Hootie & the Blowfish formed in 1986. The quartet met when they were freshmen at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Bryan heard Rucker singing in the showers of the dorm they shared and was impressed by his vocal ability. They began playing cover tunes as The Wolf Brothers; eventually they collaborated with Felber, a former high school bandmate of Bryan's, and Jim "Soni" Sonefeld as Hootie & the Blowfish.
Brantley Smith was the original drummer for the band. He left the group to pursue music ministry, but he has made scattered guest appearances with the band (he played cello on their MTV Unplugged performance in 1996, and played drums at Gruene Hall in Gruene, Texas, on June 27, 2008).
The group independently released two cassette demo EPs in 1991 and 1992. In 1993, they pressed 50,000 copies of a self-released EP, Kootchypop. Their mainstream debut album was Cracked Rear View (1994). It was an instant success, ultimately going platinum 16 times in the U.S. and becoming the best-selling album of 1995. The album was propelled by four hits, "Hold My Hand" (U.S. #10), "Let Her Cry" (U.S. #9), "Only Wanna Be with You" (U.S. #6), and "Time" (U.S. #14). Miami Dolphins' Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino appeared in the band's video for the song "Only Wanna Be with You", along with several other athletes.
The band won the "Best New Artist" award at the 1996 Grammy Awards. Hootie & the Blowfish appeared on MTV Unplugged on the eve of the release of their second album, 1996's Fairweather Johnson. Though sales began promisingly, and it contained the hit single "Old Man and Me" (U.S. #13), the album sold four million copies in the U.S.
In 1995, Hootie & the Blowfish contributed the song "Hey Hey What Can I Do" to the Encomium tribute album to Led Zeppelin. Their cover of Canadian group 54-40's "I Go Blind", originally released on the soundtrack to the TV series Friends in 1995, did not appear on Cracked Rear View or Fairweather Johnson, but nevertheless became a hit at radio in 1996 after three singles from Fairweather Johnson had been released. Both "Hey Hey What Can I Do" and "I Go Blind" were later released on the collection Scattered, Smothered and Covered.
Hootie and the Blowfish started their own record label, Breaking Records, in 1996 as a subsidiary of Atlantic. They had planned to focus on signing local Carolina acts. Edwin McCain and Cravin' Melon were both associated with the label at one point, but did not release any material on it. Meat Puppets, Jump, Little Children, Treadmill Trackstar and Treehouse released one album each on Breaking Records. The label folded in 2000.
In 1998, they performed on Frank Wildhorn's concept album of the musical The Civil War.
In 200, the band released a B-sides and rarities compilation in 2000 entitled Scattered, Smothered and Covered.
The band covered the 1968 Orpheus hit "Can't Find the Time" in 2001 for the soundtrack of the Jim Carrey movie, Me, Myself and Irene. Orpheus leader Bruce Arnold performed the song with the band during several concerts on the West Coast of the United States in 2001.
In 2009, Hootie and the Blowfish performed live in a ballet which chronicled their rise and success in the 1990s.
In 2008, Rucker announced in an AOL Sessions interview that Hootie and the Blowfish would be going on hiatus so Rucker could pursue his solo career as a country music performer. Although the band will no longer be recording or touring, Rucker confirmed that they will still perform their scheduled charity concerts, stating, "We have four charity gigs every year and we will still do them, but we will not do a record or tour." Rucker also said that the split will last "for five or six years, or until I record three or four country albums". He later amended his statement, saying, "To be honest with you, we're not even split up right now, and we're not really thinking about splitting up."
Woody
Hootie & The Blowfish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How did you know I needed you here?
Can you feel the screams from the depths of my soul?
Is that what makes you appear?
See I often wonder, in the presence of this all
What we did to become this way
And I'll never forget when you whispered to me
And sometimes the sun calls our names
And sometimes we listen
Sometimes the devils there
But we can't just go with him
Can you hear me now, when I'm standing this close?
Can I tell you, one of my fears?
See I hope you live to sing when I die
'Cause if you're gone, I don't think I wanna be here no more
'Cause sometimes the sun calls our names
And sometimes we listen
Sometimes the devils there
But we can't just go with him
Sometimes the sun call our names, oh
Sometimes we listen
Sometimes the devils there
But we just can't go with him
The lyrics to Hootsie & The Blowfish's song Woody reflect on the deep bond between two people and the comfort they bring to each other's lives. The opening lines communicate a sense of intimate longing, as the singer questions how the other person always seems to know when they need their presence. The following lines explore the emotional capacity of both individuals, with the singer acknowledging the turmoil that can exist within the depths of their soul. The introduction of the supportive figure highlights the fact that their relationship appears to be grounded in an understanding that few individuals can appreciate.
The lyrics also contemplate the vagaries of life, and the insidious role of negative influences that can often push people in the wrong direction. Despite the presence of external evil, the correlative factor that the singers emphasize is the need for personal choice, the need to make the right decisions. This theme is emphasized through the call and response of the "sun" and the "devil," and the idea that people have the power to choose which path to follow.
The conclusion of the song reflects the sense of deep attachment and closeness between the two speakers. The sudden reveal of a deeper layer in the argument, the singer's desire that their partner should survive them, challenges the listener to consider the unique ways relationships can manifest and the profound reflections that these relationships can inspire.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you see me there, oh, when I'm standing alone
Asking if the person can physically see the singer when they are by themselves
How did you know I needed you here?
Expressing surprise and gratitude towards the presence of the person with them
Can you feel the screams from the depths of my soul?
Questioning if the person can sense the emotional turmoil within the singer
Is that what makes you appear?
Speculating if the person comes to the artist's aid due to sensing their emotional distress
See I often wonder, in the presence of this all
Reflecting on their current situation and pondering how it came to be
What we did to become this way
Questioning the actions that were taken that led to their current state
And I'll never forget when you whispered to me
Recalling a comforting and reassuring moment shared with the person
You said, 'Don't worry. It'll be ok'
Remembering the words spoken by the person in a moment of vulnerability and finding comfort in them
And sometimes the sun calls our names
Acknowledging moments of joy and calling out a positive force
And sometimes we listen
Acknowledging that there are times when they embrace joy and positivity
Sometimes the devils there
Admitting that there are also times when negativity or negative influences are present
But we can't just go with him
Asserting that despite the negative influences, one must resist falling into harmful or negative behavior
Can you hear me now, when I'm standing this close?
Querying if the person can hear the singer's thoughts and feelings when they are in close proximity
Can I tell you, one of my fears?
Expressing vulnerability and wanting to confide in the person
See I hope you live to sing when I die
Expressing a desire for the person to continue on after the singer has passed
'Cause if you're gone, I don't think I wanna be here no more
Admitting that the person means everything to the artist and they cannot imagine living without them
'Cause sometimes the sun calls our names
Reiterating the previous acknowledgement of positive and joyful moments
And sometimes we listen
Again, stating that they sometimes embrace positivity
Sometimes the devils there
Again, admitting that negativity or harmful influences can be present in life
But we just can't go with him
Reiterating the notion of resisting harmful or negative behavior and influences
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DARIUS RUCKER, DEAN FELBER, JIM SONEFELD, MARK BRYAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind