The past year has been a whirlwind of excitement for the group, with a “SxSW Critics Pick” selection by the Austin Statesman, a featured NPR radio appearance, & a nod for “Best Bluegrass” in Colorado for 3 consecutive years (2010-2012), via a reader’s based poll conducted by Westword Magazine (Denver’s premier lifestyle/entertainment publication). The quartet performed at a host of music festivals in 2012 including: Wakarusa Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, SxSW and many more. The group released their first live album on May 29th 2012, entitled "Head for the Hills Live." All captured in clear high fidelity sound & culled from 5 great nights in the band’s home-state of Colorado, “Head for the Hills - Live” is just that; the band live and unadorned, performing favorite original material and select covers.
To get a sense of Head for the Hills’ snowballing momentum, look no further than the surrounding talent on their self-titled sophomore release (2010), Head for the Hills. The album garnered the group a charted position on the CMJ Top 200 national radio listings. The pickers attracted heavyweights like longtime bluegrass aficionado, Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) to produce and recorded at Bill Nershi’s Sleeping Giant. Mastering wiz Gus Skinas engineered the effort, who boasts a particularly intriguing history having digitally remastered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon; helped Sony develop the early iterations digital audio, and invented an innovative multi-tracker called Sonoma that combines the warmth of analog with the ease and efficiency of digital. In addition, Vance Powell -- who adorns his mantle with a Grammy for his work on the Raconteurs wildly successful Consolers of the Lonely album -- mixed the record. The self titled release earned the group a #29 position on Colorado Radio’s “Top 50 Albums of 2010.”
In 2007, for their debut studio effort, “Robber’s Roost,” the band joined forces with the talented producer/performer Sally Van Meter. Ms. Van Meter, among her impressive list of accomplishments, is credited for her 1994 Grammy Award Winning work on The Great Dobro Sessions. She has also produced albums for artists like Yonder Mountain String Band, Open Road Bluegrass and Allison Brown.
Head for the Hills have performed, shared programming, & crossed festival paths with such notables as: David Grisman, Sam Bush, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Ween, Bruce Hornsby, Emmylou Harris, Dr. Dog, Little Feat, Nickel Creek, The Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Tim O’Brien, Peter Rowan, Punch Brothers, Doc Watson, Railroad Earth & many more. The quartet has performed at many premier festivals, events, & radio programs including: Wakarusa Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, NPR-Ideastream, High Sierra Music Festival, eTown, DelFest, Northwest String Summit, Mulberry Mountain Harvest Festival, and many more.
With direction from a plethora of talented company and an ever-evolving approach to progressive acoustic music, there is no telling what the future holds for the Colorado quartet.
“Head for the Hills possesses that secret ingredient”
-Ryan Dembinsky, (Glide Magazine, Hidden Track)
www.headforthehillsmusic.com
Head for the Hills is:
Adam- Guitar, Banjo, Vocals
Joe- Violin, Vocals
Matt- Bass, Vocals
Mike- Mandolin, Occasional Vocals
Wish You Well
Head for the Hills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fear it is your mind you're missing
Only time will tell, still there's no telling
The holes in your eyes truth be told tell no lies, you're wasting away
The summer sun somehow seems somber,
She must have sensed your song was over
Your deed is done, indeed worth doing
Stars are shooting out of sight. You've gone off with the morning light
Scars are fading, gone on and see. You won't feel a thing
Fare thee well, with heaven willing
You'll see yours is a deal worth sealing
How ill you fell, you've felt no healing
If not for your own than for our sake let go, you won't feel a thing
The song "Wish You Well" by Head for the Hills appears to be a song about letting someone go and wishing them well. The singer in the song, possibly a friend or a lover, is telling someone that they wish them well, but they also believe that the person they are addressing is missing something in their mind. The singer expresses that only time can tell and that there is still no telling if this person can overcome the issues.
Further in the song, there is an acknowledgement that the summer sun seems somber, perhaps reflecting the mood of the person the singer is addressing. The singer believes that this person's deed is done, and it was worth doing. The lyrics go on to say that if this person would like to go towards the light of a new chapter in their life, they can go forth into the night, and they will not feel a thing.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics mention the scars fading away, and the person is no longer feeling anything. The singer acknowledges the person's situation, how they must have felt ill, and that they do not feel any healing. The singer then makes a final plea for this person to let go - not only for their own sake but also for everyone else's.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and thoughtful take on letting someone go and wishing them well, despite the pain and heartache it may bring.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd wish you well, well I'd only be wishing
I hope for your happiness, but I know that it may not be possible.
I fear it is your mind you're missing
You seem to be lacking the ability to think clearly and logically.
Only time will tell, still there's no telling
We'll have to wait and see what happens, but we can't predict the outcome.
The holes in your eyes truth be told tell no lies, you're wasting away
Your eyes reveal that you're not being truthful and you're slowly deteriorating.
The summer sun somehow seems somber,
Despite the brightness of the sun, the atmosphere still feels dark and depressing.
She must have sensed your song was over
The summer seems to have ended, as if the joyous part of your life has come to a close.
Your deed is done, indeed worth doing
You've completed something worthwhile, and should feel proud of your accomplishment.
Go forth through the night towards the light if you'd like, you won't feel a thing
Move forward towards the future, even if it looks uncertain. You won't feel any pain if you keep going.
Stars are shooting out of sight. You've gone off with the morning light
You've disappeared into the light of a new day, leaving everything behind.
Scars are fading, gone on and see. You won't feel a thing
Your wounds and bruises will heal and disappear, and you won't feel a thing once they're gone.
Fare thee well, with heaven willing
Goodbye and good luck, with the hope that everything will work out for the best.
You'll see yours is a deal worth sealing
You'll realize that your destiny is a good and worthwhile one.
How ill you fell, you've felt no healing
You may have felt unwell, but you haven't given yourself the chance to feel better.
If not for your own than for our sake let go, you won't feel a thing
If not for your own sake, then do it for us. Let go of your past and move forward, without feeling any pain.
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.