Lanegan began his musical career in 1984 with Screaming Trees, with whom he released seven studio albums and five EPs before their disbandment in 2000. During his time with the band, he also started a solo career and released his first solo studio album, The Winding Sheet, in 1990. He subsequently released a further 10 solo albums, which received critical recognition but only moderate commercial success. Following the end of Screaming Trees, he became a frequent collaborator of Queens of the Stone Age, and was a full-time member between 2001 and 2005 during the Songs for the Deaf and Lullabies to Paralyze eras.
Lanegan collaborated with various artists throughout his career. In the 1990s, he and Kurt Cobain recorded an album of Lead Belly covers that was ultimately never released. He also joined Layne Staley and Mike McCready in the band Mad Season, and formed the alternative rock group The Gutter Twins with Greg Dulli in 2003, as well as contributing to releases by Moby, Bomb the Bass, Soulsavers, Tinariwen, The Twilight Singers, Manic Street Preachers, and Unkle, among others.
Lanegan struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol throughout his life, but had been sober for over a decade at the time of his death. Encouraged by his friend Anthony Bourdain, he released the memoir Sing Backwards and Weep in 2020. He followed this up in 2021 with the memoir Devil in a Coma, which focused on his near-death experience with COVID-19. He and his wife Shelley Brien left the U.S. in 2020 and settled in the Irish town of Killarney, where he died two years later at the age of 57. No cause of death was revealed.
Studio albums
The Winding Sheet (1990)
Whiskey for the Holy Ghost (1994)
Scraps at Midnight (1998)
I'll Take Care of You (1999)
Field Songs (2001)
Bubblegum (2004)
Blues Funeral (2012)
Imitations (2013)
Phantom Radio (2014)
Gargoyle (2017)
Somebody's Knocking (2019)
Straight Songs of Sorrow (2020)
Wheels
Mark Lanegan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here I am, still hangin on
Well alright
Shadows only disappear
Just look around theres no one here
A little spirit turned my light on out and now
Can never be no doubt
You got to walk in the morning sun
Go my love on your way, to bigger and
Bright better days
And Ill go crazy for it all
And I wont stop lovin you baby
Oh yeah here I am
This feeling inside a body
Light ahead, proves that the wheels broke down
Here I am, still spinnin round
Shadows only disappear
Just look around theres no one here
A little spirit turned my light on out and now
Can never be no doubt
Im gonna wait til the stars come down
My little love smiles on a wing
For all a raindrop and tears not wasted there
Been pourin down all day
Runnin round catchin em baby
Run around catchin em baby
Whichever way they fall
Wont stop lovin you baby
Whichever way you go
Oh yeah
Here I am
Here I am
Just runnin round catchin em
Whichever way they fall
All night long
The lyrics to Mark Lanegan's song "Wheels" are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. It seems to be about perseverance and moving forward despite obstacles. The first line, "Light ahead, proves that the wheels broke down" could be interpreted as a sign of hope after a difficult period. The singer is still holding on despite the challenges they've faced. They acknowledge that shadows only disappear if you actively seek out light in your life.
The next few lines seem to be about the power of positive thinking and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude. The singer advises his love to walk in the morning sun and smile at everyone. He encourages her to look towards brighter days ahead. He promises to go crazy for it all and to never stop loving her.
The final stanza is a bit more opaque, but it seems to be about catching raindrops and tears. Perhaps the singer is collecting his own tears and raindrops to symbolize his emotional journey. He promises to continue loving his partner whichever way life takes them. The song ends with a repetition of the line "Here I am, just runnin round catchin em/Whichever way they fall/All night long," which could again represent the singer's resilience and determination to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Light ahead, proves that the wheels broke down
The presence of light ahead indicates that the wheels of my life have broken down and I cannot move forward.
Here I am, still hangin on
Despite the breakdown, I have not given up yet and I am still trying to hold on.
Well alright
I am accepting of my situation and ready to face the challenges ahead.
Shadows only disappear
The shadows in my life will only disappear if I look around and realize that I am not alone.
Just look around theres no one here
In this moment, I feel completely alone and unable to see the support and love of others.
A little spirit turned my light on out and now
Despite my feelings of despair, a small spark of hope has ignited in me and keeps me going.
Can never be no doubt
I am certain that this spark of hope will never fade or be extinguished.
You got to walk in the morning sun
To move forward, I need to embrace the light and positivity of each new day.
And got to smile at everyone
In order to overcome my struggles, I need to show kindness to others and find joy in small moments.
Go my love on your way, to bigger and
I encourage my loved ones to explore new opportunities and reach for greater things.
Bright better days
I believe that better days are ahead for those I care about.
And Ill go crazy for it all
Even in times of darkness and despair, I am passionate about life and willing to fight for what I believe in.
And I wont stop lovin you baby
No matter what happens, my love for my partner remains unwavering.
Oh yeah here I am
I am confident and present, ready to face whatever comes next.
This feeling inside a body
I am not just a physical body, but I have complex emotions and desires.
Light ahead, proves that the wheels broke down
The light continues to remind me of my struggles and limitations.
Here I am, still spinnin round
I may be struggling, but I am still moving and trying to keep up.
Shadows only disappear
I need to actively seek out the light and support of others in order to conquer my fears and doubts.
Just look around theres no one here
Despite the fact that I may feel alone, there are people who care about me and are willing to help and support me.
A little spirit turned my light on out and now
My small spark of hope continues to guide me forward and gives me strength to face each new day.
Can never be no doubt
I am certain that my hope and positivity will continue to thrive and grow, no matter what challenges come my way.
Im gonna wait til the stars come down
I will continue to stay strong and persevere, even if it takes a long time for my dreams to be realized.
My little love smiles on a wing
The love and support of those closest to me helps me to stay strong and keep moving forward, even when things are tough.
For all a raindrop and tears not wasted there
Every drop of rain and every tear is valuable and has a purpose that contributes to the larger picture of life.
Been pourin down all day
I have been struggling for a long time and it feels like there is no end in sight.
Runnin round catchin em baby
I am doing my best to keep up with life's challenges and not let them slow me down.
Run around catchin em baby
I am determined to take control of my life and not let my struggles define who I am or hold me back.
Whichever way they fall
No matter what happens or where life takes me, I will continue to persevere and stay true to myself.
Wont stop lovin you baby
My love for my partner is unconditional and unwavering, and will endure even in times of hardship.
Whichever way you go
I respect and support the choices and direction that my partner takes, no matter what that may be.
Oh yeah
I am filled with hope, positivity, and determination, ready to tackle whatever comes my way.
Here I am
I am present and engaged in the moment, ready to take on whatever challenges come my way.
Just runnin round catchin em
I am actively living my life and doing my best to make the most of each day, no matter what it may bring.
Whichever way they fall
I am committed to making the most of every opportunity and facing every challenge with strength and determination.
All night long
My resolve and determination never falter, and I will persevere no matter how long it takes or how hard it gets.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK LANEGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Felipe Andrés Muñoz Campos
Not only i love this song, but the whole album it is golden. But it seems not everyone can feel that. For me, personally, one of Mark Lanegan's best albums, in terms of lyrics and melody <3
Space Alien Jesus
I agree..its up there..
Jane Doe
Love this song! God's real!
Daniel Maydana
Light ahead
Proves that the wheels broke down
Here I am
Still hangin' on
Well alright
Shadows only disappear
Just look around there's no one here
A little spirit turned my light on out and now
Can never be no doubt
You got to walk in the morning sun
And got to smile at everyone
Go my love on your way
To bigger and
Bright better days
And I'll go crazy for it all
And I won't stop lovin' you baby
Oh yeah, here I am
This feeling inside a body
Light ahead
Proves that the wheels broke down
Here I am
Still spinnin' round
Shadows only disappear
Just look around there's no one here
A little spirit turned my light on out and now
Can never be no doubt
I'm gonna wait til the stars come down
My little love smiles on a wing
For all a raindrop and tears not wasted there
Been pourin' down all day
Runnin' round catchin' 'em baby
Run around catchin' 'em baby
Whichever way they fall
Oh yeah
Won't stop lovin' you baby
Whichever way you go
Oh yeah
Here I am
Here I am
Just runnin' round catchin' 'em
Whichever way they fall
All night long
Jane Doe
I love this song. 4 to 5 stars out of 5.
Jhon Henao
I absolutely adore this song!
Rebecca K.
I’ll miss you greatly. Thank you for changing my life. Godspeed Mark.
Tony Talks About Math
So long, Mr. Lanegan. Thanks for the amazing music!
RenaMWells
Rip big man
Papelaria Fundamental
Thanks Mark