Richard Buckner is an American singer songwriter born in California, reside… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Buckner is an American singer songwriter born in California, resident in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for a number of years, and currently living in Brooklyn, NY. A critically-acclaimed artist most often associated with the Alternative Country movement, Buckner has in recent albums eschewed his initial acoustic approach and displayed an increasing interest in more abstract music styles.

Buckner began his career with the acoustic "Bloomed" (1994), a lyrically dense suite of songs recorded in Lubbock, Texas and heavily influenced by that state's tradition of whisky-soaked poet/troubadors, probably best embodied by Townes Van Zandt. In 1996, he released the major label "Devotion & Doubt," with members of Giant Sand backing him, displaying a more adventurous, almost avante garde approach to songwriting and arranging.

Since then, he has returned to recording for smaller labels, to continued critical acclaim and cult status. His 2000 album The Hill - his first for Chicago-based indie label Overcoat Recordings - features poems from Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology (1915), which Buckner set to music. The album plays as a single track, nearly thirty-five minutes long. He returned in 2002, first with the "teaser" EP Impasse-ette, then a full-length entitled Impasse one month later. In early 2003, his self-released, self-titled album was reissued by Overcoat, and was his final release for the label. In 2004, an edited version of Richard Buckner's song Ariel Ramirez, from the album Since (1998) was featured in one of the television ads for Volkswagen's Touareg.

He is currently aligned with North Carolina-based indie label Merge Records, who have released four of his albums so far: 2004's Dents and Shells, 2006's Meadow, 2011's Our Blood, and 2013's Surrounded, as well as the 7-inch single Willow (b/w Lost). He also recorded an album with Jon Langford (most notably of The Mekons) called Sir Dark Invader vs. The Fanglord (2005) for Buried Treasure Records.

A Goodbye Rye
Richard Buckner Lyrics

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Once upon a blue thing or two
Eyes in sight, the moon confused
We heard the sparks fly and we watched their lies
Some died in retreat, some in jealousy

You know boredom breeds, temptation in its wake
But do look at what temptation's done
The spirit is here in the hollow, a message at the bottom of the bottle

Oh, the sky tonight is gray, all the quiver and the quake

Reaching away goodbye rye
Been bled on down the road
But when the buzz was over, man
It was getting cold

The years are slow, so I lye low
Do you want your name to burn away?
Oh, but I decide, honey, will I ride?
Along and through and over you

Sleep shame, Reno's low behind in flames

So with your misty mist and your low land frame
Won't you sleep shame?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Richard Buckner's "A Goodbye Rye" talks about the consequences of boredom and temptation. The song is a commentary on the different ways people react to the sparks of passion and desire that fly around them. Some take a step back, retreating from the lies and jealousy that arise from these sparks, while others succumb to temptation, giving in to their desires. The lyrics refer to the idea that boredom breeds temptation, and while the temptation may seem attractive at first, it ultimately leads to hollow emptiness.

The chorus is poignant, with the words "Reaching away goodbye rye, been bled on down the road, but when the buzz was over, man, it was getting cold." This reflects the consequences of indulging in temporary pleasures and the resulting emptiness that follows. The singer acknowledges that life is slow, and they must lay low and avoid temptation. However, they are still uncertain whether they will ride through and over their temptation.

In the final stanza, the lyrics take on a surreal quality, describing the scene of Reno ablaze behind a misty mist and low land frame. The words "sleep shame" suggest a feeling of regret and the possibility of redemption by embracing - rather than denying - the shame one feels.

Line by Line Meaning

Once upon a blue thing or two
In the past, maybe once or twice

Eyes in sight, the moon confused
We could see things clearly, but weren't sure what they meant

We heard the sparks fly and we watched their lies
We witnessed conflict and deceit

Some died in retreat, some in jealousy
People reacted to the situation in different ways, some withdrawing and others becoming envious

You know boredom breeds, temptation in its wake
Being bored can lead to making poor decisions

But do look at what temptation's done
We can see the result of giving in to temptation

The spirit is here in the hollow, a message at the bottom of the bottle
There is something profound or enlightening in the emptiness of the container or in what's left over

Oh, the sky tonight is gray, all the quiver and the quake
The atmosphere is tense and unsettling tonight

Reaching away goodbye rye
Saying goodbye to the alcohol we've been drinking

Been bled on down the road
We've experienced pain or loss before in our journey

But when the buzz was over, man
But after the initial thrill wore off

It was getting cold
Things became less exciting or enjoyable

The years are slow, so I lye low
Time seems to be dragging by, so I'm keeping a low profile

Do you want your name to burn away?
Do you want to be forgotten?

Oh, but I decide, honey, will I ride?
But ultimately, I am the one who chooses my path

Along and through and over you
Regardless of what happens to you, I will keep going

Sleep shame, Reno's low behind in flames
I'm feeling ashamed and Reno seems to be in trouble

So with your misty mist and your low land frame
In your current state of confusion or vulnerability

Won't you sleep shame?
Aren't you feeling remorse for what you've done?