The Ozark Mountain Da… Read Full Bio ↴Alternative tag The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils started in 1971 in Springfield, Missouri in an attempt by the singer/songwriter members to have a vehicle in which to display and promote their music. At first, they played in bars and on porches. However, a record executive from A&M records discovered the band, and they began their recording path.
The original members of the band consisted of:
John Dillion - (vocals, guitars, mandolin, fiddle, piano, harp, autoharp, dulcimer, jawbone, percussion, keyboards)
Mike "Supe" Granda - (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion, chicken squawks)
Buddy Brayfield - (vocals, oboe, piano, harpsichord, organ, percussion, electric piano)
Randle Chowning - (vocals, lead electric & acoustic guitars, harp, national steel, mandolin)
Steve Cash - (vocals, harp, percussion, harpsichord)
Larry Lee - (vocals, drums, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, piano, percussion, saw, saw & board)
The Daredevils peaked commercially in 1973-1974 and were best known for "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get To Heaven", which both got national coverage. However, there was a wide range of music that the Daredevils produced that was widely missed. The influences of the locale and the talents of the band members produced some unique sounds that could be related to "rockabilly" influences. There was also a good body of music that could be classified as country, rock, ballads, folk or blues.
The band changed throughout the years, but played prevantly throughout the '70s and gained and lost members during that time. To this day, there is still a loyal and avid fan following. There are discs still being released by the group, mostly of past performances in the '70s. In addition, many of the members are currently still working on other interests including Randle Chowning, Larry Lee ("Beyond Reach") Mike "Supe" Granda, and possibly others.
A reunion concert was held in Springfield, Missouri at the refurbished Gilloiz Theatre, in May of 2007. The three nights they performed were entirely sold out, weeks in advance of the concert.
Leatherwood
Ozark Mountain Daredevils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would the Lord my soul to take
And could the land that I've known also die
Do you think of you and wonder why
Down in leatherwood
That thought we leave behind
Down in leatherwood
And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue
Was a mad house all flooded by the rain
Or did I once live it in a dream
Throwing all good minutes to the sea
Did you know the sky can also bleed
Down in leatherwood
That thought we leave behind
Down in leatherwood
Country love's gonna steal your mind
And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue
An inner voice it is telling me my verse
Oh and if you're listening it can only make it worse
It may be that there is a master plan
On he who knows, he must be a great man
Down in leatherwood
Hat thought we leave behind
Down in leatherwood
Country love's gonna steal your mind
And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue
Be blue,
Be blue,
Be blue
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils' song "Leatherwood" is a haunting ballad with a dark and reflective tone. The song explores themes of mortality, loss of identity, and the nostalgia for a simpler time before the complexities of modern life. The first stanza begins with the singer posing a question about the afterlife and whether the land they lived on would also disappear. They also mention thinking about someone and wondering why. These themes are consistent throughout the song, with the singer reflecting on their past and wondering about the future.
The second stanza speaks to the idea of memory and how it can be warped and distorted over time. The singer wonders if a building they remember from the past was ever truly real or if it was just a figment of their imagination. They also mention throwing good moments away and the idea that even the sky can bleed. This line can be interpreted as a metaphor for the pain and suffering that can happen in life, even in the natural world.
The song's chorus provides some relief from the heavier subjects at hand, with the repeated refrain "And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue." This line contrasts with the rest of the song's melancholic tone and suggests that despite the hardships of life, there is still hope for happiness.
Overall, "Leatherwood" is a richly layered and emotional song that captures the human experience in all its complexity.
Line by Line Meaning
If I fell off to sleep and did not wake
If I were to die in my sleep
Would the Lord my soul to take
Would God take my soul to the afterlife
And could the land that I've known also die
And would the world keep turning without me
Do you think of you and wonder why
Do you ever contemplate your own existence
Down in leatherwood
In this rural area
That thought we leave behind
Memories that we abandon
Country love's gonna steal your mind
Love for this place will consume you
And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue
We will never be sad here
Was a mad house all flooded by the rain
Was this a chaotic and destructive environment
Or did I once live it in a dream
Or was it just a figment of my imagination
Throwing all good minutes to the sea
Wasting valuable time
Did you know the sky can also bleed
Did you ever notice the unpredictable nature of the world
An inner voice it is telling me my verse
I feel as though I must express myself
Oh and if you're listening it can only make it worse
But if you're paying attention it could make things more difficult for me
It may be that there is a master plan
Perhaps there is a divine reason for everything
On he who knows, he must be a great man
Only a wise person can truly understand
Be blue,
Be blue,
Be blue
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RANDLE CHOWNING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulissler8319
If I fell off to sleep and did not wake
Would the Lord my soul to take
And could the land that I've known also die
Do you think of you and wonder why
Down in leatherwood
That thought we leave behind
Down in leatherwood
Country love's gonna steal your mind
And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue
Was a mad house all flooded by the rain
Or did I once live it in a dream
Throwing all good minutes to the sea
Did you know the sky can also bleed
Down in leatherwood
That thought we leave behind
Down in leatherwood
Country love's gonna steal your mind
And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue
An inner voice it is telling me my verse
Oh and if you're listening it can only make it worse
It may be that there is a master plan
On he who knows, he must be a great man
Down in leatherwood
Hat thought we leave behind
Down in leatherwood
Country love's gonna steal your mind
And we ain't never gonna be blue, be blue
Be blue,
Be blue,
Be blue
Anyone else in 2020 feelin blue in Leatherwood?
@JakeNolen
This song will never not remind me of my father.
@joedelozier9501
Best song nobody knows!!!!
@jb-i-m4735
What a great song! Vocals are amazing!
@BigBri550
I've been a longtime admirer of The OMDD's, but this song is the one I always return to even after all these years. It's timeless.
@remygarrison1451
I just love this song. Driving down country road, windows down, this playing--hard to beat.
@richardtear8602
I am 65and I feel like a brand new baby thank you so much love is power
@jdmccall56
One of my favorite Daredevil's tunes. RC was in the groove. Love it!
@paulissler8319
First heard of ya'll back in th seventies. Thank you so much for a lifetime of amazing tunes and the lifestyle that goes with em. Cheers
@timjanssen1671
Just never get tired of listening to the Daredevil's.
@hankrigney8087
my mother loved this song. god bless her and the ozark mountin dare daredeviles