After leaving home at an early age to travel the country, Segarra eventually settled in New Orleans where they began to perform and record with a revolving cast of musicians. They released two records (2008's It Don't Mean I Don't Love You and 2010's Young Blood Blues) mostly consisting of delicate folk and country songs. In 2011, the UK record label Loose Music (Felice Brothers, Dawes, Deer Tick), released Hurray for the Riff Raff, an album that collected the best songs from those records. The Times of London named Hurray for the Riff Raff one of the Top Ten Albums of 2011. Phil Alexander, the Editor-in-Chief of Mojo Magazine, raved that they “have immense potential and seductive power” and named them second best band at SXSW 2011.
Back in the States, Alynda met up with a young honky-tonk band called the Tumbleweeds, just as they began to expand they musical palette to include rock n roll, pop, and soul. In the tradition of Bob Dylan with Band and Neil Young with Crazy Horse, Alynda recruited the Tumbleweeds to be their touring band, drastically altering the sound of Hurray for the Riff Raff.
Look Out Mama is the result of almost two years of Alynda and the Tumbleweeds criss-crossing the USA, playing over 100 shows in small bars and clubs. Recorded in Nashville by producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes), Look Out Mama is an exploration of classic American music as interpreted by Alynda lee Segarra. From the Swamp Pop of "Little Black Star" to the Classic Country of "Look Out Mama", to the Psychedelia of “Ode to John and Yoko” and even the Surf-Rock of “Lake of Fire”, Look Out Mama covers a wide array of musical ground, with every song unified by Alynda’s soulful vocals and expert songwriting.
Something's Wrong
Hurray For The Riff Raff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got stuck in this big old ditch
Try to climb my way out this hole
Singing something’s wrong I just can’t control
Forty nights and forty days
Some survive some just washed away
And we listen to those church bells toll
But cheer up brother, don’t you cry
We’ll understand it all in the by and by
I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control
Oh something’s wrong and I’m feeling strange
Nothing seems to be the same
And we hear that white muddy river flow
Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control
In Hurray For The Riff Raff's "Something's Wrong," the lyrics reflect on feelings of being stuck in a difficult place with seemingly no escape. The repetition of the phrase "something's wrong" emphasizes this sense of unease and frustration. The imagery of being stuck in a big old ditch and trying to climb out highlights the difficulty of the situation, while the mention of church bells tolling and shots ringing out suggest larger societal issues at play.
The reference to "forty nights and forty days" could be interpreted as a Biblical allusion to the story of Noah's Ark, where the rains lasted for forty days and forty nights and only those on the ark survived. This further emphasizes the idea that some are able to survive difficult situations while others are washed away.
The final lines about feeling strange and hearing the white muddy river flow create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as if the singer is trying to make sense of something they can't quite grasp. The chorus of "something's wrong we just can't control" speaks to the feeling of being powerless in the face of problems that are too big to solve alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Something’s wrong that my heart can’t fix
There's a problem that's making me feel uneasy, and I can't find a way to fix it no matter how much I want to.
I got stuck in this big old ditch
My life took a turn for the worse and I'm now feeling trapped and unable to move forward.
Try to climb my way out this hole
I'm trying my best to overcome the situation that I'm in, but it's proving to be a difficult challenge.
Singing something’s wrong I just can’t control
I feel a deep sense of unease and uncertainty that I can't seem to shake off, no matter how hard I try.
Forty nights and forty days
This line is a reference to the biblical story of Noah's Ark, which is said to have endured a flood of this duration. It alludes to the idea of enduring a long and arduous challenge.
Some survive some just washed away
The challenge that I and others are facing is so difficult that some people are able to overcome it, while others succumb to it and don't make it through.
And we listen to those church bells toll
This line suggests that the situation is difficult and challenging on a spiritual level, and that people are turning to religion for solace and hope.
Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control
Despite our best efforts to deal with the situation, there's a persistent sense that something is deeply wrong and we can't seem to overcome it.
But cheer up brother, don’t you cry
This line is a message of hope and encouragement, urging listeners to stay positive and stay strong through the tough times.
We’ll understand it all in the by and by
The difficulty and uncertainty that we're currently experiencing will eventually make sense and become clear in the future.
I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
This line references violence and tragedy, which is causing deep emotional pain and distress among those who are affected by it.
Oh something’s wrong and I’m feeling strange
The situation is causing intense feelings of discomfort and unease, and it's hard to pinpoint exactly what's wrong.
Nothing seems to be the same
The situation has caused a significant change in circumstances and things no longer feel familiar or stable.
And we hear that white muddy river flow
This line suggests that the situation is ongoing, like a river that continues to flow, regardless of how challenging or difficult it may be.
Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control
Despite our attempts to deal with the situation, there's an underlying sense that something is deeply wrong and we're unable to change or overcome it.
Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dream to Awake
Something's wrong that my heart can't fix
I got stuck in this big old ditch
Try to climb my way out this hole
Singing something's wrong I just can't control
Forty nights and forty days
Some survive some just washed away
And we listen to those church bells toll
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
But cheer up brother, don't you cry
We'll understand it all in the by and by
I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
Oh something's wrong and I'm feeling strange
Nothing seems to be the same
And we hear that white muddy river flow
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
tullsongs
beautiful !such a soulful voice..
Dream to Awake
Something's wrong that my heart can't fix
I got stuck in this big old ditch
Try to climb my way out this hole
Singing something's wrong I just can't control
Forty nights and forty days
Some survive some just washed away
And we listen to those church bells toll
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
But cheer up brother, don't you cry
We'll understand it all in the by and by
I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
Oh something's wrong and I'm feeling strange
Nothing seems to be the same
And we hear that white muddy river flow
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
SCHY MARK
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SWEET LITTLE SMILE AT THE END
she's a treasure
Mark Schisler
This song ,this girl ,that voice
that delivery..Just beautiful
skylark183
Does my heart good that beautiful music like this still exist in some of the young musicians today
Schy Mark
Amen
SCHY MARK
Such a sweet sweet little spirit.Big powerful lyrics.
BEAUTIFUL
jonw12
love the riff raff. sometimes I can't write the song I want to but someone else can. thank you guys for the beautiful song
SCHY MARK
Absolutely love Alynda Lee
Harvey the paragliding chaser
What a beautiful song. Personal and now political Nine years later and suddenly amazingly topical.
Support the Ukrainian people 🇺🇦