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.
Blue and Wonder
Richard Buckner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've been turned
I've been undone and burned
I saw you as the answer to
Years of blue and wonder
Your voice shakes me through
But you don't know what I might be
You haven't seen the worst of me
Put your arm around me
And pull your mouth up to mine
And that's the word
I forget sometimes
It's the one that means
The love has left your eyes
I'm thinking now when I first knew
I was lying with a stranger
You were curled up with a paper
In your little SOMA room
The telephone was pouring blue
And when I hung up with you
I was sick and sad and wished I had
Just a kiss to bring you over
I'm wondering of you now
And what happened to you
I remember words
That were said and sighed and written
But I hear things, you know
I hear the bottle broke us down
But not a word from you yet
There's things that
Even a drunk will never forget
The lyrics to Richard Buckner's song Blue and Wonder talks about the different emotions and experiences that the singer has gone through inside a relationship. The first stanza indicates that the singer has been through a lot of pain and uncertainty, and that meeting the person he/she is singing to has brought some light to the darkness that he/she has been feeling. There is a sense of vulnerability, as the singer admits to having flaws that the other person may not have seen yet. But despite this, there is a connection through music and voice that has shaken the singer to the core.
In the second stanza, the singer reminisces about a time when he/she was with someone else, and the current person of interest was merely a stranger across the room. There is a sense of regret in the fact that the singer did not pursue this new love interest earlier, as it could have changed their current situation. But there is also a sense of hopefulness as the singer wonders what happened to the other person and remembers the words that were exchanged between them. However, there is also a sense of uncertainty and fear that perhaps the other person has succumbed to alcoholism and is unable to reach out.
Overall, the lyrics to Blue and Wonder is a beautiful and heartbreaking narrative about the complexities of human relationships. It speaks to the uncertainties and anxieties that people face when they fall in love, as well as the hope and joy that comes with it. The song is a reminder that there is always a chance for redemption and intimacy, no matter how difficult the road may be.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been stunned
I've undergone intense shock and surprise.
And I've been turned
I have changed course or direction completely.
I've been undone and burned
I have been ruined and destroyed, left suffering in pain.
I saw you as the answer to
I believed that you would solve my long-standing problem of feeling blue and uncertain.
Years of blue and wonder
I have experienced a long period of sadness and curiosity.
Your voice shakes me through
Your voice has a profound effect on me, resonating in my core.
But you don't know what I might be
You cannot predict how I may react or what lies within me.
You haven't seen the worst of me
You have only seen my good side, there are negative aspects that I have hidden from you.
But when your eyes move up I'm silent
When you look at me, I don't have anything to say, I am speechless.
Put your arm around me
Wrap your arm around me, embrace me.
And pull your mouth up to mine
Come closer and kiss me.
And that's the word
That's the thing.
I forget sometimes
I occasionally lose track or forget things in life.
It's the one that means
The word is the one that indicates.
The love has left your eyes
You don't love me anymore, it shows in your eyes.
I'm thinking now when I first knew
I'm reflecting on when I initially realized.
I was lying with a stranger
I was in bed with someone that wasn't you.
You were curled up with a paper
You were comfortable and absorbed in reading a piece of paper.
In your little SOMA room
In your cozy room in SOMA.
The telephone was pouring blue
The phone call was filled with sadness and longing.
And when I hung up with you
Once we ended the phone call.
I was sick and sad and wished I had
I was physically and emotionally unwell, regretting not being able to give you a kiss.
Just a kiss to bring you over
A single kiss to make you feel better or happier.
I'm wondering of you now
I am curious and pondering about you at the current moment.
And what happened to you
I want to know what occurred for you.
I remember words
I recall what was said to me.
That were said and sighed and written
Words were spoken, breathed out heavily, and recorded in writing.
But I hear things, you know
I have heard rumors or things that have occurred.
I hear the bottle broke us down
Alcohol played a role in the downfall of our relationship.
But not a word from you yet
You haven't spoken or communicated with me concerning this matter.
There's things that
There are certain things that are true.
Even a drunk will never forget
People won't forget even if they were inebriated when it happened.
Contributed by Kaitlyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dartheomus
Man, I've been listening to this for years now, and it still never gets old. How this has so few views is just beyond me.
Peter Schancel
His singing and songs bleed emotions and feelings .... I am always moved by his complex minimalism,
Kenny Feinstein
Man I totally agree. He is SUCH a treasure. I was SO lucky to get to honor and pleasure of working with him way back in 2013.
Thatbeat1974
Devotion & Doubt is one of the best albums ever written.
thecharchap
Buckner has been an inspiration to me for over a decade. Met him twice. Really nice guy. One of the best lyricists out there. Thanks for a great video!!
Kenny Feinstein
Me too : ) He is SUCH an inspiration.
Peter Schancel
His picking n playing mesmerizing as his emotional vocals
sarahzentexas
Simply genius. My heart aches and sings.
Human Clock
Hey thanks for this! I first met in in Bellingham, WA when he was writing the Devotion + Doubt album. Had a few beers with him and another friend in the 3B Tavern and had no idea that he was in the process of writing an amazing album at that time!
David Hiemstra Music
Bellingham is heaven on earth. Miss it.