The band was formed in 1994 by guitarist / lead vocalist Willy Vlautin and bass player Dave Harding at the Portland Meadows horse race track. Known for Vlautin's incredibly rich and evocative lyrics, several of Richmond Fontaine's songs relate to horse racing specifically and gambling generally. This is largely an artifact of Vlautin's upbringing in Reno, Nevada, a place that is heavily referenced in his lyrics, along with Portland, the U.S. Western states in general and occasionally Mexico. Vlautin is also an acclaimed novelist, having written two respected books, The Motel Life and Northline. As a fiction writer, he is often compared to Raymond Carver and Charles Bukowski while his lyrical style is inspired by the narrative style of Australian artist Paul Kelly.
Musically, Richmond Fontaine cited influences such as Gram Parsons, X (U.S. band), Green on Red and Dave Alvin and they are often regarded as part of the rock alt.country movement that includes bands such as Drive-by Truckers, Slobberbone, Grand Champeen, The Damnations and others.
For reasons of touring patterns, and heavy support of the high-brow music press in the UK, Richmond Fontaine were consistently more successful in Europe than in the US.
Concussion
Richmond Fontaine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He stole his uncle's Peterbilt
And drove it straight into a retaining wall
He got a concussion and broke his nose and
Broke his arm the bone split and showing
He walked two miles to his apartment
Wrapped his arm in a shirt and
Disconnected the telephone
Of the inevitable retribution
That he was most certain would appear
His Concussion Eyes Have Followed a Black Line
He listens to the Blisters and the Flesheaters and X
And he takes ephedrine and drinks coffee
While his arm slowly becomes diseased
Paralyzed in fear because it's a rust and green
Driven state and exhaust fumes line the walls
Exhaust fumes line every wall
His Concussion Eyes Have Followed a Black Line
The song “Concussion” by Richmond Fontaine is a story of a man who commits a reckless and impulsive act that results in severe physical injuries and emotional trauma. The song begins with the description of the man stealing his uncle’s Peterbilt truck and driving it straight into a retaining wall, causing him to suffer from a concussion, a broken nose and a split arm bone. The man then walks two miles to his apartment, and in a state of panic, disconnects his telephone and sits paralyzed with fear for several days, anticipating the inevitable retribution that he believes would come as a consequence of his actions.
The lyrics depict the man’s mental state as he spirals into a state of despair and seclusion. He turns to drugs and caffeine to cope with the physical pain and emotional turmoil that he’s experiencing. His eyes are described as having followed a “black line,” which could be interpreted to mean that he’s become fixated on a singular thought or experience. Additionally, the image of the “exhaust fumes lining the walls” suggests that the man is in a precarious and unhealthy living situation. The overall mood of the song is one of desolation and despair, as the man struggles to come to terms with his impulsive actions and the consequences that he’s faced.
Line by Line Meaning
With no clear reasoning in mind
He acted impulsively and without a plan
He stole his uncle's Peterbilt
He took his uncle's truck without permission
And drove it straight into a retaining wall
He intentionally crashed the truck
He got a concussion and broke his nose and
He suffered physical injuries from the crash
Broke his arm the bone split and showing
His arm was severely broken and visibly damaged
He walked two miles to his apartment
He had to endure physical pain to get home
Wrapped his arm in a shirt and
He tried to take care of his injuries on his own
Disconnected the telephone
He cut off communication with the world
And sat for days paralyzed in fear
He was too scared to leave his apartment
Of the inevitable retribution
He expected punishment for his actions
That he was most certain would appear
He was convinced that he would face consequences
He listens to the Blisters and the Flesheaters and X
He listens to punk music
And he takes ephedrine and drinks coffee
He uses stimulants to cope
While his arm slowly becomes diseased
His untreated injuries worsen over time
Paralyzed in fear because it's a rust and green
He's stuck in a deteriorating and depressing environment
Driven state and exhaust fumes line the walls
He's stuck in a polluted and unhealthy living space
Exhaust fumes line every wall
The environment is bleak and hopeless
His Concussion Eyes Have Followed a Black Line
The traumatic experience has left him emotionally scarred
Contributed by Molly L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.