The band consists of Isbell (vocals, guitar); Sadler Vaden (guitar); Jimbo Hart (bass); Derry DeBorja (keys, accordion); Chad Gamble (drums).
Fiddle player and singer Amanda Shires features regularly as a session player and occasional touring member.
The band is named for the colloquial name of the psychiatric ward of Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Alabama.
The band are credited as such on five of Isbell's eight studio full-lengths, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (2009); Here We Rest (2011); The Nashville Sound (2017); Reunions (2020); Weathervanes (2023). Though some or all of the members feature on Jason's three "solo" albums, 2007's Sirens of the Ditch, his 2013 breakthrough Southeastern, and 2015's Something More Than Free.
The band tour regularly in the United States and internationally, including and annual week of shows at Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium supported by Shires and a variety of up and coming country, folk, and soul artists.
Codeine
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's this bar and this cover band
Trying to fake their way through 'Castles Made of Sand'.
That's one thing I can't stand.
If there's one thing I can't take
It's the sound that a woman makes
About five seconds after her heart begins to break.
She should be home by now but she ain't.
I should've gone by now but I cain't.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
Them eyes was big as stars
When I saw you behind the bar.
I guess that's the way to keep on smilin' where you are.
But girl them eyes was big as stars.
It sounds funny when you say my name.
It's like you're chewing on a foreign thing
And you won't get to sleep 'till dawn if it don't rain.
It sounds so funny when you say my name.
You oughta come home tonight but you won't.
I wish we knew how to fight but we don't.
One of your friends has taken you in and given you codeine.
One of your friends has taken you in and given you codeine.
Darlin' I'm not one to judge
But if I was then I'd say you don't look so good.
Got no answers of my own
But with you gone, this place looks bigger than it should.
If there's two things that I hate
It's having to cook and trying to date.
Busting ass all day to play 'hurry up and wait.
That's a few things that I hate.
If I call when I ain't drunk
This old boat'll still be sunk
'Cause one of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
The song "Codeine" by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit is a melancholic contemplation of heartbreak and coping mechanisms. The first two verses express the singer's frustration with the fake emotions of a bar band, and the sound of a woman's heart breaking. He then acknowledges that one of his friends has taken in his lover and given her codeine. The chorus repeats this fact, emphasizing the relief that comes from knowing someone is taking care of her, even if it's not him. The third verse describes how the woman's eyes looked when he last saw her, and how she pronounces his name strangely. The last verse is a candid admission of his own struggles, how he hates cooking and dating and working hard all day only to wait around. The song ends with a repeat of the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
If there's one thing I can't stand
The singer expresses their annoyance at a particular situation.
It's this bar and this cover band
The source of the singer's annoyance is the specific venue and entertainment playing there.
Trying to fake their way through 'Castles Made of Sand'.
The cover band is specifically attempting to play a challenging song, but is not doing it justice.
If there's one thing I can't take
The artist expresses their inability to tolerate something else.
It's the sound that a woman makes
The source of the artist's annoyance is a particular noise made by women.
About five seconds after her heart begins to break.
The singer is specifically referring to the sound of women crying.
She should be home by now but she ain't.
The singer is expecting someone to be home, but they are not.
I should've gone by now but I cain't.
The artist is indicating that they should have done something by now, but have not been able to.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
Someone the artist knows has taken a woman in and given her medication.
Them eyes was big as stars
The artist is admiring someone's large and expressive eyes.
When I saw you behind the bar.
The singer is specifically referring to an encounter they had with someone at a bar.
I guess that's the way to keep on smilin' where you are.
The artist is commenting on how the person they encountered is maintaining a positive attitude despite their circumstances.
But girl them eyes was big as stars.
The singer is repeating their earlier observation about the other person's eyes.
It sounds funny when you say my name.
The singer is finding something amusing about the way the other person says their name.
It's like you're chewing on a foreign thing.
The singer is specifically comparing the other person's pronunciation of their name to someone struggling to eat a foreign food.
And you won't get to sleep 'till dawn if it don't rain.
The artist is suggesting that the other person will have trouble falling asleep unless it starts raining.
You oughta come home tonight but you won't.
The artist is encouraging someone to come home, but they suspect they will not.
I wish we knew how to fight but we don't.
The singer wishes they knew how to resolve a conflict, but they do not have the skills or knowledge to do so.
One of your friends has taken you in and given you codeine.
Someone the other person knows has taken them in and given them medication.
Darlin' I'm not one to judge
The artist is indicating that they are not in a position to critique the other person's behavior.
But if I was then I'd say you don't look so good.
The artist is commenting on the other person's appearance, suggesting they do not look healthy or happy.
Got no answers of my own
The artist is suggesting that they do not have any solutions or advice to offer.
But with you gone, this place looks bigger than it should.
Without the other person around, the singer is feeling the absence and emptiness of their environment.
If there's two things that I hate
The artist is expressing their dislike of another pair of situations.
It's having to cook and trying to date.
The singer is specifically disliking the activities of cooking and dating.
Busting ass all day to play 'hurry up and wait.
The singer is describing a frustrating cycle of hard work without immediate reward or progress.
If I call when I ain't drunk
The singer is referring to a hypothetical situation in which they are not under the influence of alcohol.
This old boat'll still be sunk
Regardless of the artist's sobriety, they believe that something will be unsuccessful or doomed to fail.
'Cause one of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
The identity and actions of someone the artist knows are being repeated from earlier in the song.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
The identity and actions of someone the singer knows are being repeated from earlier in the song.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Jason Isbell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Olivia 73captain73
If there's one thing I can't stand
It's this bar and this cover band
Trying to fake their way through 'Castles Made of Sand'.
That's one thing I can't stand.
If there's one thing I can't take
It's the sound that a woman makes
About five seconds after her heart begins to break.
That's one thing I can't take.
She should be home by now but she ain't.
I should've gone by now but I cain't.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
Them eyes was big as stars
When I saw you behind the bar.
I guess that's the way to keep on smilin' where you are.
But girl them eyes was big as stars.
It sounds funny when you say my name.
It's like you're chewing on a foreign thing
And you won't get to sleep 'till dawn if it don't rain.
It sounds so funny when you say my name.
You oughta come home tonight but you won't.
I wish we knew how to fight but we don't.
One of your friends has taken you in and given you codeine.
One of your friends has taken you in and given you codeine.
Darlin' I'm not one to judge
But if I was then I'd say you don't look so good.
Got no answers of my own
But with you gone, this place looks bigger than it should.
If there's two things that I hate
It's having to cook and trying to date.
Busting ass all day to play 'hurry up and wait.
That's a few things that I hate.
If I call when I ain't drunk
This old boat'll still be sunk
'Cause one of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
One of my friends has taken her in and given her codeine.
Little Red Panda
My dad's a huge Jason Isbell fan. He'd play this song for me when he'd take me to school. I always told him this was my favorite song, but he wouldn't tell me the name because he didn't want me going into kindergarten telling people my favorite song was "Codeine" lol. Now every time I hear it, I think of him. Such an amazing and well written song :)
jjam002
i loved him in the truckers, i actually started crying the first time i heard "outfit". being a southern man that song just hit me in the soul. i love him on his own, it just gives me more music that is worth listening too!!!!!
Johnny Crash
With "Sirens Of The Ditch" and " Here We Rest", Jason just may be the greatest contemporary songwriter on the planet!
Dennis Roglin
I'm an old bastard , I just got into this guy . I'm as blown away as the first time I heard Springsteen . do not ever call him country . too good for that bubblegum crap label
Mary Jane Manson
I bet it sounds funny when an old bastard says bubblegum. I've heard them say "fuckin' gum" but not bubblegum.
Rick Roybal
Dennis Roglin. I'm a geezer myself. I'm a big John Prine fan.I just saw this guy on Austin City Limits the other night. He blew me away with white mans world. On my faves list now.
bangarang74
He's giving the country music industry the finger while showing them how it's done.
Mr. Kalkwarf
BubblegumShallow absolutely.
KrunK500500
+Dennis Roglin OK, Dude, you gotta look into the Drive-By Truckers. Decoration Day, The Dirty South, and A Blessing And A Curse all have Jason on them. He wrote some of my favorite DBT tunes. Seriously, man, check out the Truckers.
DCI Leo Dan
This is probably the coolest album cover art I have ever seen. Doesn't hurt that the music is great too.