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.
Seven-Mile Island
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay my head down where Indians sleep
Take your shoes off and walk across the water
It's been so long so I heard a man speak
Watch the spillways when the water starts rising
Take your hat off when the sun goes down
Keep your eyes on that concrete tower
Mary's crying 'cause she can't hold water
And her clothes don't fit her right
She used to say that she wanted a daughter
Now she only wants a Saturday night
There were days when that dusty cave was empty
Back before this city made a claim
On that hotel for wanderers and strangers
Back before you could live off of your name
We all live in an Airstream trailer
About three-hundred yards up the lake
Call the doctor, Mary's going into labor
And you can't raise a baby on shake
So take my body to seven mile Island
Lay some stones down on top of my grave
Tell my lady I just couldn't bear to see her
Tell my daughter I just couldn't be saved
This song by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit is a poignant reflection on life, death, and the passing of time. The lyrics describe a desire to be buried on Seven-Mile Island, a location that seems to hold great significance to the singer. The choice of this location could be interpreted as a desire to return to a simpler time and place, perhaps before the city had grown and changed as much as it has, before progress and modernity had taken hold.
The lines "Take your shoes off and walk across the water / It's been so long since I heard a man speak" suggest a longing for a connection to the natural world, and a desire to escape the noise and bustle of modern life. The use of the phrase "where Indians sleep" adds a layer of cultural significance to the location, perhaps hinting at a desire to connect with a lost or forgotten history.
Other lines in the song suggest themes of loss, regret, and the impermanence of things. The concrete tower that the singer references may represent something that once seemed permanent and indestructible, but has since fallen into disrepair. Mary's character also seems to be struggling with loss, as she mourns the loss of her figure and her dreams, and has seemingly given up on her previous desire for motherhood.
Overall, Seven-Mile Island is a thoughtful and melancholic song, filled with vivid imagery and evocative lyrics that explore themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my body to seven mile Island
Bury me in the peaceful Seven-Mile Island
Lay my head down where Indians sleep
Rest my head where the natives of the land are buried
Take your shoes off and walk across the water
Experience the miracle of walking on water with me
It's been so long so I heard a man speak
It has been long since I heard someone speak with wisdom
Watch the spillways when the water starts rising
Stay alert when the water levels rise
Take your hat off when the sun goes down
Show respect for the end of the day
Keep your eyes on that concrete tower
Pay attention to the concrete tower in case it falls
Maybe one day it will crumble to the ground
It is possible that one day the tower might fall
Mary's crying 'cause she can't hold water
Mary is upset because she is unable to keep secrets
And her clothes don't fit her right
Her clothes are too tight and uncomfortable
She used to say that she wanted a daughter
Mary once desired to have a daughter
Now she only wants a Saturday night
All Mary desires now is a night of pleasure and fun
There were days when that dusty cave was empty
There were times when the cave was abandoned and desolate
Back before this city made a claim
Before the city took ownership of the area
On that hotel for wanderers and strangers
The hotel was a place for travelers and unknown guests
Back before you could live off of your name
Before the world became obsessed with famous names
We all live in an Airstream trailer
We reside in a mobile home by the lake
About three-hundred yards up the lake
The mobile home is located three-hundred yards away from the lake
Call the doctor, Mary's going into labor
Mary is about to give birth and needs medical attention
And you can't raise a baby on shake
You cannot raise a child on drugs
So take my body to seven mile Island
Lay me to rest in the serene Seven-Mile Island
Lay some stones down on top of my grave
Place some rocks on my burial site
Tell my lady I just couldn't bear to see her
Instruct my loved one that I could not bear to face the challenges with her
Tell my daughter I just couldn't be saved
Inform my child that I could not salvage the situation
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael Jason Isbell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gordonharvey1144
SWEET!!!!
@jm842zrx
LOVE IT !
@bvaughan3862
This shit sounds bad as all hell on my Mackie 824's + Mackie sub. Oh my goodness.