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.
The Last Song I Will Write
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This ain't the world we signed up for
Echoes across the open sea of a place without any range war
This is the last song I will write
This is the last time I will fight for you
Momma lost her second love
at a time when she really needs it
so small and still bumping the ceiling
This is the last dream I will have:
my lady, my love, and my mom and dad
floating away to Spain
You who work up on your feet,
your neck turns red from the sunshine
It's you who've seen my worst defeat
crawling through crumbling coalmines
These are the words I will sing
'cause this is the end of everything
I'm crawling away to the sea
The Last Song I Will Write is a reflective song about leaving behind the troubles and harshness of reality and contemplating a life of escape and peace. The opening line "Come run away with me, this ain't the world we signed up for" sets the tone for the song's yearning for a better life. The idea of "echoes" suggests that there are others out there who feel the same way and are searching for a way out. This song is a reflection of the artist's wish to say goodbye to the life of fighting and writing and start anew. It is a loving invitation to the listeners to leave everything behind and embark on a journey of hope and freedom.
The second verse is a personal reflection of the artist, who talks about his mother's loss of her second love and how his dreams of a happier life have changed. The image of floating away to Spain with his lady, love, and parents is a symbol of leaving everything behind and starting a new life together. The last verse is a tribute to the working class, the people who work hard and struggle every day to make ends meet. The artist acknowledges their struggles and dedicates the last song he will ever write to them. The line "I'm crawling away to the sea" is a metaphor for the artist's departure from the world of writing and fighting.
Line by Line Meaning
Come run away with me
I am inviting you to escape with me from the world we are living in.
This ain't the world we signed up for
The current state of the world is not what we expected or wanted.
Echoes across the open sea of a place without any range war
The sounds of peace and tranquility can be heard in a world without senseless conflicts.
This is the last song I will write
I have decided that this will be the final piece of music that I create.
This is the last time I will fight for you
I am done going to great lengths to defend and protect you.
Momma lost her second love
My mother experienced the loss of her second partner.
at a time when she really needs it
This happened at a moment when she required emotional support the most.
He could not have been enough,
Her partner could not provide all that she needed to heal.
so small and still bumping the ceiling
He was so petite that he kept hitting his head against the ceiling.
This is the last dream I will have:
I have decided that this will be my final dream.
my lady, my love, and my mom and dad
The most important people in my life are featured in this dream.
floating away to Spain
The dream involves us peacefully traveling to Spain.
You who work up on your feet,
I am addressing those who have jobs that require them to stand for extended periods.
your neck turns red from the sunshine
The sun has reddened and irritated their necks from exposure during work.
It's you who've seen my worst defeat
These individuals had to witness me at my lowest point of failure.
crawling through crumbling coalmines
I had to literally drag myself through a dangerous and unstable work environment.
These are the words I will sing
I have decided that these will be my final words to express through music.
'cause this is the end of everything
Because I am done creating music, I feel like this is the end of everything for me.
I'm crawling away to the sea
I am leaving, opting to crawl towards the sea as my direction for escape.
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.