Other artists to record his music over time included Elvis Presley, Cher, Joan Baez, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker,Arlo Guthrie, Martha Reeves and even 90's Cali punk band Ten Foot Pole.
Early Career :
The young Hoyt was an All-American athlete replete with football scholarship to Oklahoma State University, which he soon left to join the U.S Navy. During his military stint he was the heavyweight champion boxer in his task force division of 35 ships.
After serving in the armed forces, he arrived in Nashville with a guitar on a tip from his mother Mae Boren Axton (who co-wrote Heartbreak Hotel for Elvis Presley). Hoyt soon split Tennesee for California's burgeoning folk scene during the early 60's. He played the clubs in San Francisco's North Beach and made the scene in L.A as well.
Roger McGuinn remembered Hoyt Axton as a struggling singer who taught him a tune backstage in 1962 at the Troubadour in L.A. "We recorded it live at the Troubadour later that week, and when it came out, I was surprised to see the credit "Here as well is the delightful Australian folk ballad, Brisbane Ladies, on which Jimmy McQuinn of the Chad Mitchell Trio harmonizes with Hoyt." In spite of the misspelled name, I was glad to have been able to sing with Hoyt. I really loved the song too!" The song appeared on Hoyt's debut LP for the Horizon label, McGuinn later formed the Byrds with David Crosby.
Axton's songwriting prowess was eventually noticed after the Kingston Trio recorded Greenback Dollar in 1963 just hours after seeing Axton live. The song eventually appeared on 3 Billboard charting albums but Hoyt made a mere $800.00 from the song..."I was just a kid with a guitar living in a car... How could I sue when the whole point of the song was how I didn't give a damn about a greenback dollar?"
Paying Dues, Paying Bills :
In the late 60's Steppenwolf eventually recorded Axton's The Pusher and Snowblind Friend, two dramatic denouncements of the dark side of drug use. John Kay, a young aspiring singer and dishwasher also used to see Axton perform in the early 60's around L.A. He later told Axton, 'When you sang 'The Pusher,' I'd come out of the kitchen with a towel in my hand, saying that if I ever get a band, I'm gonna record that song'."
The Pusher, in particular, paid off at a good time for Hoyt: "I had two houses, three kids, two cars, $400 in the bank and bills to pay. The bank repossessed the Mercedes-Benz, and said I'd never get credit again," he remembers. "One Saturday morning, I went to the mailbox and there was a check for $14,000 for the use of the song in the film Easy Rider".
Hits like "Never Been To Spain" ("but i kinda like the music") and "The No Song" ("No, no, no, I don't smoke it no more") which went to number three on the U.S. charts for the newly solo Ringo Starr helped keep the money rolling in.
His songs seemed to showcase his optimism and singular sense of humor. A version of Joy to The World by Three Dog Night became the biggest selling record of 1971 ("Jeremiah was a bullfrog..."). Axton's own singing hits included "Boney Fingers" ("Work your fingers to the bone, what do you get? Boney fingers"). "When the Morning Comes", a duet he recorded with Linda Ronstadt from 1974's Life Machine album, which went to number one on the Canadian charts.
As the singer songwriter trend dried up in the latter 70's Axton continued to record for his own label Jeremiah, beginning in '78. 1979's " Rusty Old Halo" album produced his last two major hits, " Della and the Dealer" and the title track.
Later Career:
Axton had numerous negative music business dealings with many labels and by the early nineties his work on Horizon, A&M, Vee-Jay and MCA was mostly left out of print by short sighted label execs. Maintaining a steady concert schedule was a priority throughout the seventies and eighties that found Axton playing as many as 300 dates a year. He also got in front of the camera, first guesting on "Bonanza" in the 1960's, and then eventually on dozens of TV programs including : "Hootenanny", "Hee-Haw", "Diff'rent Strokes","The Dukes of Hazzard", "Trapper John MD","WKRP in Cincinatti" as well as popular feature films like "The Black Stallion" and "Gremlins". His voice was used in TV commercials for Busch beer, Pizza Hut, and even McDonald's where he was the singing lumberjack who introduced the then-new Big Mac. Hoyt reportedly liked doing commercials so much he didn't even consider it work. He also did voiceover narration for educational films. He bought his ranch in Montana, after playing a sheriff in the movie ''Disorganized Crime,'' filmed there in 1988.
