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.
Town
Richard Buckner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Coming through!"
"Seize your spin around the room: eastern-time
Seasons call. They're not the same (when they show at
All)."
Are you sitting down? Have you heard around about the
Bust you beat when you were back in town? Last night,
Clean and saved (just another fire to pack away)
Uncovered, too, trades are shown. It?s how it is when
Everybody
Knows more than everything: the dying ring, the passing
Line, the missing wing?
Slip out late if it?s all the same.
I feel it,
Still,
Holding off another time (almost):
Caught.
(Sometimes, it?s where you wouldn?t choose.) ?I left
You there, tumble-load, losing days and moving slow. It
Comes to me in broken chance and speaking parts at
Second-glance, what the passage means, read aloud.?
(Pull it back and spit it out the way you are, while
You can.) 'Will you take it down and watch it change'
Can you see it, too? I guess it got away.
What will you miss when things are fine?
The opening lines of "Town" by Richard Buckner speak to the idea of something being both pretty and destroyed simultaneously. This could refer to a variety of things - perhaps a person who is physically attractive but internally struggling or a town that was once thriving but has since fallen into disrepair. The phrase "coming through" in the next line suggests someone attempting to push through these conflicting emotions or circumstances. The lyrics continue with a series of seemingly disconnected images, including a mention of eastern time and changing seasons that aren't always noticeable. The shifting nature of time and how it affects people and places seems to be a theme throughout the song.
As the lyrics progress, we hear about a bust that someone experienced when they were "back in town." This event seems to be something shameful or embarrassing, as the singer notes that "last night, the rain just wouldn't fall." This line could be interpreted in a few ways - either there was a literal drought, or the singer was hoping for rain to mask their tears or emotions. The second verse deals with the idea of knowledge and information, and how it can breed an atmosphere of judgment and criticism. The "dying ring" and "passing line" suggest people or things that are coming to an end, while the "missing wing" could be a nod to something that's incomplete or not fully formed.
The lyrics continue to paint a picture of uncertainty and unease, with the singer struggling to reconcile their feelings and make sense of their surroundings. The line "sometimes, it's where you wouldn't choose" speaks to the idea that life's twists and turns can take us to unexpected places, both geographically and emotionally. The final lines of the song, "what will you miss when things are fine?" leave the listener with a sense of questioning and introspection. Overall, "Town" is a complex and layered song that deals with themes of time, knowledge, and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty-destroyed...
The singer is describing the town as being both pretty and destroyed simultaneously.
Coming through!
The singer is announcing his presence or arrival.
Seize your spin around the room: eastern-time
Seasons call. They're not the same (when they show at
All).
The singer is telling the listener to take advantage of the moment while they can. The time and seasons may change, so enjoy the present.
Are you sitting down? Have you heard around about the
Bust you beat when you were back in town? Last night,
The rain just wouldn?t fall. Is that a stagger, slow,
Clean and saved (just another fire to pack away)
The artist is asking if the listener is aware of a recent scandal that occurred when they were in town. The rain refused to come, and the artist is commenting on how something that seems clean and saved is just another issue waiting to be dealt with.
Uncovered, too, trades are shown. It?s how it is when
Everybody
Knows more than everything: the dying ring, the passing
Line, the missing wing?
The artist is reflecting on how people in town are always showing their true colors. Everyone thinks they know more than they actually do about the dying ring, the passing line, and the missing wing (things unknown or not understood).
Slip out late if it?s all the same.
The singer is advising the listener to take their time leaving.
I feel it,
Still,
Holding off another time (almost):
Caught.
The singer feels like they are being delayed and held back from something else.
(Sometimes, it?s where you wouldn?t choose.) ?I left
You there, tumble-load, losing days and moving slow. It
Comes to me in broken chance and speaking parts at
Second-glance, what the passage means, read aloud.?
The artist realizes they left the listener behind, struggling and moving slowly. They are asking if the listener can see things from a new perspective now that they have some distance.
(Pull it back and spit it out the way you are, while
You can.) 'Will you take it down and watch it change'
The artist is encouraging the listener to express themselves honestly. They are wondering if the listener will take the opportunity to experience and see things in a new way.
Can you see it, too? I guess it got away.
The artist is questioning if the listener sees what they see. They feel like they have missed something important.
What will you miss when things are fine?
The singer is suggesting that although things may seem okay now, the listener should consider what they may miss later on.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard Carl Buckner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind