Curran grew up in the Portland, Maine area, where his father was a professional musician. His father would give him The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Duke Robillard records and say, "If you want to be a good guitar player, learn all these solos, every note!" At 15 Curran was playing guitar with his father's blues band, Mike Curran and the Tremors. By the time he was 18, Curran was playing guitar in a local rockabilly band, when he was introduced to rockabilly legend Ronnie Dawson. He joined Dawson's band and began his first national tour, playing guitar with Dawson for the next six months. His reputation as a hotshot guitarist was beginning to spread. When he got off the road from Dawson's tour, he got a call to go back out on the road with Texas rockabilly queen Kim Lenz. His guitar work on that tour impressed Lenz so much she asked Curran to move from New England to Dallas to join her backup band, the Jaguars. He stayed in that band for two years, getting some recording experience along the way on one of Lenz' albums, The One And Only.
Curran immersed himself in the vibrant blues traditions in Dallas as well as the roots music scene in Austin. He even did a touring stint with retro-country musician Wayne Hancock. In 2003 he joined forces with former Fabulous Thunderbirds and Roomful of Blues bassist Preston Hubbard and drummer Damien Llanes and recorded and toured as Nick Curran and the Nitelifes. The band's two records on the Blind Pig label, Dr. Velvet and Player, actually sound like classic R&B records from the late 40's and early 50's. Using a live, one-take technique and vintage recording equipment, Curran uncannily manages to recreate not only the sound but also the spirit of those earlier, wonderful times. Curran was nonetheless able to infuse each track with a freshness, urgency, and vitality that are lacking in many modern blues and rock releases. He also plays lead guitar in the Austin based Punk/ Rock and Roll band the Flash Boys.
With the breakup of the Nitelifes in 2005, Curran then joined vocalist Kim Wilson's latest incarnation of The Fabulous Thunderbirds in time to record the band's 2005 release Painted On.
Curran performed four songs in a scene in the 2008 HBO Series, True Blood, based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, which explores the co-existence of humans and vampires.
After performing a solo show in November, 2008, Curran formed the rock ‘n’ roll roots band, Nick Curran and the Lowlifes. Curran was also in the Austin-based punk/rock ‘n’ roll band The Flash Boys.
In 2010, Curran was diagnosed with oral cancer.
A second cousin of Curran's is also named Nick Curran (he's from Fairfax, Virginia and now resides in Pennsylvania).
Curran appeared on the HBO Original Series "True Blood," playing a member of the band that performs at Arlene (Carrie Preston) and Rene’s (Michael Raymond James) engagement party at Merlotte’s Bar.
Crazy Mixed Up World
Nick Curran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I love to dance like this
Well I love to rock 'n' roll,
because it satisfy my soul
Well I love to jump and shout,
hey it really knock me out
You give me music with a beat,
it'll knock me off my feet
this is a crazy mixed up world
Crazy mixed up world
Crazy mixed up world
Crazy mixed up world
I'm in a crazy mixed up world
When I loosen up down inside,
my feets begin to glide
My heart goes pump, pump, pump,
the music makes me jump, jump, jump
I can't control myself no more,
music got me on the floor
Well I'm crazy ain't you heard,
I'm in a crazy mixed up world
Crazy mixed up world
Crazy mixed up world
The lyrics of "Crazy Mixed Up World" by Nick Curran And The Nitelifes talk about the joy and exhilaration that music and dancing bring to the singer. The opening lines talk about how the singer is a "crazy mixed up kid" who loves to dance. The lyrics go on to describe how rock and roll music satisfies his soul and how the beat of the music can knock him off his feet. The singer also can't control himself on the dance floor when he hears the music, and it makes him jump and shout.
The song is an upbeat and energetic ode to the power of music and dance to liberate and uplift people. The lyrics suggest that the world might be crazy and mixed up, but music has the power to make everything okay, even if only for a little while. The song is a celebration of the joy and freedom that can be found in letting go and allowing yourself to get lost in the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm a crazy mixed up kid,
I am a person who is confused and doesn't fit in
and I love to dance like this
I express myself through dancing in this unique way
Well I love to rock 'n' roll,
I am passionate about rock and roll music
because it satisfy my soul
Rock and roll music brings me inner satisfaction and happiness
Well I love to jump and shout,
I enjoy being energetic and loud
hey it really knock me out
Being lively and enthusiastic makes me feel invigorated
You give me music with a beat,
If you give me music that has a distinctive rhythm,
it'll knock me off my feet
It will make me feel so consumed by the music that I'll lose control
I don't care what you heard,
I am not concerned with other people's opinions
this is a crazy mixed up world
The world is disorderly and unpredictable
Crazy mixed up world
The world is full of confusion and chaos
Crazy mixed up world
The world is unstructured and illogical
Crazy mixed up world
The world is disorganized and turbulent
I'm in a crazy mixed up world
I exist in the midst of a disordered and volatile world
When I loosen up down inside,
When I let go of my inhibitions,
my feets begin to glide
I feel more fluid and graceful when I move
My heart goes pump, pump, pump,
My heart rate increases with excitement and stimulation
the music makes me jump, jump, jump
The music inspires me to move my body energetically
I can't control myself no more,
I am overcome by the music and cannot resist dancing
music got me on the floor
I am dancing on the ground, fully immersed in the music
Well I'm crazy ain't you heard,
I am perceived as unconventional or irrational by others
I'm in a crazy mixed up world
I exist in a world that is confusing and unpredictable
Crazy mixed up world
The world is unstructured and chaotic
Crazy mixed up world
The world is full of disorder and turmoil
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: WILLIE DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind