Lowell George met Bill Payne when George was a member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Payne had auditioned for the Mothers, but had not joined. They formed Little Feat along with former Mothers' bassist Roy Estrada and drummer Richie Hayward from George's previous band, the Factory. The name of the band came from a comment made by Mothers' drummer Jimmy Carl Black about Lowell's "little feet." The spelling of "feat" was an homage to The Beatles.
Their first two albums received nearly universal critical acclaim, and "Willin'" became a standard, subsequently popularized by its inclusion on Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel.
While touring in support of his solo album in June 1979, at the age of 34, George collapsed in his hotel room in Arlington, Virginia. The surviving members finished and released the Little Feat album "Down on the Farm" before disbanding.
The surviving former members of Little Feat reformed in 1987 when Paul Barrere, Sam Clayton, Kenny Gradney, Richie Hayward and Bill Payne added songwriter/vocalist Craig Fuller, formerly from the band Pure Prairie League (who also provided some rhythm guitar), and Fred Tackett on guitar, mandolin and trumpet.
With a seemingly constant tour schedule, Little Feat is easily one of the hardest-working and enduring bands in the industry today. With a history that spans more than 30 years, Little Feat is regarded by many rock music critics as a "band's band", and as one of the greatest rock bands in American rock music history. Best known for their combination of California rock and Dixie-inflected funk-boogie, they craftily blend folk, blues, rockabilly, country and jazz to create a unique style all their own, garnering a faithful grass-roots following. Simply put, Little Feat's sound transcends traditional music boundaries and they offer fans an unforgettable live performance.
Richie Hayward became the second founding member of the band to die, passing from pneumonia and other complications of lung disease on August 18, 2010.
Over The Edge
Little Feat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got all these questions and nowhere to lose them
I asked for answers, got only advice
Advice is so cheap now everyone's got a hype
To get the truth I guess you must pay the price
Don't go falling over the edge
Don't let your wandering mind drive you out of your head
'Cause pain is all you'll find by falling over the edge
Dive on in, that's what they said if you're lucky live through it
You'll find your answers within
But if you crash and burn the worst is you're dead
And dying can't be worse than life is over the edge
So don't go falling over the edge
Don't let your wandering mind drive you out of your head
Stay on that fine line hold on to that thread
'Cause pain is all you'll find by falling over the edge
Just pain, plain waiting for you over the edge
Well, I still don't know what to do I know it's all an illusion
In fact knowing that only adds more confusion
I search for truth, but mostly troubles I find
The truth can be costly, troubles don't cost a dime
You can have all you want because they're there all the time
Don't go falling over the edge
Don't let your wandering mind drive you out of your head
Stay on that fine line hold on to that thread
'Cause pain is all you'll find by falling over the edge
Just pain, plain waiting for you over the edge
The lyrics of Little Feat's song "Over the Edge" explore a sense of confusion and searching for answers in life. The singer seems to be struggling with questions they want answered but can only find cheap advice that doesn't satisfy them. The cost of obtaining truth is high, but the alternative of constantly falling over the edge into pain and uncertainty is even worse. They question the idea of diving into life to find answers, as it can lead to both success and failure, and the latter is a high price to pay. At the same time, the singer admits that they don't know what to do, and that just knowing that life is an illusion creates even more confusion. The truth may seem elusive, but troubles are always present and freely available.
The song seems to suggest that finding balance in life, staying on the fine line and holding on to a thread, is the best approach to prevent falling over the edge. Whether it be mental, emotional, or physical, falling over the edge or losing control can lead to pain and suffering. In essence, the song is about choosing to be mindful and deliberate about one's actions, thoughts, and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I just don't know what to do and I hate this confusion
I am lost and overwhelmed with the lack of direction in my life
I got all these questions and nowhere to lose them
I have so many doubts and uncertainties but no place to address them
I asked for answers, got only advice
I asked for clarity, only to receive empty suggestions
Advice is so cheap now everyone's got a hype
People freely offer opinions without fully understanding the situation
To get the truth I guess you must pay the price
The truth often comes at a cost, such as hard work and perseverance
Don't go falling over the edge
Be cautious in your actions, as recklessness leads to negative consequences
Don't let your wandering mind drive you out of your head
Avoid overthinking and letting uncertainty consume you
Stay on that fine line hold on to that thread
Maintain balance in your life, and hold on to what keeps you grounded
'Cause pain is all you'll find by falling over the edge
The result of recklessness is often pain and suffering
Dive on in, that's what they said if you're lucky live through it
Some people encourage taking risks, even if it's dangerous, because it may lead to success
You'll find your answers within
Sometimes the answers to your questions can be found within yourself
But if you crash and burn the worst is you're dead
If you make the wrong move, the consequences can be fatal
And dying can't be worse than life is over the edge
Living recklessly can be just as bad as dying
Well, I still don't know what to do I know it's all an illusion
I am still lost and feel like reality may not be what it seems
In fact knowing that only adds more confusion
The realization that things are uncertain adds to the feeling of being lost
I search for truth, but mostly troubles I find
In my quest for the truth, I face more obstacles than answers
The truth can be costly, troubles don't cost a dime
The truth often requires hard work and time, whereas problems can arise easily
You can have all you want because they're there all the time
Problems and doubts are always present, and can appear without warning
Just pain, plain waiting for you over the edge
The result of recklessness is often pain and suffering, which is constantly present
Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robert Cochran
on Representing the Mambo
Heard this song right before I had to go on a buiness trip to Rio. The progression of the song up the mountainside to the dangerous favelas above the city to the isolated hidden samba clubs make this song a trip you can truly take in your mind to that place.