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
Somebody Told The Truth
Peter Case Lyrics
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The courthouse emptied out
The jurors all went home
The lawyers eased their guilty hearts
The cops were on their own
The soldiers left their camps
The generals disappeared
The prisoners were freed
Somebody, somebody told
They told the truth to somebody
Somebody told the truth
Somebody, somebody told
They told the truth to somebody
Somebody told the truth
The theaters emptied out
The radios went dead
The stadiums were silent
And not a word was said
The dots were all connected
The lines were barely drawn
The secrets night kept hidden
Were left out in the dawn
Somebody, somebody told
They told the truth to somebody
Somebody told the truth
Somebody, somebody told
They told the truth to somebody
Somebody told the truth
The starving men and women
For once received their fill
The children of the highway
Were singin' on the hill
The politicians vanished
They must have caught their plane
The clandestine policeman
Stared out in the rain
I sat down on the curbstone
I rubbed my eyes and coughed
I rubbed my wrists and ankles
And I thanked the lord above
Somebody, somebody told
They told the truth to somebody
Somebody told the truth
Somebody, somebody told
They told the truth to somebody
Somebody told the truth
The song "Somebody Told The Truth" by Peter Case tells a story of a world where secrets have been revealed and everyone is exposed to the truth. The lyrics vividly illustrate a post-apocalyptic scenario where the law, the government, and the media have all disappeared, and the people are left to pick up the pieces. The courthouses have emptied out, soldiers have abandoned their camps, and politicians have vanished. The starving are finally fed, while children sing freely on hilltops. It is a world where freedom and honesty reign after a long period of deceit and corruption.
The song is not a call to action, nor does it aim to provide any answers. It simply illustrates a scenario where truth has won, and the aftermath of such a world. The song's title "Somebody Told The Truth" implies that the truth is not always easy to come by, and it is often hidden. The character in the song sits down at the end, rubs his eyes, and thanks the Lord above, implying that the truth has brought both relief and disbelief.
Overall, Peter Case's "Somebody Told The Truth" is a powerful story that showcases the power of truth and transparency. It brings to the surface themes of corruption, secrecy, and power dynamics, all of which are relevant to contemporary times.
Line by Line Meaning
The courthouse emptied out
The legal system was no longer in use
The jurors all went home
The individuals responsible for evaluating cases were no longer present
The lawyers eased their guilty hearts
The defense attorneys no longer had to carry the burden of hiding the truth
The cops were on their own
The law enforcement officers had no more backup from the legal system
The soldiers left their camps
The military personnel were no longer occupying their bases
The weapons lay in heaps
The instruments of violence were discarded
The generals disappeared
The leaders of the military were nowhere to be found
The prisoners were freed
Those who were being punished for their actions were released from captivity
Somebody, somebody told
An individual spoke up and revealed the truth
They told the truth to somebody
The truth was shared with someone else
The theaters emptied out
The entertainment industry was no longer a priority
The radios went dead
The usual channels of communication were no longer available
The stadiums were silent
The public gathering places were no longer being used
And not a word was said
No one spoke up or tried to hide the truth any longer
The dots were all connected
All the pieces of information were finally pieced together
The lines were barely drawn
The connections between events were not obvious at first
The secrets night kept hidden
The things that were hidden in darkness finally came to light
Were left out in the dawn
Were brought to attention in the morning light
The starving men and women
The people who had been deprived of basic necessities
For once received their fill
Were finally given enough food and resources
The children of the highway
The young people who were forced to live in difficult circumstances
Were singin' on the hill
Were expressing their joy and relief
The politicians vanished
The elected officials were nowhere to be seen
They must have caught their plane
They likely fled to avoid the consequences of their actions
The clandestine policeman
The undercover authorities who worked in secret
Stared out in the rain
Were left alone to contemplate their actions
I sat down on the curbstone
The singer took a moment to rest and reflect
I rubbed my eyes and coughed
The artist was tired and overwhelmed
I rubbed my wrists and ankles
The artist had likely been restrained or imprisoned
And I thanked the lord above
The singer expressed gratitude for the truth coming to light
Contributed by Gavin C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.