Carll has toured relentlessly in North America and abroad (performing over two hundred shows a year), founded a successful singer-songwriter music festival on the Gulf Coast of Texas, secured a record deal with Lost Highway Records, and has even seen his album Little Rock become the first self-released album to reach #1 on the Americana Music Chart.
"When I started, I moved down to this place called Crystal Beach, Texas where you need to take a ferry from Galveston across the bay to get to this little peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico," recalls Carll, who grew up just outside Houston. "It's this isolated coastal community with a wild assortment of people either hiding out, hanging on or getting lost-- a lot of drugs and drinking, a fair amount of violence, but at the same time a lot of really interesting people with great stories to tell. Folks in the bars there weren't necessarily interested in what I had to say as a songwriter-- they wanted to hear David Allan Coe and Merle Haggard, and other stuff they knew. So that's what I did six nights a week for four years. I haven't run into tougher crowds since. It was an initiation into becoming a performer."
Those experiences not only gave Carll a thick skin, they gave him plenty of material to spin into songs like the low-slung, finger-picked blues "I Got a Gig" -- populated by characters like the "barefoot shrimper with a pistol up his sleeve" -- and the tear-in-your-beer waltz "Beaumont," in which a suitor bearing a single white rose makes a fruitless trip to try to win over a lady love. Carll says of the latter tune. "I like to try to tackle a heavy topic but do it with a light touch. The more personal, weightier stuff doesn't come as easy, even though that's what I like to think about the most."
Carll has developed that touch over a long stretch that began when he was still in his teens, a stretch he spent writing poems, short stories and songs by the notebook-full. He eventually discovered that the last of those three flowed from him most easily, and while he dutifully headed off to college, he spent more time strumming and singing. To hear him tell it, "I sort of sabotaged my career options to the point where, by the time I was out of school, I was pretty much unemployable and had no choice but to be a musician."
After moving to the Gulf Coast, Carll honed his craft in the area bars and beer-joints as well as more serious folk clubs like the venerable Old Quarter in Galveston, where he opened for a wide array of respected songwriters such as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Willis Alan Ramsay and many others. By 2002, he was ready to unleash his recorded indie debut, Flowers and Liquor, which, while not widely distributed, garnered plenty of critical praise, including American Songwriter's claim that the disc "suggests the young Texan might be the next great songwriter from a state full of maestros."
He lived up to that praise on his next outing, Little Rock, an offering on which Carll showed off his stylistic breadth by steering his band from searing rock to jazz-tinged balladry -- a scope that earned praise both at home and across the pond, where the Irish Times raved "This is the first mighty country record of the year, a bruised, bedraggled affair full of jagged memories and wry observations."
On his 2008 album Trouble In Mind, there's a much sharper focus to the material, thanks in part, to more time in the studio and some great players sure to be familiar to roots-rock aficionados, including, Dan Baird, Darrell Scott, Will Kimbrough and former Flying Burrito Brother Al Perkins.
“My first record I did in five days, and my second one we did in twelve," Carll explains. "This time around I had a solid month, so it was really a luxury. It was amazing to get all these talented people in the room and have them listen to me describe my vision and then go out and try to realize that and capture it on tape. My strength isn't that I have the world's most amazing voice or that I'm this incredible player -- hopefully it's that there's some aspect of my personality and my lyrics that people can relate to."
Carll’s personality, emotional but never too sentimental, mischievous, funny, world-weary and sardonic, imbues every track of Trouble in Mind. He’s never afraid to be vulnerable and direct, as on one of the standout tracks, “Willing to Love Again” - “I feel too much, I protect too much, most times I probably expect too much. I spend my life on this broken crutch, and you believe I can fly.”
Carll's 2011 album KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories) was The album includes "Another Like You," a duet with Cary Ann Hearst The L.A. Times described the album as "Carll is every bit as expressive a singer as he is a writer, drawling his trenchant observations with deceptive ease."
Carll’s live performances continue to win over fans everywhere. His clever, irreverent lyrics and sharp observations combined with his warm Texas drawl make his stories and anecdotes as compelling and entertaining as his songs. There’s that sweet taste of honey followed with the sharp sting of a wisecrack. Never is that tongue-in-cheek humor more obvious than on the red neck rant “She Left Me For Jesus”, where a clueless lover is upset and suspicious over the changes in his girlfriend. “Now she’s acting funny and I don’t understand. I think that she’s found her some other man. She’s left me for Jesus, and that just ain’t fair. She says that he’s perfect, how can I compare?” “You know I’m always a little nervous when I sing that song. Like Ray Wiley Hubbard says, the problem with irony is that people don’t always get it.”
Little Rock
Hayes Carll Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long and lean
Stoppin at the corner
Cigarettes and gasoline
Pulling down mainstreet
Shifting through the gears
Rolling up that highway
They've been working on for years
One eye the clock
Come tomorrow mornin'
Lord, I'm gonna make it down to
Little Rock
I search through L.A. county
The valleys and the stars
Del rio to the bayou
All those honkey tonks and bars
I been through seattle
Driving through the rain
Praying through New York City
Just-a calling out your name
To all these years of searchin'
I finally found my spot
One way or another
Lord, I'm gonna make it down to
Little Rock
Hey, all my life I tried to find
A piece of this earth
For my piece of mind
All these years of searchin'
Let my troubles disappear
Baby, find a place where
We can sit and drink a beer
Have a pack in seven hours
Boot up on the shelf
Singin to the radio
And talkin to myself
Screamin through the forrest
Magic on my soul(?)
90 miles an hour
On the cruise control
I'm blowin' by the truckers
The grandmas and the cops
What your hurry son?
It's just that I'm on my way to
Little Rock
Well baby get ready
Troubles on its way
Only thinking 'bout you
Every night and every day
Tell all your other lovers
Forget about the past
Ain't even gonna worry
'cause this time it's gonna last
I'm coming around the corner
Ain't even gonna knock
Hey pretty baby
Here comes your daddy down to
Little Rock
Hey Little Rock
I'm going to Little Rock
I may be the only one
But I'm going
I ain't sleeping on the couch
Hayes Carll's song "Little Rock" is a tribute to Little Rock, Arkansas, a city that has a special place in his heart. The song expresses the determination and excitement of the singer as he sets off on a road trip to Little Rock, leaving behind all his troubles and worries. The song opens with the singer waking up in the morning, ready to hit the road. He stops at the corner for cigarettes and gasoline and then heads down the highway, shifting through gears and rolling up the road that has been under construction for years. The singer has one eye on the sunrise and one on the clock, making sure he reaches Little Rock by the next morning. The song then takes a nostalgic turn as the singer reminisces about all the places he has been to in search of peace and happiness. He has traveled through L.A. county, the valleys, and the stars; he has been to Del Rio, the Bayou, Seattle, and New York City, searching for a place to call home. Finally, after years of searching, he has found his spot, his sanctuary in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The second verse of the song is about the singer's journey to Little Rock. He is filled with excitement and anticipation as he hits the open road and drives towards his destination. He sings about driving past the truckers, grandmas, and cops and speeding past them at ninety miles an hour. With his music blasting and his soul in tune with the magic all around him, he finally reaches Little Rock. As he arrives, he feels like he has finally found his place, a place where he can sit, drink a beer, and forget all his troubles. The song ends with the singer telling his lover to get ready because he is coming to Little Rock to stay. He promises her that this time they will make it work, and they will forget all their past troubles and worries.
In conclusion, the song "Little Rock" by Hayes Carll is a beautiful homage to the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. The song is full of hope, excitement, and determination, and it celebrates the beauty of the open road and the joy of finding a place to call home.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up in the mornin'
Starting the day
Long and lean
Slim body
Stoppin at the corner
Taking a brief stop
Cigarettes and gasoline
Buying necessary items
Pulling down mainstreet
Driving on the main road
Shifting through the gears
Changing gears in the car
Rolling up that highway
Driving on the highway
They've been working on for years
It took a long time to build the highway
One eye on the sunrise
Observing the sunrise
One eye the clock
Checking the time
Come tomorrow mornin'
Planning for the next day
Lord, I'm gonna make it down to
Intention to reach Little Rock
I search through L.A. county
Searching for something
The valleys and the stars
Exploring different places
Del rio to the bayou
Travelling different regions
All those honkey tonks and bars
Visiting several bars and pubs
I been through seattle
Travelling to Seattle
Driving through the rain
Driving in unfavorable weather condition
Praying through New York City
Facing challenges in New York City
Just-a calling out your name
Missing someone
To all these years of searchin'
Reflecting on past
I finally found my spot
Finally found a desirable place
One way or another
Determined to reach that place
Hey, all my life I tried to find
A lifelong search for something
A piece of this earth
A place to call home
For my piece of mind
To find peace
Let my troubles disappear
Hoping to forget about problems
Baby, find a place where
Looking for a place with someone
We can sit and drink a beer
Relaxing with a loved one
Have a pack in seven hours
Planned duration for the journey
Boot up on the shelf
Preparing for the journey
Singin to the radio
Singing while driving
And talkin to myself
Being alone with own thoughts
Screamin through the forrest
Enjoying the drive
Magic on my soul(?)
Feeling enchanted
90 miles an hour
Driving at a fast pace
On the cruise control
Maintaining the speed
I'm blowin' by the truckers
Overtaking other vehicles
The grandmas and the cops
Not worrying about being caught
What your hurry son?
Surprising other drivers with speed
It's just that I'm on my way to
Excited to reach Little Rock
Well baby get ready
Preparing for something
Troubles on its way
Anticipating difficult situations
Only thinking 'bout you
Thinking about someone special
Every night and every day
Continuously thinking
Tell all your other lovers
Breaking the news to others
Forget about the past
Leaving behind unpleasant memories
Ain't even gonna worry
Not thinking about the future
'cause this time it's gonna last
Hoping for a long-lasting relationship
I'm coming around the corner
Reaching the final destination
Ain't even gonna knock
Ready to meet someone
Hey pretty baby
Greeting a loved one
Here comes your daddy down to
Referring to oneself in a humorous way
Little Rock
The desired destination
Hey Little Rock
Addressing the city
I'm going to Little Rock
Finalizing the plan
I may be the only one
Realizing that not everyone may understand
But I'm going
Still determined to go
I ain't sleeping on the couch
Not backing down or giving up
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HAYES CARLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind