He was also the lead singer for the power pop group The Semantics and was the guitarist for Amy Grant's band from 1994 to 2010.
It seems like such a phony platitude that doing things the hard way is the most rewarding. Of course, anyone with a shred of sense, or anyone who has done something the hard way can tell you that the spoils are greater, and so is the sense of accomplishment. But it’d be nice if things came more easily.
For singer-songwriter-rocker Owsley, it’s been a pretty easy ride. Music came to him naturally through a richly musical family. Now that’s typical for most talented folks—that the music comes easy—the hard part is getting folks to listen. That’s what he’s talking about on his new album, The Hard Way, even though the Anniston, Alabama native will tell you, “It’s about a lot of things.”
So is Owsley. As a youngster, he played guitar along to the radio bands like Wings, KISS, and The Cars, matching licks with his older brother, Bud. This morphed into writing songs of his own, 4-track bedroom recording sessions (his penchant for multi-tracking vocals explains the plethora of big choruses on The Hard Way), underage bar gigs with cover bands—he’d do anything to scratch the musical itch.
Eventually he made the pros: his guitar prowess landed him a gig with funk-pop pioneer Judson Spence with whom Owsley played around the world and appeared on MTV in Spence's videos. Subsequently, a pre-fame Ben Folds introduced him to Millard Powers, and the two would form the legendary power-pop trio The Semantics with Zak Starkey (their lone album, Powerbill, released only in Japan, is now hot property). This led to Owsley joining Amy Grant’s touring band in 1994, a gig he holds today. Playing with Grant enabled Owsley to create a musical playground/home studio, not to mention spend time off writing and recording his own music. In 1999, he released Owsley on Giant Records, garnering raves for the anthemic power-pop songs (“I’m Alright” was a minor hit) and a Grammy™ nomination for his engineering efforts.
Owsley next crossed paths with his musical hero, legendary producer Mutt Lange. Lange, equally enamored with Owsley, hired him to play guitar and sing the duet, “No One Needs to Know” with Lange’s wife, Shania Twain live on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Today Show,” “Regis & Kathy Lee” and “The American Country Music Awards.”
Then came the hard part: Giant fell victim to corporate mergers and boarded up the windows within a year of Owsley hitting shelves. Rather than be swept up in the swirling flush, Owsley began writing and recording another album, The Hard Way.
Again produced and performed almost entirely by Owsley in his home studio, The Hard Way continues Owsley’s fascination with perfect pop tunes—big choruses and big words set to lush, exhilarating arrangements. “I’m a sucker for an anthem,” says Owsley, explaining how the lead track “Be With You” is a love song to “God and woman, not just to woman,” and an expression of a yearning to for spiritual, interpersonal and terrestrial connections. You can’t help but ache with him when he sings:
“I wanna know how it feels to believe in something/ride on the heels of a good thing comin’/run to the one thing I know is something true…/I wanna live my life like I know the meaning/deep inside my soul I hear the music screamin’/eyes wide open so I’m awake and dreaming, too.”
“Undone” and “She’s The One” are likewise transcendent, explosive examples of songs you sing in the car or the shower, but also out loud at inopportune times because you just can’t help it. But Owsley is also a first-rate balladeer, able to convey as much sorrow in a sad song as he does joy in a fist-pumping anthem. “Matriarch,” written for Owsley’s departed grandmother, is a piano ballad in the great AM-radio style of Carole King and Gerry Goffin, with nods to Todd Rundgren and Jeff Lynne on the FM side. And like those songwriters, you feel every word and every note in your blood.
He’s also a startling analyst, able to extract the most significance from his surroundings and his and others’ situations, and pair it with vivid detail. For instance, the folksy title track, where he draws parallels between a gambling addict and his life in music.
“I hate casinos,” Owsley opines. “They’re gross, to me. You know, no clocks, drinks for free, pumpin' in oxygen through the air vents, no windows, call girls, smell of cigarettes.” Like the losers at the tables, Owsley is begging for a lesson—“Let me learn the hard way.” He explains, “I guess the message is I’ll never learn. I keep getting hit in the face, and keep getting back up to get it again.”
But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In making The Hard Way, Owsley has experienced a lesson he skipped by performing side and session gigs and writing in the wings. He’s learned that he must be a master of the results. “I guess,” he says, “in a world of pretenders, I’m a contender. Sorry if that sounds egotistical; I still have so much to learn, but most of the people on the radio today probably started playing guitar last week. And I’ve been doing this and preparing for today since birth—no kidding. It’s all I ever wanted, to be a legitimate player, writer, producer, and performer.”
