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.
Last of My Kind
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Lyrics
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You can't see the stars for the neon light
Sidewalk's dirty and the river's worse
The underground trains all run in reverse
Nobody here can dance like me
Everybody's clapping on the one and the three
Am I the last of my kind?
Am I the last of my kind?
So many people with so much to do
The winter's so cold my hands turn blue
Old men sleeping on the filthy ground
They spend their whole day just walking around
Nobody else here seems to care
They walk right past them like they ain't even there
Am I the last of my kind?
Am I the last of my kind?
Daddy said the river would always lead me home
But the river can't take me back in time
And daddy's dead and gone
In the family farm's a parking lot for Walton's five and dime
Am I the last of my kind?
Am I the last of my kind?
I tried to go to college but I didn't belong
Everything I said was either funny or wrong
They laughed at my boots, laughed at my jeans
Laughed when they gave me amphetamines
Left me alone in a bad part of town
Thirty-six hours to come back down
Am I the last of my kind?
Am I the last of my kind?
Mama says God won't give you too much to bear
That might be true in Arkansas
But I'm a long, long way from there
and that whole world's a lonely and faded picture in my mind
Am I the last of my kind?
Am I the last of my kind?
Am I the last of my kind?
Am I the last of my kind?
The song "Last of My Kind" by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit is a contemplative ballad that delves into the artist's feelings of isolation and disconnection from the world around him. The lyrics express the singer's inability to fit in and find happiness in a big city where people are too busy and detached to notice each other. He misses the simplicity of the country life, where he grew up, and feels like he's the last of his kind, a rare breed of people who share his values, his humor, and his love of nature.
The first verse sets the scene by describing the city as a place that's overwhelming and uninviting. The singer can't relate to the people he meets, who don't appreciate his talents or his uniqueness. The second verse highlights the contrast between the wealth and leisure of some people and the poverty and neglect of others. The singer's empathy and concern for the homeless and the forgotten reveal his compassionate and generous spirit. The third verse brings up the memory of the singer's father, who was a source of comfort and wisdom in his life. However, the loss of his father, the changes in his hometown, and the disillusionment that comes with growing up have made him feel like a stranger in his own past. The chorus throughout the song repeats the question "Am I the last of my kind?" as a way of expressing the singer's anxiety and uncertainty about his identity and his place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't be happy in the city at night
The city is too bright and noisy for me and it makes me unhappy.
You can't see the stars for the neon light
There is so much artificial light in the city that it blocks out the natural beauty of stars.
Sidewalk's dirty and the river's worse
The city is not a clean place, and even the river is polluted.
The underground trains all run in reverse
Even the transportation system is not efficient and runs in the opposite direction.
Nobody here can dance like me
I am unique in my ability to dance, and nobody in the city has the same moves.
Everybody's clapping on the one and the three
People in the city have a certain way of clapping to music that is different from my style.
Am I the last of my kind?
I am wondering if I am the only one left who doesn't fit in with the city crowd.
So many people with so much to do
The city is crowded and everyone is busy with their own things to do.
The winter's so cold my hands turn blue
The cold winter weather in the city is unbearable and makes my hands numb.
Old men sleeping on the filthy ground
I see homeless people sleeping on the dirty ground, which is a sad reality of city life.
They spend their whole day just walking around
These homeless individuals don't have much to do and spend their days walking aimlessly.
Nobody else here seems to care
People in the city are too busy with their own lives to care about the less fortunate individuals around them.
They walk right past them like they ain't even there
People in the city ignore the homeless and act as if they don't exist.
Daddy said the river would always lead me home
My father told me that the river would guide me back to my roots.
But the river can't take me back in time
Although the river can guide me back to my hometown, it can't take me back to my past.
And daddy's dead and gone
My father has passed away and I can no longer seek guidance from him.
In the family farm's a parking lot for Walton's five and dime
The family farm where I grew up has been replaced by a parking lot for a retail store chain.
I tried to go to college but I didn't belong
I attempted to pursue higher education, but I didn't fit in with the college crowd.
Everything I said was either funny or wrong
My comments were either seen as humorous or incorrect by my peers at college.
They laughed at my boots, laughed at my jeans
My choice of clothing was ridiculed by my peers at college.
Laughed when they gave me amphetamines
My classmates mocked me when I was prescribed medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Left me alone in a bad part of town
My peers left me stranded in a dangerous neighborhood.
Thirty-six hours to come back down
It took me over a day to recover from the effects of the medication.
Mama says God won't give you too much to bear
My mother believes that God will not give me more than I can handle.
That might be true in Arkansas
My mother's belief may hold true in our home state of Arkansas.
But I'm a long, long way from there
However, I am currently far away from Arkansas and things are not so simple anymore.
and that whole world's a lonely and faded picture in my mind
My memories of my hometown and my past seem distant and lonely.
Am I the last of my kind?
I am still wondering if I am truly the only one who doesn't fit in with the city crowd.
Am I the last of my kind?
I am still questioning whether there are others out there like me who don't belong in the city.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Michael Jason Isbell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind