Boyd sang four songs with lyrics by Sherman Alexie on the soundtrack for the 1998 movie Smoke Signals, and also appeared in Alexie's The Business of Fancydancing.
Boyd was also a multiple-time nominee and five-time winner of the Native American Music Award. Boyd won "Songwriter of the Year" in 2006 for his song "Them Old Guitars" and "Record of the Year" for his album AlterNATIVES. Boyd also received three other nominations for the album Them Old Guitars in 2006, three nominations for the album Going to the Stick Games in 2004, and a nomination for "Best Pop/Rock" act in 2003 for Live. Recently, Boyd won for best short form video.
In 2004, Boyd produced and performed on sessions with singer-songwriter Robert Richmond. Two of the tracks from these sessions were released in 2013 on Richmond's Before The Night release.
Jim Boyd died on June 22, 2016.
No Way
Jim Boyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of a new direction that I must go in
And it's everyone's concern
Cause they all tell me on television
That I must find out before too long
That their way is right and my way is wrong
Cause I'm not the same I don't play the game
But I've got to listen
Chorus: No way
When I look out my eyes
I see the things that I need to see
But I'm told they tell me lies
Cause we don't agree politically
And now I must find out before too long
That the money's right
And my color's wrong
As the morning news plays the biased blues
But they won't admit cause
It just won't fit on the page
Chorus: No way
Bridge:
And I've been listening to this crap
For so long without a say
Sing a different song
It don't mean it's wrong
Won't you listen here today
Chorus: No way
Jim Boyd's song "No Way" is a powerful critique of the media and society's pressure to conform to their ideologies. The song is about the struggle of trying to find your own path in a world that constantly bombards you with opinions and beliefs that do not align with your own. Boyd highlights the pressure placed on individuals to conform to societal norms and ideologies to "fit in." The lyrics "I must find out before too long, that their way is right and my way is wrong" illustrate the dilemma that many people face when trying to reconcile their beliefs with those of society. Boyd also touches on the issue of biased news that is prevalent in the media, stating that "the morning news plays the biased blues."
Throughout the song, Boyd emphasizes the importance of individualism and finding one's own path in life. The lyrics "And I've been listening to this crap for so long without a say, Sing a different song, it don't mean it's wrong, Won't you listen here today," encourage listeners to break away from the mold and find their own voice. The choruses of "No way" reinforces the message that conformity is not the answer, and that it is okay to disagree with societal beliefs and the pressure to conform.
Overall, Jim Boyd's song "No Way" is a powerful message about the struggle to stay true to yourself in a world that constantly pressures individuals to conform.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday I learn
I continuously gain new knowledge
Of a new direction that I must go in
I discover new paths to take in life
And it's everyone's concern
Others believe it's important for me to follow their way
Cause they all tell me on television
Television promotes a single way of living
That I must find out before too long
I am pressured to conform to societal norms quickly
That their way is right and my way is wrong
Others believe that their way of living is the only correct one
Cause I'm not the same I don't play the game
I don't conform to societal expectations
But I've got to listen
I am told to take into account other people's opinions
Or I won't fit in they say
If I don't conform, I'll become an outsider
Chorus: No way
I refuse to conform to societal norms
When I look out my eyes
I see the world as I perceive it
I see the things that I need to see
I see what's important to me
But I'm told they tell me lies
Others believe that my perceptions are incorrect
Cause we don't agree politically
Our political views differ
And now I must find out before too long
I am expected to conform to political norms quickly
That the money's right
Money influences political decisions
And my color's wrong
Society discriminates based on skin color
As the morning news plays the biased blues
Media portrays one-sided news
But they won't admit cause
Media won't acknowledge their bias
It just won't fit on the page
Media's bias doesn't fit their narrative
Bridge:
Interlude before the chorus
And I've been listening to this crap
I've been hearing these societal demands for a while
For so long without a say
I haven't had a chance to speak my mind
Sing a different song
I express my own unique perspective
It don't mean it's wrong
Just because it's different doesn't make it incorrect
Won't you listen here today
Others should take the time to hear my ideas
Chorus: No way
I won't conform to societal norms
Contributed by Hunter Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.