While Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson are proud of their successful first effort, they are excited to have teamed with producer Josh Leo (Alabama, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) on their RCA effort. "We love performing" says Stephen. "The way we are recording now is the way our influences made records: live with a band. It's a lot more organic.".”
Eric’s earthy voice is the perfect complement to Stephen’s high-altitude tenor. The guys happily share lead vocals, harmonize like a church choir, and bolster their band with their own guitar work. “Stephen and I have always been on the same page as far as the vision for Love and Theft and what we want it to be,” says Eric. “We feel like we have made the record we’ve always wanted to make.”
The result is a nod to the duo’s varied influences. “She’s Amazing” evokes the brilliant harmonies of the Eagles. The seductive “Amen” channels all the yearning of Roy Orbison. And the rollicking first single “Angel Eyes” brings to mind Elvis Presley’s “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise.”
While Johnny Cash and Orbison are both enormous influences, it might surprise fans to learn who the duo’s favorite artist is. “Hands-down, Elvis,” says Stephen. “My dad was really into him, so I got into him. I was all over Elvis growing up.”
Coincidentally, both Stephen and Eric—who didn’t meet until they were in their early 20s—were raised as pastors’ kids, and their respective fathers fed them a steady diet of gospel, oldies and country. “Our parents didn’t want us listening to secular music that much. But they’d let us listen to Elvis, Roy, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band…,” says Eric. “It was cool to grow up that way, and that’s still my favorite kind of music.”
It isn’t lost on the guys that they’re now recording for the very label that released some of their hero’s biggest hits. “We’re excited to be on RCA, the same label Elvis was on,” Stephen says with a smile.
Perhaps it was some divine intervention that led the friends to this point in their career. Eric and Stephen, after all, will be the first to tell you that their shared spirituality is a cornerstone of Love and Theft. In fact, both used to lead worship at their churches.
“That’s how we got our start playing music. Our faith is a huge part of our lives,” says Eric, pondering the fate of it all. “I feel like it was meant to be this way from the beginning. Our journey over the past four years was preparing us for where we’re at now.”
Which is squarely at the doorstop of a prosperous career in country music. With a young, vibrant sound, a captivating live show, and a passionate fan base, Love and Theft are poised to become the genre’s next great duo.
http://www.loveandtheft.com/
World Wide Open
Love and Theft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake the things that pull on me
Holding me down, slowing me down
I need to run, I need to fight
Let go of the things that I am holding onto
Maybe I need you
Just open up my eyes so I can see
Roads, which one will I take?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
Marks, which one will I make?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
Every day's an open page
A brand new start, a fresh clean slate
Given to me
Now it's up to me
Buy my best and lose my worst
Try to heal the things I've hurt
I need you, I know I need you
Make my mistakes and leave them in the past
Make the most of every chance I have
Roads, which one will I take?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
Marks, which one will I make?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
And when you grab it by the handles and dream
As its spilling over me
As its spilling over me
Roads, which one will I take?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
Marks, which one will I make?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
Roads, which one will I take?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
Marks, which one will I make?
There's a world wide open
This world wide open
The lyrics to Love and Theft’s “World Wide Open” speak to the need for change and the desire for a fresh start. The song begins with the admission that the singer feels trapped and held down by something, and that they need to let go of it in order to move forward. The chorus then asks the questions, “Roads, which one will I take? Marks, which one will I make?” showing that the singer is ready to make a change and take control of their life.
The second verse continues with the theme of starting over, and the need to make the most of every opportunity. The singer acknowledges that they need someone to help them on this journey, but ultimately the decision is theirs to make. The bridge of the song is particularly powerful, with the lyrics, “And when you grab it by the handles and dream, as it's spilling over me,” suggesting that the singer is ready to take hold of their life and make the most of their opportunities.
Overall, the lyrics of “World Wide Open” are about the need for change and the desire to make the most of every opportunity. The song speaks to the idea that we all have the power to take control of our lives and make the most of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
I need to move, I need to breathe
I feel stuck and need to break free to find my own path
Shake the things that pull on me
I need to let go of things that are holding me back
Holding me down, slowing me down
These things are preventing me from reaching my potential
I need to run, I need to fight
I need to be proactive and take control of my life
Let go of the things that I am holding onto
I need to overcome my fears to move forward
Maybe I need you
I'm not sure if I can do this alone
Just open up my eyes so I can see
I need to see the opportunities that are right in front of me
It's always been there right in front of me
I just need to recognize it and seize it
Roads, which one will I take?
I have many choices to make
There's a world wide open
The possibilities are endless
This world wide open
It's up to me to make something of it
Marks, which one will I make?
I have the chance to leave my mark on the world
Every day's an open page
Each day is a fresh start
A brand new start, a fresh clean slate
I can leave my past behind and start anew
Given to me
I have been given the gift of a new day
Now it's up to me
It's my responsibility to make the most of it
Buy my best and lose my worst
I should strive to improve and overcome my weaknesses
Try to heal the things I've hurt
I should also make amends for any harm I've caused
Make my mistakes and leave them in the past
I should learn from my mistakes but not dwell on them
Make the most of every chance I have
I should take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way
And when you grab it by the handles and dream
When you take control of your life and follow your dreams
As its spilling over me
As I'm experiencing the fullness of life
Lyrics © ROCKAPOP MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: ERIC GUNDERSON, DANNY ORTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind