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.
Stancliff's Lament
James McMurtry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No time left to kill
Put your eggs in one basket
Mind that basket don't spill
You've got to be successful
Just to be all right
Lest the old man's ghost comes walking
In the middle of the night
Spend some years in the business
Learn how the big boys play
Marry your high school sweetheart
Man don't let her get away
And if it don't work out
You can walk away without a stitch
Wreckage in the rearview mirror
Bouncing down a roadside ditch
(chorus)
It's behind you now
It's behind you now
The worst was over long ago
Pat yourself on the back
Stand up and take a bow
There's voices all around you
They're yelling Go Team
You're sitting at the top of the bleachers
Staring at a laptop screen
You can't waste a minute
You can't waste a one
The minutes are bought and paid for
At least till the job gets done
(chorus)
They're holding all of your phone calls
But it's no relief
You're staring out the smoked glass window
At the cars down on the cloverleaf
And a picture of a kid with a ball glove smiling at
The lense
And a woman on a sailboat
And all those years you just had to hope they'd bend
Well you pushed so hard you bent so far
That they won't either one get straight again
(chorus)
"Stancliff's Lament" by James McMurtry is a song that talks about the struggles of a man who has reached the age where he cannot work for wages anymore. The man is now left with limited options in life, which forces him to risk everything to achieve success. The song takes the listener through the man's journey of putting all his eggs in one basket and hoping for the best while always being aware that any mistake could lead to disaster. The old man's ghost, which is likely a representation of his own fears and doubts, haunts him in the middle of the night, reminding him that he has no time to waste.
The chorus serves as the song's main theme, reminding the listener that no matter how tough life may get, the worst is over, and one should pat themselves on the back and move forward. The second verse talks about how society pushes people to always be productive and achieve success. It highlights the pressure on individuals to make every minute of their lives count and not wanting to waste any time. The third verse indicates that this focus on success comes at a price, which often leads to people missing out on important moments in their lives, like their child's growth and development.
Overall, "Stancliff's Lament" is a song that resonates with a vast majority of people who may feel similarly trapped by societal norms and expectations. It serves as a reminder that sometimes we need to slow down and reflect on what truly matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Too old to work for wages
At an age where I can no longer be employed due to my age
No time left to kill
I don't have much time left, so I must use it wisely
Put your eggs in one basket
Focus your efforts on one thing to increase your chances of success
Mind that basket don't spill
Don't mess up or everything you worked hard for could be lost
You've got to be successful
Success is a necessity to live a decent life
Just to be all right
Success is important because without it, life will be difficult
Lest the old man's ghost comes walking
If I don't succeed, I will feel like a failure, just like my ancestors before me
Spend some years in the business
Gain experience by spending time in the industry
Learn how the big boys play
Observe successful people and learn their tactics
Marry your high school sweetheart
Marry the love of your life early on
Man don't let her get away
Hold onto your true love and don't let them slip away
And if it don't work out
If the marriage doesn't last
You can walk away without a stitch
You can leave without worrying about assets or legal issues
Wreckage in the rearview mirror
The past is not all perfect, and there are some failures that I have experienced
Bouncing down a roadside ditch
Those failures left a lasting impact on me
(chorus)
It's behind you now
The worst is over and the past is in the past
The worst was over long ago
The worst experiences are already far behind me
Pat yourself on the back
Acknowledge your accomplishments and give yourself credit
Stand up and take a bow
Be proud of what you've achieved and take a moment to appreciate it
There's voices all around you
The world is full of opinions from others
They're yelling Go Team
People encourage you to work harder and be successful
You're sitting at the top of the bleachers
You are in a position of power and influence
Staring at a laptop screen
You are consumed with work and productivity
You can't waste a minute
Every moment is precious and must be used wisely
You can't waste a one
Not a single moment can be wasted
The minutes are bought and paid for
Time is valuable and I'm using it to achieve success
At least till the job gets done
I will continue working until I achieve my goal
(chorus)
They're holding all of your phone calls
People are trying to contact you, but you're too busy
But it's no relief
It's not a relief to know that I'm in high demand
You're staring out the smoked glass window
I'm looking out the window in a daze
At the cars down on the cloverleaf
Cars are passing by on the nearby highway
And a picture of a kid with a ball glove smiling at
I see pictures of children having fun and enjoying life
The lense
In the photo
And a woman on a sailboat
I see a picture of a woman sailing in the sea
And all those years you just had to hope they'd bend
I hoped that things would become better eventually
Well you pushed so hard you bent so far
I pushed myself too hard to achieve success and happiness
That they won't either one get straight again
These things are unfixable, and I will have to live with the consequences
(chorus)
Contributed by Audrey T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.