Shortly after high school, in 1970, with fellow Lubbock musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, he formed The Flatlanders. According to Ely, "Jimmie was like a well of country music. He knew everything about it. And Butch was from the folk world. I was kinda the rock & roll guy, and we almost had a triad. We hit it off and started playing a lot together. That opened up a whole new world I had never known existed." In 1972, the band released their first and— until 2002's Now Again— only album, but have appeared together on each other's albums. Since the band's initial break-up just after their album was cut, the three musicians have followed individual paths.
Ely's own first album, self titled, was released in 1977. The following year, his band played London where he met punk rock group The Clash. Impressed with each other's performances, the two bands would later tour together, including appearances in Ely's hometown of Lubbock, as well as Laredo and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, across the border from El Paso, Texas.
Since then, a steady stream of albums have followed, most on the MCA label. Ely's live performances have become legendary, and he has released a live album roughly every ten years (the last was Live at Antone's in 2000). He has had a genre-crossing career, performing with Bruce Springsteen, Los Super Seven, David Grissom, and James McMurtry in addition to his early work with The Clash and more recent acoustic tours with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, and Guy Clark.
In the late 1990s, Ely was asked to write songs for Robert Redford's movie The Horse Whisperer, which led to reforming The Flatlanders with Gilmore and Hancock for an appearance on the movie soundtrack. A new album from the trio followed in 2002, with a third in 2004.
In February 2007, Ely released "Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch" on his own label, Rack 'Em Records. A book of Ely's writings was published in early 2007 by the University of Texas Press. Ely also released a second album of old lyrics that he has finally recorded.
Several other reissues of Ely's previous work were due out later in 2007 on Rack 'Em.
All Just To Get To You
Joe Ely Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stood at a crossroad or two
Cried to a river, swept to the sea
All just to get to you
I have jumped the yellow cab, hopped a rusty freight
Sang till my lips turned blue
Flown a silver bird, from tops of the clouds
I ran too hard, I played too rough
I gave my love, not near enough
I bled too red, I cried too blue
I beat my fist against the moon
All just to get to you
I have run from St. Paul to Wichita Falls
Called you from Sunny Baton Rouge
I hocked everything from my watch to my ring
All just to get to you
I ran too hard, I played too rough
I gave you love, not near enough
I bled too red, I cried too blue
I beat my fist against the moon
All just to get to you
From the California shore, where the mighty ocean roars
To the lands of the Hopi and the Sioux
I walked the desert sands, I crossed the Rio Grande
All just to get to you
I have stumbled on the plains, staggered in the wind
Stood at a crossroad or two
Cried to a river, swept to the sea
All just to get to you
I ran too hard, I played too rough
I gave my love, not near enough
I've bled too red, I cried too blue
I beat my fist against the moon
All just to get to you
All just to get to you
All just to get to you
Joe Ely's song "All Just to Get to You" speaks about the lengths that one will go to in order to be with the person they love. The song's lyrics are about the many different methods he used to reach his lover, whether it was by stumbling through the plains or crossing the Rio Grande. The song is structured in a repetitive manner to convey the idea that no matter how much he has to do, he is willing to.
The singer’s desperation to be with his lover is conveyed throughout the song, from the use of violent imagery like "I beat my fist against the moon" to sacrificing everything he owns "I hocked everything from my watch to my ring." The chorus expresses the main theme of the love and devotion of the singer's character. Joe Ely adds a certain level of vulnerability to the song through his use of language and strong vocal performance.
The song reflects on the lengths that a person would go to keep a relationship together. It also shows that being with someone you love is worth taking risks, facing challenges and going to great lengths to be with that person. Nevertheless, the song warns the listener that even if they do all of this, they still might not succeed. And that it might not matter in the end because for the singer, all of it was worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
I have stumbled on the plains, staggered in the wind
I have gone through difficult times in my life, encountering obstacles and being disoriented.
Stood at a crossroad or two
I have had to make pivotal decisions that ultimately led me to you.
Cried to a river, swept to the sea
I have experienced a lot of pain and sadness in my journey to find you, and sometimes it felt as if I was drowning in my sorrows.
All just to get to you
Despite all of the hardships and challenges, I was always motivated by the thought of finally reaching you.
I have jumped the yellow cab, hopped a rusty freight
I have traveled far and wide, taking any form of transportation that would get me closer to you.
Sang till my lips turned blue
I expressed myself through music, pouring my heart and soul into every note.
Flown a silver bird, from tops of the clouds
I have traveled by plane to reach you, soaring high above the earth.
I ran too hard, I played too rough
I pushed myself to the limit, determined to be with you no matter the cost.
I gave my love, not near enough
Although I tried to express my love as much as possible, I still feel as if I could have done more.
I bled too red, I cried too blue
My journey was full of pain and sadness, and at times it felt as if I was bleeding or drowning in my own tears.
I beat my fist against the moon
I felt as if I was fighting against insurmountable odds to reach you, even if it meant trying to reach the impossible.
Called you from Sunny Baton Rouge
I reached out to you from various different places, including the vibrant city of Baton Rouge.
I hocked everything from my watch to my ring
I was so committed to being with you that I even sold my belongings to get closer to you.
From the California shore, where the mighty ocean roars
I traveled from the west coast, across the vast expanse of the ocean and all of the challenges and obstacles in between.
To the lands of the Hopi and the Sioux
I traveled to the territories of two significant native american tribes in my search for you.
I walked the desert sands, I crossed the Rio Grande
I walked through unforgiving desert terrain and crossed a prominent river to reach you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE ELY, WILL SEXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L.A. Andrew
Joe is obviously an amazing singer, songwriter as well as in my personal top 5 of live act's I've ever seen. But more than all that Joe is a genuinely kind and sweet human being. May God bless you Joe since He's already blessed me and thousands of others by allowing us to enjoy you for all these many years.
joe blough
Never get tired of hearing this song! One of my favorites!
Doug Metzger
I saw Joe play with the Flatlanders a few months back for the first time live. I can't remember ever enjoying a live performance more. The energy that comes from the stage to the audience is awesome. Thanks for sharing, I'm a life long fan and recommend to anyone they see Joe Ely live and if you ever get the rare chance to see him perform with the Flatlanders, don't miss it, you won't be sorry.
Matthew Burrows
They are legend's. 3 fantastic songwriters. Rare in a band
Ben S Hammonds
I have always carried a copy of this album with me in all of my travels since 96, It is One of the best ever!!!!!!!
joe blow
Joe Ely is one of America's ...........Greatest singer/songwriters!
Scott Petroski
Great of Joe to assemble this all-star lineup for the video! Of course Teye was featured in the song, but he included both David Grissom and Jesse "Guitar" Taylor (in addition to himself) on acoustic guitar. Add in Lloyd Maines on slide and Glenn Fukunaga on bass, and you've got quite the ax-man lineup there! Davis McClarty on drums, I'm pretty sure. Multiple permutations and combinations of this group have entertained me numerous times! If you haven't seen a Joe show, please do yourself a favor and get to one, ASAP! (RIP, Shirley - sure enjoyed all the Joe shows we saw together, wish there could have been more!)
Benjamin P Barrett
ONE of Joe's best !!!
Steve Stoecklein
This is as real as it get ladies and gents, the authentic article for sure
Clay Cooper
iv been a fan of his for a very long time , his guitar is so crisp ,and music is so genuine joe , aiot of memories