Case has had a wide-ranging career ranging from new wave music to solo acoustic performance.
In 1976, Case teamed up with Jack Lee and Paul Collins, to form early new wave band The Nerves in San Francisco. The Nerves' 1976 single, "Hanging on the Telephone", was eventually recorded by Blondie.
After The Nerves disbanded, Case moved to Los Angeles and formed pop-rock band The Plimsouls in 1980. The group found success with the song "A Million Miles Away", but disbanded soon after. Case briefly toured with Gurf Morlix, Victoria Williams (Case's first wife), and Warren Tornado Klein in a group called the Incredibly Strung Out Band, which never released a record. Case struck out on his own with a self-titled album released in 1986 on Geffen Records and produced by T-Bone Burnett. The album included a number of songs cowritten by Williams, and also featured the talents of John Hiatt and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds.
In 1989, Case released a second solo disc, The Man With the Blue Post-Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar, this time with the help of artists like David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, Ry Cooder, and Benmont Tench. While not a hit, the album was a favorite of critics and other musicians: Bruce Springsteen told Rolling Stone that he was listening to Peter Case more than anyone else that year.
Throughout the '90s and early 2000s, Case continued to release discs as a solo performer, moving in an increasingly acoustic-based direction, and playing clubs and small venues. His typical solo performances have featured his own compositions as well as covers of songs by Memphis Minnie, Sleepy John Estes, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and others.
In 1996, The Plimsouls reunited for a few shows and some recording sessions, and they have given occasional performances since then.
Case is also an active musicologist: in the late 1990's, he curated the musical program for the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. In 2001, Case organized, produced, and performed on a tribute album to blues music pioneer Mississippi John Hurt. Case also had the chance to perform Beatles songs at the Hollywood Bowl with Sir George Martin.
In February 2006, Hungry for Music, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC, released a three-disc tribute to Case, entitled A Case for Case; the set featured cover versions of Case's songs performed by various artists, including John Prine, Susan Cowsill, and others
Ain't Gonna Worry No More
Peter Case Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Barefeet poppin' on a pinewood floor
A tumblerush of desert flowers side the door
Her music box is pretty with the piebald stripes
Dust mote diamonds in a shaft of light
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
I ain't gonna worry no more
I was waitin at the depot for a London train
Tryin' to paint a picture in the pourin' rain
Hangin' out the window runnin' out of blue
Tomcat in the alley dodged a worn out shoe
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
Everybody's laughin' now it won't be long
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
I ain't gonna worry no more
Open farmhouse window with a cooling pie
Fanned out on the breeze aroma called me nigh
I grabbed the dish & runnin kept the right hand road
Crossin open country with my shoulder bowed
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
Everybody's laughin' now it won't be long
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
I ain't gonna worry no more
I can hardly remember I can almost recall
The first gig we played at the old moose hall
Larry on bass Lloyd on tubs
Down in the catacombs before we took drugs
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
Everybody's laughin' now it won't be long
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
I ain't gonna worry no more
He fourteen dressed in his fathers hat
Even grew a little mustache just like that
Told the crazy lady at the corner shop
I'll take a pack of camels & a bottle of schnapps
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
Everybody's laughin' now it won't be long
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
I ain't gonna worry no more
Back then they had a war that weren' t no good
Everybody said they'd do what they could
Some went to canada some went down
With the FBI to the jail downtown
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
I ain't gonna worry no more
Bananas are cheap that's united fruit
They cut off labor unions at the root
Murdered the tribes to clear the way
For the puppet government & CIA
C'mon down...
Hear the roar of jets comin' over the park
The glow of last cigerettes in the dark
Do your bones turn to water? does the sky turn black?
Caught at ground zero in a missle attack
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
When I walked by a theater with a shining sign
Said, 'Lightnin' Hopkins playing here tonight'
Paid my last three bucks & went inside
& there he was in the big spotlight, singin'
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
Everybody's laughin' now it won't be long
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
I ain't gonna worry no more
She's the sweetest woman that I've ever known
If I die tomorrow 'for I turn to stone
I'll close my eyes travel back in time
23rd & mission walkin side by side
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
Everybody's laughin' now it won't be long
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
I ain't gonna worry no more
Born beneath a wandering star
Never thought I'd get this far
I may be cracked but its just as well
My ears are ringing like the liberty bell
The song Ain't Gonna Worry No More by Peter Case is an upbeat, whimsical tune that seems to celebrate life and moments of joy amidst difficult circumstances. The first verse evokes a sense of nostalgia and beauty, with bare feet popping on a pinewood floor, and a "tumblerush of desert flowers" greeting the door. There is a sense of simplicity and wonder in the music box that is "pretty with the piebald stripes" and the "dust mote diamonds in a shaft of light". The chorus gives voice to an affirmation that the singer will no longer "worry no more" - a declaration that he is ready to embrace the present and the joys it may bring. The second and third verses are different vignettes that again evoke nostalgia and travels. The second verse describes a person waiting for a train to London in the pouring rain, trying to paint a picture, and laughing at the sight of a tomcat dodging a worn-out shoe. The third verse describes the smell of a cooling pie in an open farmhouse window, and the way the aroma calls to the singer as she crosses open country with a bowed shoulder. The final lines of the song, "Born beneath a wandering star / Never thought I'd get this far / I may be cracked but it's just as well / My ears are ringing like the liberty bell" express a sense of pride in one's journey - a sense that no matter where one has come from, they can look back and be proud of their achievements.
Line by Line Meaning
Barefeet poppin' on a pinewood floor
The sound of bare feet against a pinewood floor.
A tumblerush of desert flowers side the door
A rush of desert flowers right beside the door.
Her music box is pretty with the piebald stripes
A music box decorated with piebald stripes.
Dust mote diamonds in a shaft of light
Dust specks looking like diamonds when caught by a ray of light.
C'mon down I ain't gonna worry no more
Come join the fun as I don't plan on worrying anymore.
Everybody's laughin' now it won't be long
Everyone's having a good time, and soon the good times will end.
We've seen a lot of troubles now the ghost is gone
We had our share of problems, but they are now gone.
I ain't gonna worry no more
I don't want to worry anymore.
I was waitin at the depot for a London train
Waiting at a depot for a train bound for London.
Tryin' to paint a picture in the pourin' rain
Attempting to create art under heavy rain.
Hangin' out the window runnin' out of blue
Hanging out the window and running out of the color blue.
Tomcat in the alley dodged a worn out shoe
A tomcat in the alley that evaded a shoe thrown at it.
Open farmhouse window with a cooling pie
An open farmhouse window with a freshly baked pie that cools down the room.
Fanned out on the breeze aroma called me nigh
The breeze wafting into open window that carried the scent of the pie.
I grabbed the dish & runnin kept the right hand road
Grabbed the dish and started running while sticking to the right road.
Crossin open country with my shoulder bowed
Traveling through open country with a bowed shoulder.
I can hardly remember I can almost recall
Having a vague recollection of the past.
The first gig we played at the old moose hall
First performance held in an old moose hall.
Larry on bass Lloyd on tubs
Larry playing bass, and Lloyd playing the tub.
Down in the catacombs before we took drugs
Playing music in the catacombs before the use of drugs.
He fourteen dressed in his fathers hat
A fourteen-year-old kid wearing his dad's hat.
Even grew a little mustache just like that
Grew a small mustache in the same style as his dad's effortlessly.
Told the crazy lady at the corner shop
Talking to the eccentric lady at the store corner.
I'll take a pack of camels & a bottle of schnapps
Buying a pack of Camel cigarettes and a bottle of Schnapps.
Back then they had a war that weren't no good
The war that happened back then was not good at all.
Everybody said they'd do what they could
People showed support, and some volunteered during the war.
Some went to canada some went down
Some people went to Canada, and others did something else during the war.
With the FBI to the jail downtown
Some people got into trouble with the FBI and ended up in jail.
Bananas are cheap that's united fruit
United fruit, which buys cheap bananas, has a bad reputation.
They cut off labor unions at the root
United fruit cuts labor unions as it aims for low-cost production.
Murdered the tribes to clear the way
United fruit massacres tribes to get to land.
For the puppet government & CIA
The puppet government and CIA played a role in United fruit's actions.
Hear the roar of jets comin' over the park
Hearing the roar of jets flying over the park.
The glow of last cigerettes in the dark
The glowing embers of a cigarette at night.
Do your bones turn to water? does the sky turn black?
A rhetorical question asking if one's bones turn into water and if the sky turns black during an attack.
Caught at ground zero in a missle attack
Caught in a missile attack at ground zero.
When I walked by a theater with a shining sign
Passing by a theater with a bright sign.
Said, 'Lightnin' Hopkins playing here tonight'
Saw a sign indicating that Lightnin' Hopkins would perform at that theater.
Paid my last three bucks & went inside
Paid the last three dollars and went into the theater.
& there he was in the big spotlight, singin'
Found Lightnin' Hopkins under the spotlight, singing.
She's the sweetest woman that I've ever known
Describing a woman as the sweetest he's ever met.
If I die tomorrow 'for I turn to stone
Expressing the idea of not wanting to die before truly living.
I'll close my eyes travel back in time
Mentally traveling back in time and reminiscing.
23rd & mission walkin side by side
Walking together on 23rd and Mission street.
Born beneath a wandering star
Being born with a restless spirit.
Never thought I'd get this far
Feeling surprised or fortunate to have gone this far in life.
I may be cracked but it's just as well
Acknowledging that he may be flawed or weird but accepting it anyway.
My ears are ringing like the liberty bell
Ears ringing loudly like how the Liberty Bell would sound.
Contributed by Henry H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.