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.
Within Without
Ozark Mountain Daredevils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
now I'm lookin' out my house
and what I see doesn't please me
people goin' here, goin' there,
where's that leave me
now they're comin' in my door
to explore what's running around in me
but it's not me that they'll finally find
when I tell them they have
all lost the race to the end
'cause they've passed themselves within
without
(GUITAR SOLO)
now I'm runnin' from my house
'cause my house doesn't please me
people comin' in, goin' out,
they don't see me
now I'm flyin' through the air
I'm not scared of people all underneath,
in a heap, askin' how'd we get to here
from there where our lives had some meaning
and all the days weren't the same
we played no games
and we knew ourselves within
without
(GUITAR SOLO)
ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa....
ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa....
ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa....
ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa......ba...ba...baaaa....
The song ‘Within Without’ by Ozark Mountain Daredevils is a contemplative piece that explores the singer’s internal conflict. The song opens with the lines “Now I'm lookin' out my house and what I see doesn't please me” which implies that the singer is discontented with everything happening around them. The people in the singer’s life are “goin' here, goin' there” which suggests they are busy with their own lives, leaving the singer feeling disconnected from them. The singer also says that these people are “comin' in my door to explore what's running around in me” but they will not find the real person inside.
In the second verse, the singer is running away from their house as it does not fulfill them anymore. They say that there was a time when they “played no games and we knew ourselves within without” which implies the singer has lost touch with themselves. The central theme of the song seems to be the idea that each person needs to find themselves within themselves rather than expecting others to do so. The repeated guitar solo adds a melancholic touch to the overall song, encapsulating the confusion and uncertainty of the singer's situation.
Line by Line Meaning
now I'm lookin' out my house
The singer is looking out his house and realizes that what he is seeing does not make him happy.
and what I see doesn't please me
The things that the singer sees outside his house don't make him feel good about his surroundings.
people goin' here, goin' there,
The people around him are busy and preoccupied.
where's that leave me
The artist feels left out from the activities of those around him.
now they're comin' in my door
People are now coming into the artist's safe space.
to explore what's running around in me
People are now interested in the singer's thoughts and feelings.
but it's not me that they'll finally find
Despite their interest, the people won't be able to fully understand or get to know the singer.
behind the smile on my face
The artist is hiding his true feelings behind a façade of happiness.
when I tell them they have
The artist will inform them that they have lost something important.
all lost the race to the end
The people have failed to live their lives to the fullest.
'cause they've passed themselves within
The people have neglected their own desires and goals in life.
without
The people have failed to fulfill their inner selves.
now I'm runnin' from my house
The singer is now trying to escape from his surroundings which he finds unfulfilling.
'cause my house doesn't please me
The singer is unhappy with his current living situation.
people comin' in, goin' out,
People keep coming in and out of the singer's personal space without giving him the opportunity to bond with them.
they don't see me
People around the artist continue to ignore the artist's presence.
now I'm flyin' through the air
The artist is imagining that he is flying and free, and therefore unchained to his unhappy life.
I'm not scared of people all underneath,
The singer is no longer afraid of being under the presence and pressures of other people.
in a heap, askin' how'd we get to here from there where our lives had some meaning
The people the singer once knew or knew of are now questioning how they've ended up in life with so little fulfillment, particularly after a time when their lives used to have meaning.
and all the days weren't the same
The artist remembers a time when days were spent with purpose and fulfillment.
we played no games
At that time, they didn't waste their time playing games with their lives and each other.
and we knew ourselves within
They had an understanding of themselves and their purpose in life.
without
They didn't need the presence or validation of others to fulfill their own inner selves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LARRY M. LEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Witcombe
I have loved these guys forever! Who's still listening in 2020!!! 🇺🇸👍🇺🇸
DJ Kapusta
2021
Mountain Rock
Until my time of dying .
Michael Dore
Me !!!
Pullman Standard
December 30, 2022. Still going strong.
maria ronnholm
These covid times have made me go back to what soothes my soul, calms my mind and lifts my heart. I love this.
Jerry Ziegler
I've "rediscovered" this album continuously since 1973. It's 2020 and it's still awesome!
Distastful Tofu
I'm 16 and I can truly say this music is something special. I love it!
Rick Stafford
+Celestino Meh I'm 58 and I can say when this came out at age 16...it was and still is...something special. the tune is a Lifetime Of Favorites Top 200
Chip Amos
I discovered also at 16, now I'm 61.