Williams has garnered considerable critical acclaim but her commercial success has been moderate. She has a reputation as a perfectionist and as a slow worker when it comes to recording; six years passed between the release of her second and third albums. However, she frequently makes guest appearances on other artists' albums and contributes to compilations and soundtracks. She has recorded with Elvis Costello, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Leftover Salmon, and Steve Earle, among others. She has also opened concerts for artists such as Neil Young.
Early life
Williams was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the daughter of poet and literature professor Miller Williams. Her father worked as a visiting professor in Mexico and Chile as well as different parts of the American South, before settling at the University of Arkansas. His daughter showed an affinity for music at an early age, and was playing guitar at 12.
Career
By her early 20s, Williams was playing publicly in Austin, Texas and Houston, Texas, concentrating on a folk-rock-country blend. She moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1978 to record her first album, for Smithsonian/Folkways Records. Titled Ramblin', it was a collection of country and blues covers. She followed it up in 1980 with Happy Woman Blues, which consisted of her own material. Neither album received much attention.
In the 1980s Williams moved to Los Angeles, California (before finally settling in Nashville, TN), where -- performing both backed by a rock band and in acoustic settings -- she developed a following and a critical reputation. Nevertheless, it was not until 1988 that Rough Trade Records released the self-titled Lucinda Williams. The single "Changed the Locks", about a broken relationship, received radio play around the country and gained fans among music insiders, including Tom Petty, who would later cover the song.
Its follow-up, Sweet Old World (Chameleon, 1992), was a melancholy album dealing with themes of suicide and death. Williams's biggest success during the early '90s was as a songwriter. Mary Chapin Carpenter recorded a cover of "Passionate Kisses" (from Lucinda Williams) in 1992, and the song became a smash country hit for which Williams received the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1994.
Williams had garnered considerable critical acclaim, but her commercial success was moderate. Emmylou Harris said of Williams, "She is an example of the best of what country at least says it is. But, for some reason, she's completely out of the loop. And I feel strongly that that's country music's loss."
Williams also gained a reputation as a perfectionist and slow worker when it came to recording; six years would pass before her next album release, though she appeared as a guest on other artists' albums and contributed to several tribute compilations during this period.
The long-awaited release, 1998's Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was Williams' breakthrough to the mainstream. Containing the single "Still I Long for Your Kiss" from the Robert Redford film The Horse Whisperer, the album received wide critical notice and soon went gold. It received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. She toured with Bob Dylan and on her own in support of the album.
Williams followed up the success of Car Wheels with Essence (2001). This release featured a less produced, more stripped-down approach both musically and lyrically, and moved Williams further from the country music establishment while winning fans in the alternative music world. She won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Rock performance for the single "Get Right With God", an atypically uptempo gospel-rock tune from the otherwise rather low-key release. The title track was co-written and co-recorded with alternative country musician Ryan Adams.
Her seventh album, World Without Tears, was released in 2003. A musically adventurous though lyrically downbeat album, this release found Williams experimenting with talking blues stylings and electric blues.
In 2006, Lucinda recorded a version of the John Hartford classic "Gentle On My Mind," which played over the closing credits of the Will Ferrell filmTalladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
Williams was a guest vocalist on the song "Factory Girls" from Irish punk-folk band Flogging Molly's 2004 album, "Within a Mile of Home", and appeared on Elvis Costello's The Delivery Man. She duetted with Steve Earle on the song "You're Still Standin' There" from his album I Feel Alright from 1996.
Williams released the album "West" on February 13, 2007, to mostly good reviews. The material is highly personal, chronicling the death of her mother and the breakup of a turbulent relationship.
Lucinda released her ninth studio album, "Little Honey", on October 14th.
Everything But the Truth
Lucinda Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You got the power to make this mean ole world a better place.
People say they hate you, try to kill you, while they're grinning in your face.
You got the power to make this mean ole world a better place.
Before you can have a friend, you gotta be one.
Before you can have a friend, you gotta be one.
You gotta do the right things, gotta jump on in and see that it gets done.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
He's not playing games; he's taking names; he is bullet proof.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
God put the firewood there, but you gotta light yourself.
God put the firewood there, but you gotta light yourself.
You gotta go it alone, you gotta gather it up and nobody gonna help.
God put the firewood there, but you gotta light yourself.
You gotta make the most of what equipment you've got
You gotta make the most of what equipment you've got
Don't sit around complaining, crying all the time, cause you don't have a lot.
You gotta make the most of what equipment you've got
Sooner or later before too long, you gotta make a payment.
Sooner or later before too long, you gotta make a payment.
You've gotta settle up with this sweet ole world and give back what you've taken.
Sooner or later before too long, you gotta make a payment.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
He's not playing games; he's taking names; he is bullet proof.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
In "Everything But the Truth," Lucinda Williams sings about the power we all possess to make a positive difference in the world. She notes that it may not be an easy road to travel, as some people will turn against you and try to sabotage your efforts. However, the truth will always remain constant amidst any changes in the world. Williams encourages listeners to be a good friend by doing the right things and taking action. She emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and making the most of what you have, rather than complaining about what you lack. Ultimately, she reminds us that we must all take responsibility and give back to the world to settle our debts.
One interesting aspect of "Everything But the Truth" is that it appears on Williams' album "Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone," which consists of 20 tracks and was her first double album. The song itself is relatively brief, clocking in at just over two minutes long, but it anchors the album thematically with its messages of power, friendship, and self-reliance. Williams wrote or co-wrote all 20 tracks on the album, and her lyrics showcase a range of emotions and experiences, from heartbreak and disillusionment to resilience and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
You got the power to make this mean ole world a better place.
You have the ability to improve the world despite the negativity and opposition you may encounter.
People say they hate you, try to kill you, while they're grinning in your face.
Some individuals may pretend to like you while secretly harboring hatred towards you.
Before you can have a friend, you gotta be one.
Fostering close relationships requires you to exhibit qualities of a good friend first.
You gotta do the right things, gotta jump on in and see that it gets done.
Being a good friend involves taking action and being proactive to ensure that things are done properly.
Everything's gonna change, everything but the truth.
Change is inevitable, yet the truth remains constant and immovable.
He's not playing games; he's taking names; he is bullet proof.
A person can be confident and self-assured, even amidst chaos and opposition.
God put the firewood there, but you gotta light yourself.
The tools for success may be present, but you must take initiative and put them to use in order to achieve your goals.
You gotta go it alone, you gotta gather it up and nobody gonna help.
Sometimes, you must take on challenges and obstacles by yourself and not rely on others.
You gotta make the most of what equipment you've got
Maximizing your abilities and resources is essential for success and fulfillment.
Don't sit around complaining, crying all the time, cause you don't have a lot.
It is unproductive and unhelpful to dwell on what you lack instead of focusing on what you can do and improve upon.
Sooner or later before too long, you gotta make a payment.
One must eventually account for their actions and the effects they have on the world around them.
You've gotta settle up with this sweet ole world and give back what you've taken.
Taking responsibility for your actions and making amends when necessary is important for living a morally just life.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUCINDA WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind