The son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), James grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. His first album, Too Long in the Wasteland (released in 1989), was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a series of acclaimed projects for Columbia and Sugar Hill. In 1996, McMurtry received a Grammy nomination for his Longform Music Video of Where'd You Hide The Body. 1997's It Had To Happen received the American Indie Award for Best Americana Album.
In 2004, McMurtry released the universally-lauded Live in Aught-Three on Compadre Records. 2005's Childish Things garnered some of the highest critical praise of McMurtry's career and spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Americana Music Radio Chart in 2005 and 2006. In September 2006, Childish Things and "We Can't Make It Here" won the Americana Music Awards for Album and Song of the Year, respectively. McMurtry received more Americana Music Award nominations for 2008's Just Us Kids. This album marked his highest Billboard 200 chart position in more than 19 years.
In 2009, Live in Europe was released, capturing The McMurtry Band's first European tour and extraordinary live set. Along with seasoned band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, the disc features special guests Ian McLagan and Jon Dee Graham. Also, for the first time ever, video of the James McMurtry Band's live performance is available on the included DVD.
The poignant lyrics of his immense catalog still ring true today. In 2011, "We Can't Make It Here" was cited among 'The Nation's' "Best Protest Songs Ever." Bob Lefsetz writes, "'We Can't Make It Here' has stood the test of time because of its unmitigated truth."
Never one to rest on his laurels, James McMurtry continues to tour constantly, and consistently puts on a "must-see" powerhouse performance. 'The Washington Post' noted McMurtry's live prowess: "Much attention is paid to James McMurtry's lyrics, and rightfully so: He creates a novel's worth of emotion and experience in four minutes of blisteringly stark couplets. What gets overlooked, however, is that he's an accomplished rock guitar player. At a sold-out Birchmere, the Austin-based artist was joined by drummer Daren Hess and bassist Ronnie Johnson in a set that demonstrated the raw power of wince-inducing imagery propelled by electric guitar. It was serious stuff, imparted by a singularly serious band."
JAMES McMURTRY LIVE IN EUROPE CD WITH BONUS DVD DOCUMENTS FIRST EURO TOUR WITH GUESTS IAN MCLAGAN AND JON DEE GRAHAM
On October 13, 2009, Lightning Rod Records released Live in Europe, a document of McMurtry's first European tour, on which, along with long-time band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, he was joined by keyboardist Ian McLagan and fellow Texas songwriting legend Jon Dee Graham. The set is available as a CD with a bonus DVD, or as a deluxe vinyl LP package with a CD and DVD insert. In early 2009, James McMurtry and his trio traveled overseas to play their first European tour. The guys played for enthusiastic crowds in Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Scotland and Belgium. Joining the band on keyboards for the tour was the legendary Ian McLagan (who also played on McMurtry's latest studio album, Just Us Kids). The best recordings from the Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Geislingen, Germany concerts were combined to create Live in Europe. The album includes a bonus DVD featuring performances from the Amsterdam show. This marks the first time fans will be able to purchase video footage of McMurtry live in concert. The deluxe vinyl version includes inserted copies of the CD and DVD. Fellow Austin-based songwriter Jon Dee Graham opened the shows and joins the band on a version of his tune "Laredo" on the bonus DVD.
JAMES McMURTRY ALBUMS REISSUED: 'CHILDISH THINGS' & 'LIVE IN AUGHT-THREE'
On February 1, 2011, two of James McMurtry's most popular albums, Childish Things and Live in Aught-Three were reissued by Lightning Rod Records. Live in Aught-Three has been remastered since its original 2004 release and will be available on vinyl for the first time. The deluxe double LP also includes a copy of the album on CD.
Save Yourself
James McMurtry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After all was said and done
Amid the echoes of the screams and the laughter
Cracking the blinds to the noonday sun
Running out of room, tugging at the tether
Old desires on the closet shelf
You read between the lines until the lines ran
together
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Now your bad boy runs you ragged
But the nice guy bores you flat to tears
He sends you flowers and birthday cards
He tries so hard and he's out of here
'Cause it's all you can handle just to stay okay
You don't need nobody's pain
You've got no room for baggage
Passengers must now de-plane
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Your new job keeps you busy
The old car runs alright
The hot wind off the concrete
Sometimes keeps you up at night
The lights go off in the building
And you're sitting there alone
'Cause the girls and boys you run with
Have all up and gone home
So you're sifting through the ashes
Getting way down dark and deep
You've got your life all figured out
But you still don't get much sleep
chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
In James McMurtry's song "Save Yourself," the lyrics explore the concept of taking responsibility for and control of one's own life. The song speaks to a sense of feeling lost and out of place, trying to navigate through relationships and self-discovery. The opening verse conveys a sense of defeat, as the singer couldn't attain what they were after and are left with the echoes of the past. The lines "somehow had to save yourself" speak to the realization that one cannot rely on others to find fulfillment and inner peace. The chorus repeats the refrain "Got to save yourself" to emphasize this point.
The second verse highlights the singer's struggle with relationships, as they find themselves caught between a "bad boy" and a "nice guy." The latter is stable but unexciting, sending flowers and cards while the former is thrilling but draining. The lines "passengers must now de-plane" suggest the singer is shedding the people and problems that don't serve them. The final verse brings the song's focus back to the singer's internal struggles, as they sift through their feelings and try to get a handle on their life. The line "you've got your life all figured out but you still don't get much sleep" implies there is still work to be done to find peace.
Overall, "Save Yourself" is a poignant reminder that true fulfillment comes from within and that one must take responsibility for their own wellbeing. It speaks to the universal human desire for control and self-determination, and the struggle to find oneself amidst societal expectations and personal relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You couldn't get what you were after
You were not able to achieve what you wanted
After all was said and done
Even after everything that happened
Amid the echoes of the screams and the laughter
In the midst of the resounding cries and joy
Cracking the blinds to the noonday sun
Opening the blinds to let the sunlight in
Running out of room, tugging at the tether
Feeling restricted and desperate
Old desires on the closet shelf
Past wishes stored away
You read between the lines until the lines ran together
You tried to decipher something to the point of confusion
Somehow had to save yourself
You had to take control of your own life
Now your bad boy runs you ragged
Your reckless partner wears you out
But the nice guy bores you flat to tears
The considerate person is too dull for you
He sends you flowers and birthday cards
He tries to express his affection
He tries so hard and he's out of here
His attempts to win you over are unsuccessful
'Cause it's all you can handle just to stay okay
You are barely coping with your own problems
You don't need nobody's pain
You cannot handle someone else's suffering
You've got no room for baggage
There is no extra space for emotional baggage
Passengers must now de-plane
Unwanted people must depart from your life
Your new job keeps you busy
Your occupation takes up a lot of your time
The old car runs alright
Your vehicle is functioning acceptably
The hot wind off the concrete
The warm gusts from the pavement
Sometimes keeps you up at night
Occasionally makes it hard to fall asleep
The lights go off in the building
The building's lights turn off
And you're sitting there alone
You are by yourself
'Cause the girls and boys you run with
The people you associate with
Have all up and gone home
Have left and gone to their own homes
So you're sifting through the ashes
You are examining the remnants
Getting way down dark and deep
Feeling overwhelmed and sad
You've got your life all figured out
You think you know what you're doing with your life
But you still don't get much sleep
You still struggle to rest peacefully
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
There was no reason to be where you were unwelcome
Got to save yourself
You need to prioritize your well-being
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Opportunities cannot be regained once they have been lost
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
You question why you had to endure for so much time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES MC MURTRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind