After an earlier career with The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, Farris emerged in the early 2000's with his first solo album, "Goodnight Sun" that saw him develop and create music more in tune with his own personal spiritual journey. In June of 2007 he released the critically-acclaimed "Salvation in Lights" which married old time roots Gospel sounds with his own unique arrangements that were mainly inspired by New Orleans Black Gospel, Stax and the blues. The music was both spiritual and personal as it deals with individual struggle but also has a commonality that music fans can enjoy purely for its soul.
He won the Americana Music Association's “New & Emerging Artist of the Year” award in 2008 and started to make a name for himself as a dynamic performer. In 2008 and 2009, Farris and his Roseland Rhythm Revue performed monthly residencies at Nashville’s’ Station Inn that he named “Sunday Night Shout!” The shows had audiences consisting of people from all walks of life and the goal was to make the crowd feel “excited, delighted and loved.” The official live recording of the Station Inn shows, "SHOUT! Live," was released in 2009 and won the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for “Best Traditional Gospel Album of the Year” in the spring of 2010.
When the “1,000 year flood” hit the Middle Tennessee state area in May of 2010 he gathered up some of the finest Nashville musicians including: Sam Bush, Ketch Secor & Gill Landry (Old Crow Medicine Show), Kenny Vaughan (Marty Stuart), Byron House (Robert Plant) and members of his Roseland Rhythm Revue to record six in 6 hours at Nashville’s Downtown Presbyterian Church. The music was a beautiful blend of old time country, gospel and blues with Mike leading the “Cumberland Saints” from the pulpit. In October of that year the EP was released as The Night The Cumberland Came Alive with partial proceeds donated to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The music is listed as Mike Farris and the Cumberland Saints on last.fm.
Farris amazes audiences whenever he plays solo or with any one of his different configurations from the stripped down to the full nine-piece Roseland Rhythm Revue. His voice connects and mesmerizes in such a way that it doesn’t matter if the songs are his own compositions or ones sung 200 years ago. He has guested on Patty Griffin's Grammy Award winning "Downtown Church" album and was a featured performer at the 2011 Rock And Roll Hall of Fame's American Music Masters concert celebrating Aretha Franklin.
On 8 February 2015, Farris won the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for Shine For All the People.
Sublime
Mike Farris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had more than she could stand
It went in a little too deep
It wasn't that she couldn't take it
Monday found her dead and gone
Left here all alone
Here's to another day of great expectations
Went to find the guys underneath the billboard sign that said
()
It will be sublime
What ya' got to looooose
It will be sublime
Oh, baby, I'm a foooool for you
Tuesday was so nice
We made it all the way to Phoenix
To celebrate the day we bowed our heads and prayed
Wednesday caught me by surprise
There was no one left but I
Here's to another day of just not knowing
I cried to the One that I prayed to the night before
What's it like back home
()
By Friday I was crashing like a wrecking ball
At the liquor store on Ventura Boulevard
Went to the doctor to get a loan against the weakness
He said that's what you get when you're a rolling stone
()
()
Sunday, I died, but all I wanted to do was cry
Here's to another day of great expectations
The song "Sublime" by Mike Farris is a contemplative piece that speaks about the ups and downs of life. The song is structured in the form of a diary or journal, chronicling the highs and lows of the singer's week. It starts on Sunday when the singer is dealing with a "busted van" and ends on Sunday with the singer feeling like they have "died". The song reflects on the great expectations that we have in life, and how sometimes we fall short of our goals.
The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer is struggling with something, possibly depression or addiction. The line "By Friday I was crashing like a wrecking ball" suggests that their week was fraught with difficulties, which were exacerbated by their weakness. The singer seeks comfort in the idea of the sublime, which is something beyond our grasp, something that transcends our everyday struggles. The singer seems to believe that the sublime is something that they can attain, but they are also aware that it is not something that they can hold onto.
In essence, the song Sublime is a meditation on the transience of life, and the constant struggle to achieve something better. It speaks to the human condition of wanting more, and never being satisfied, while at the same time recognizing the beauty in the journey itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunday was a busted van
Sunday was a day of hardships and difficulties.
She had more than she could stand
She was burdened by more than she could handle.
It went in a little too deep
Her problems were too much for her to bear.
It wasn't that she couldn't take it
She was capable, but her problems were overwhelming.
Monday found her dead and gone
She died the next day.
Left here all alone
She departed this world without anyone by her side.
Here's to another day of great expectations
Another day filled with hope and anticipation.
Went to find the guys underneath the billboard sign that said
Went to meet some people under a sign that displayed something.
()
The sign displayed nothing.
It will be sublime
A great experience is going to happen.
What ya' got to looooose
What do you have to lose by experiencing this greatness.
It will be sublime
A great experience is going to happen.
Oh, baby, I'm a foooool for you
I am foolishly in love with you.
Tuesday was so nice
Tuesday was a lovely day.
We made it all the way to Phoenix
We traveled to Phoenix.
To celebrate the day we bowed our heads and prayed
We celebrated by praying.
Wednesday caught me by surprise
Wednesday was unexpected.
There was no one left but I
Everyone else was gone and I was alone.
Here's to another day of just not knowing
Yet another day of uncertainty and confusion.
I cried to the One that I prayed to the night before
I prayed to God the night before and cried out to Him.
What's it like back home
What is home like now?
()
No reply or answer was given.
By Friday I was crashing like a wrecking ball
By Friday, I felt like I was falling apart.
At the liquor store on Ventura Boulevard
I was at the liquor store on Ventura Boulevard.
Went to the doctor to get a loan against the weakness
I went to the doctor hoping for treatment to help me overcome my struggles.
He said that's what you get when you're a rolling stone
The doctor suggested my state was due to my lifestyle of constant movement and change.
()
No reply or answer was given.
()
No reply or answer was given.
Sunday, I died, but all I wanted to do was cry
On Sunday, I passed away but wished to weep instead.
Here's to another day of great expectations
Another day filled with hope and anticipation.
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.