All this… on his terms. He says, “it feels good to make music again, and for the right reasons. I’m optimistic about the future but most importantly want to be loyal to the fans that have stuck by me through thick and thin. This record is really for them.”
Not that he’s opposed to doing it again, or consigned to indie life. He’s learned some lessons, but he’d still take another shot at the spoils. “The final chapter has not been written. Who knows what will happen? Right now, all that matters is we’re taking control and doing it our way. The Hard Way.”
Sadly, Will Owsley died on April 30, 2010 at the age of 44 of what the Tennessean reported to be "an apparent suicide". He is survived by 2 sons, his ex-wife and his wonderful music.
Coming Up Roses
Owsley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you feel like you're the only one alive
Since she left you blame yourself
For all the things she never felt
How could you be untrue to yourself
When nobody is watching
Your life isn't over the clock is still tocking
Be able to forget the sadness
Get into the gladness
Of love and it's way and you will not fight it
While everyone dozes, you're coming up roses
Drowning in a sea of sorrow
She won't be here for tomorrow's lullaby
'Round and 'round and 'round she goes
And where she stops nobody knows
But God above
It's starting to rain and you're running
For cover like she ran to the arms of another
One day you will wake up and you'll
Be able to forget the sadness
Get into the gladness
Of love and it's way and you will not fight it
While everyone dozes, you're coming up roses
You will learn to try again
When you get your second wind
How long is the road paved with good intentions
Forever waiting divine intervention
Of love and it's way and you will not fight it
While everyone dozes, you're coming up roses
The song "Coming up Roses" by Owsley is a story of heartbreak and the journey to find love again. The first stanza portrays an individual in a state of loneliness after being left by their significant other. They feel like they are the only one alive and they blame themselves for the things their partner never felt. The second stanza highlights the idea of being true to oneself, despite the opinions of others. Life is still ticking away and the sunrise will eventually come. The third and final stanza conveys the message of perseverance, self-growth, and healing. New love is waiting, and it can be obtained with the right attitude and approach. The rain serves as a metaphor for the sorrow that comes with heartbreak, and the idea of running for cover suggests the need to shield oneself from the melancholy emotions.
The lyrics of "Coming up Roses" are a testament to the human experience of love and heartbreak. The song captures the essence of the emotions that come with a broken heart, and the need to persevere despite the pain. The idea of being true to oneself, learning to love again, and looking towards a brighter future are all themes that are explored in the song. In essence, the lyrics convey a message of hope and resilience, and encourage the listener to keep fighting and persevere through the challenges of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Morning comes and you're so lonely
You wake up in the morning alone and isolated.
And you feel like you're the only one alive
You feel like you're the only one who is experiencing this pain and loneliness.
Since she left you blame yourself
You blame yourself for the end of the relationship.
For all the things she never felt
You take responsibility for the fact that she didn't feel the same way about the relationship as you did.
How could you be untrue to yourself
You question how you could have been dishonest with yourself about the relationship.
When nobody is watching
You were dishonest with yourself because there was no one else around to observe the reality of the situation.
Your life isn't over the clock is still tocking
Your life isn't over and time keeps moving forward.
One day you will wake up and you'll
One day you will awaken and ... (the following lines provide additional insight)
Be able to forget the sadness
You will eventually be able to move past this sorrow and let it fade into the background.
Get into the gladness
You will rediscover happiness and joy in your life.
Of love and it's way and you will not fight it
You will embrace and accept the path that love takes you on without resistance.
While everyone dozes, you're coming up roses
While others are sleeping through life, you are thriving and achieving success (represented by the phrase 'coming up roses').
Drowning in a sea of sorrow
You are overwhelmed by feelings of grief and pain.
She won't be here for tomorrow's lullaby
The person you lost won't be around to comfort you in the future.
'Round and 'round and 'round she goes
The memories and thoughts of the lost person swirl around in your mind.
And where she stops nobody knows
You can't predict where your mind will take you or how you will feel in the future.
But God above
This phrase is used to denote a shift towards a spiritual perspective.
It's starting to rain and you're running
The weather is turning bad and you are running to avoid getting wet, which serves as a metaphor for your attempts to avoid confronting your feelings of loss and pain.
For cover like she ran to the arms of another
You are trying to protect yourself after she left you for someone else.
You will learn to try again
You will eventually be ready and willing to pursue new relationships.
When you get your second wind
You will find renewed energy and motivation to move forward in your life.
How long is the road paved with good intentions
It can be difficult to achieve your goals or follow through on your plans, even when you have good intentions.
Forever waiting divine intervention
You may feel like you're waiting for a higher power to intervene and help you through your struggles.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OWSLEY, POWERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind