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.
Hoping Wishers Never Lose
Richard Buckner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through). Where's your shallow shadow lie?
What's a staggered light to do, in-step & skip-
Ping (as the kind believe)? But.
"I knew the distance I'd had." (It'd seemed.)
Take the may arms slow. Decide there's all the
Night to dance away.
"I was landing just in time, careful to call out
Just in case."
The summer lulls, "... but I'm sleeping, too!"
I was hoping I'd know what to do. I was called
On to face a fight. I was told nothing @ the time.
The windows shook & showed us out, but there
Was nothing new to try: A story fashioned as a
Fall, the colors (turned). Was I there @ all
The lyrics of Richard Buckner's song "Hoping Wishers Never Lose (Chipping Away Until You're Through)" can be interpreted as being about the struggle to make sense of one's place in the world and to find meaning in the chaos of life. The opening line "Hoping wishers never lose" suggests a desire to hold on to hope, even when it seems like everything is falling apart. This is followed by the question "Where's your shallow shadow lie?", which could be interpreted as an inquiry into the nature of one's identity and self-perception.
The next lines "What's a staggered light to do, in-step & skipping (as the kind believe)? But. "I knew the distance I'd had." (It'd seemed.)" speak to the confusion and uncertainty that can come with trying to navigate one's own path in life. The phrase "in-step and skipping" suggests a carefree attitude, perhaps even an ignorance of the challenges that lie ahead. But the singer knows that they have a long way to go, and this knowledge weighs on them.
The rest of the lyrics paint a picture of a situation in which the singer feels uncertain and vulnerable. The lines "I was hoping I'd know what to do. I was called on to face a fight. I was told nothing @ the time." suggest a feeling of being thrust into a difficult situation without adequate preparation or support. The mention of the "summer lulls" and the singer's admission that they are "sleeping, too" suggest a feeling of being stuck or trapped in a moment that never seems to end.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoping wishers never lose (chipping away until you're Through).
It is a hope that those who make wishes never lose the courage to keep chipping away at their goals until they succeed.
Where's your shallow shadow lie?
Asking where the person's superficial side is hiding or where they draw their shallow values from.
What's a staggered light to do, in-step & skip- Ping (as the kind believe)?
What is a flickering light supposed to do when others believe it is strong and consistent?
But. 'I knew the distance I'd had.' (It'd seemed.)
Despite uncertainty, the artist had knowledge of the distance they had traveled, although it may have appeared differently on the surface.
Take the may arms slow. Decide there's all the Night to dance away.
Take it easy and enjoy the moment, as there is plenty of time to celebrate throughout the night.
"I was landing just in time, careful to call out
Just in case."
The singer arrived at their destination in the nick of time and made sure to let someone know they had arrived safely.
The summer lulls, '... but I'm sleeping, too!'
The laid-back atmosphere of summer can be relaxing, but the singer also feels stagnant or unproductive.
I was hoping I'd know what to do. I was called On to face a fight. I was told nothing @ the time.
The artist was faced with a challenge, but was not given any direction or insight on how to handle it.
The windows shook & showed us out, but there Was nothing new to try: A story fashioned as a Fall, the colors (turned).
Despite efforts and exploration, there was nothing new to discover. It was like a story that had already played out with the colors fading away.
Was I there @ all
The artist questions their own presence or impact in the situation.
Contributed by Henry B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.