want to risk losing his spot by getting up to fetch his beer, so he asks someone to raise the bar and bring it over to him.
The second half of the song describes the chaos that ensues as the party-goers, fuelled by alcohol, decide to rip up the floor and move the party to another part of the room. The singer doesn't care - he's happy just to sit where he is, with his cute girl whispering in his ear. The song's chorus is repeated several times, with the singer urging someone to raise the bar and bring it over to him so he doesn't have to move.
In some ways, Raise The Bar can be seen as a metaphor for living in the moment - the singer is making the most of the situation he finds himself in, not wanting to risk losing what he has. It's a fun, catchy song that captures the spirit of a good night out.
Line by Line Meaning
The band was rockin' not a seat in the room
The band played so good that the audience was completely absorbed in the music.
Some guy got up and I and I made my move
A man left his date alone, giving the singer a chance to take his place.
Can't believe he left that pretty girl all alone
The singer is surprised that the man abandoned his date because she is very attractive.
So I sat down, said howdy mam
The singer introduced himself to the woman who was left alone.
And I'm still right here where I am
The singer is still seated next to the woman he met, even though he has finished his drink.
Ain't going nowhere even though I'm dry as a bone, so
Although the singer has nothing to drink, he is staying where he is because he wants to be near the woman.
Raise the bar bring it over here
The singer wants the bartender to bring another round of drinks to their table.
From where I'm sitting can't reach my beer
The singer is too far away from the bar to get another drink himself.
Cause I've got cute girl whispering in my ear
The singer is enjoying the woman's company and doesn't want to leave her side.
I knew when I first saw her face
The singer was instantly attracted to the woman when he saw her for the first time.
If I get up I'm gonna lose my place
The singer is afraid that if he gets up to get another drink, someone else will take his seat next to the woman.
Rip it up from the floor nails and all
The singer wants the bartender to move the whole bar to their table so they don't have to leave their seats.
But don't spill a drop of that alcohol
The singer wants the bartender to be careful when moving the bar so no drinks get spilled.
Move the party to this side of the room
The singer wants everyone to join them on their side of the room to make the party more fun.
And if someone has a problem with that
The singer knows that some people might object to moving the party, but he doesn't care.
They can come on over to where we're at
The singer invites anyone who objects to join them on their side of the room.
As long as they drag their own bar stool
The singer wants people to bring their own seats if they come over to join them.
Yeah you can raise the bar (raise the bar)
The singer is encouraging the bartender to bring more drinks to their table.
Raise the bar (raise the bar)
The singer repeats his call for more drinks.
Raise the bar, bring it over here
The singer wants the bartender to bring the drinks to their table.
Lyrics © CACHE ENTERTAINMENT, OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, SONG SOURCE INC
Written by: Byron Hill, Cyril Rawson, Gord Bamford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind