Moreland first debuted his name as a part of the Black Gold Band from 2006-2010, with a 2006 full-band demo, 2008's Endless Oklahoma Sky, and 2009's solo demo session falling in that time span before he decided to retire the Black Gold Band name. John continues to write and record music, and in 2010 will release Things I Can't Control under his own name. Black Gold Band guitarist Wayne Wedge has returned to perform secondary guitar duties, and producer Stephen Egerton (ALL, Descendents) has been playing drums on the studio sessions. In 2010, Moreland was featured on the multi-musician studio project The Seven Degrees of Stephen Egerton, along with members of Drag the River, Descendents, MxPx, and many others.
High on Tulsa Heat
John Moreland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby get ready
I don't want to waste your time
You're the place I miss when my heart gets heavy
Trouble my tomb stone mind
Well me and my brothers dying too soon
We don't want to come back down
And I need you when the dark gets true
We were high on Tulsa heat
And lost in lonesome sound
We got wrecked on love and the heavens above
And now we're back on broken ground
Never been worse
Crafting quick money
Shooting through your last dime
Laying our bets down beaten and bloody
Glowing with a 5 cent shine
Well this cold house
Feel like running
Babe I want to watch it all burn
You know too well that you owe me nothin'
But you llive in all of these words
We were high on Tulsa heat
And lost in lonesome sound
Now we're back on broken ground
John Moreland’s "High on Tulsa Heat" is a ballad that explores themes of nostalgia, love, heartbreak, and desperation. The song is full of powerful imagery that captures the pain of addiction and the longing for a past that can never be regained. The first verse is a plea to a lover to stay with him as he struggles with his own demons. It’s a heartbreaking moment that encapsulates the entire song as he teeters on the edge of a breakdown. The chorus is a powerful refrain that evokes memories of long, hot summers in Oklahoma.
The second verse takes a darker turn as the singer reflects on his own struggles with addiction and the toll it has taken on his life. Despite the hopelessness that hangs over the song, there is still a raw honesty and vulnerability that is deeply affecting. The final verse is a plea for release from a life that has consumed him, but also a recognition that he will always be bound to the memories of a past that he can never fully escape.
The song perfectly captures the uniquely American experience of longing for a simpler, more innocent time, while also recognizing the destructive forces that have shaped our lives. It’s a deeply emotional song that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to stay afloat in a world that is constantly changing.
Line by Line Meaning
Bless my sole
May my soul be blessed
Baby get ready
Prepare yourself, my love
I don't want to waste your time
I don't want to be a burden to you
You're the place I miss when my heart gets heavy
You are the one who brings solace to me when I'm troubled
Trouble my tomb stone mind
The anguish in my mind feels like it will outlast me
Well me and my brothers dying too soon
My siblings and I are destined to die young
We don't want to come back down
We're afraid of our futures, uncertain of what lies ahead
And I need you when the dark gets true
I need you most when everything else feels bleak and hopeless
Dam every inch of this town
I wish to block out every memory of this place
We were high on Tulsa heat
We were living recklessly, caught up in the moment
And lost in lonesome sound
And we found solace in the desolate, lonely atmosphere
We got wrecked on love and the heavens above
We were destroyed by love, and by the forces beyond our control
And now we're back on broken ground
And now we're back where we started, shattered and broken
Never been worse
Things have never been more dire
Crafting quick money
Trying to make money quickly and easily
Shooting through your last dime
Spending all your money carelessly
Laying our bets down beaten and bloody
We're taking risks, despite the pain and hardships we've faced
Glowing with a 5 cent shine
We may look defeated, but we still hold onto hope
Well this cold house
This lonely home
Feel like running
Makes me feel like fleeing, just to escape my pain
Babe I want to watch it all burn
I want to see everything fall apart, even if it hurts
You know too well that you owe me nothin'
You don't owe me anything, and I don't expect anything from you
But you llive in all of these words
But you're a part of me, and you're everywhere in my memories
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.