He suffered a debilitating stroke in 1996, and a then suffered a demoralizing medical marijuana bust in 1997 for which he received a three year deferred sentence and was fined $15,000. His health was not good these last few months, including advanced complications from diabetes, spending most of his time in a wheelchair. Axton finally passed away a few days after suffering a heart attack during surgery in a Bitteroot Montana hospital.
A spokesperson for the Academy of Country Music told Associated Press after his death "There was nobody that didn't like Hoyt".
Alice in Wonderland
Hoyt Axton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your ticket's in your hand,
Shufflin' off, easy, to sweet Buffalo.
An' I could help you fly,
But I can't go that high.
It makes my nose bleed,
Didn't you know?
"I just can't think about it right now.
"I just can't think about it right now."
I'd like to live,
I'd like to be.
I'd like to give all the givin' in me.
I'd like to help you find,
Some place with peace of mind.
Leave all your pain behind,
Sail away free.
And she says "Right.
"I just can't think about it right now.
"I just can't think about it right now."
Alice in wonderland,
I knew you'd understand.
There are some things that I just have to do.
No more hypocracy.
No animosity.
Changin' democracy:
How about you?
And she says "Right.
"I just can't think about it right now.
"I just can't think about it right now."
The lyrics of Hoyt Axton's "Alice in Wonderland" are open to interpretation, but they seem to convey a sense of escapism and the desire for a peaceful existence. The song is addressed to Alice in Wonderland, perhaps referencing the classic children's book character known for venturing into a surreal world. The opening lyrics suggest that Alice has a ticket in her hand, ready to shuffle off to Buffalo. The singer offers to help Alice fly, but he can't go that high, as it makes his nose bleed. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the limitations of the singer's ability to join in Alice's journey, or as a literal concern about altitude sickness.
In the following verse, the singer expresses a desire to live, be, and give all the giving in him. He also offers to help Alice find a place with peace of mind and leave all her pain behind. The refrain "I just can't think about it right now" suggests that Alice may not be fully committed to pursuing this idealistic vision of freedom and peace. The final verse mentions "no more hypocracy" and "changin' democracy", which could be interpreted as a call to action for societal change or a plea for personal growth and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Alice in wonderland,
Addressing the listener, who is embarking on a journey into the unknown like Alice in the classic story.
Your ticket's in your hand,
The listener is prepared for the journey ahead.
Shufflin' off, easy, to sweet Buffalo.
Heading off to a far-off destination, traveling casually and leisurely towards an idyllic place.
An' I could help you fly,
The artist offers to assist the listener on their journey.
But I can't go that high.
However, the task is beyond the artist's ability or capacity.
It makes my nose bleed,
The singer experiences physical discomfort or unease when trying to perform the task.
Didn't you know?
Asking the listener if they were aware of the singer's limitations.
And she says "Right.
Indicating a shift in perspective or change of topic, as the focus turns to the listener's desires and needs.
"I just can't think about it right now.
The listener is unable or unwilling to consider the artist's offer or circumstances at this moment.
I'd like to live,
Expressing the listener's desire for a fulfilling and satisfying life.
I'd like to be.
The listener wishes to exist in a state of contentment and purpose.
I'd like to give all the givin' in me.
The listener wants to be generous and compassionate towards others.
I'd like to help you find,
Offering assistance to the singer, despite the listener's own desires and needs.
Some place with peace of mind.
Suggesting a destination or state of mind that is tranquil and calming.
Leave all your pain behind,
Encouraging the singer to abandon their struggles and difficulties in pursuit of a better future.
Sail away free.
Imagining a carefree and liberated existence, free from limitations or constraints.
And she says "Right.
Returning to the original topic, as the artist acknowledges the listener's desires and intentions.
"I just can't think about it right now.
However, the listener reiterates their current lack of capacity or willingness to engage with the singer's circumstances or offer.
Alice in wonderland,
The cycle of difficult and unknown journeys, and the desire to escape into a fanciful and dreamlike world.
I knew you'd understand.
The artist feels understood and supported by the listener, despite their differences and limitations.
There are some things that I just have to do.
Acknowledging the inevitability of life's challenges and responsibilities.
No more hypocracy.
Rejecting false or insincere behavior or beliefs, in favor of genuine and authentic ones.
No animosity.
Letting go of anger or resentment towards others, for the sake of peace and harmony.
Changin' democracy:
Advocating for a transformation of society or political systems.
How about you?
Inviting the listener to consider their own participation or involvement in social or political change.
Contributed by Lily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.