In 1999, Rocky Votolato branched out from his work with Waxwing, having written a handful of songs which did not really fit in with their more aggressive, fast tempo syle. Along the way he has toured with the likes of Damien Jurado, Small Brown Bike, The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, Owen and The Casket Lottery, members of the latter having provided assistance as backing musicians on occasion. His studio albums have also been littered with appearances from some of Seattle's finest musicians (including players in the bands Red Stars Theory, Sharks Keep Moving, The Blood Brothers, Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion and Sub Pop solo artist Rosie Thomas). On the production side, Votolato has worked with Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Botch, Murder City Devils, Hayden), along with Chris Walla (of Death Cab for Cutie). It is a creative input which has helped see Rocky progress sylistically with every release, from his low key self-titled album released in 1999 - all pretty much recorded live, right through to his recent, alt-country, folk-esque offering, 'Makers'. A video was shot for the first track of Makers, "White Daisy Passing", a song which also appears on the soundtrack of the forthcoming Seattle indie feature film Cthulu.
Rocky also starred in the film 'The Edge of Quarrel', which he worked on with Dave Larson from Excursion Records. It also includes members of the Murder City Devils and Botch, and is about a gang war between straightedgers and punk rockers.
He is married with two children, and lives in Seattle.
I'll Catch You
Rocky Votolato Lyrics
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The ones your living in now
The ghost of your past carries
The weight of your name
Where would you be who are you
Without the scaring and the heals that stepped on you
That you cling to with all of your strength
Let go, free fall, it's scary, I know, to forgive all of the devils
It's scary, I know, to understand what must be done
Fifty eight Guthrie Street
An old postcard you sent
To help close up wounds that I love to reopen
Quarters in the tequila
On the streets of Houston
You can keep on drinking
But never drown out where you've been
Let go, free fall, it's scary, I know, to forgive all of the devils
Let go, I'll catch you
It's scary, I know to, understand what must be done
There is a statesman servant beneath
The thick skin of remembering
Armor for protection
Let go, free fall, it's scary, I know, to forgive all of the devils
Let go, I'll catch you
It's scary, I know, to understand what must be done
The lyrics of "I'll Catch You" by Rocky Votolato speak about letting go of the past and moving forward, even when it's difficult. The song is characterized by haunting melodies, which suits the mood of the lyrics perfectly. The chorus "Let go, free fall, it's scary, I know, to forgive all of the devils/Let go, I'll catch you/It's scary, I know, to understand what must be done" underscores the central message of the song which is about forgiving yourself and others.
The first verse describes the impact of past experiences on the present, as well as the fear of letting go of what one knows. The second verse takes the song's theme to a more personal level by mentioning a specific place - 58 Guthrie Street - and a postcard that was sent to close up wounds that are consistently being reopened. The third verse ties everything back to the central theme of forgiveness and the fear of letting go. It speaks of the need to protect oneself from emotional pain.
The song's obscure lyrics seem to be about moving on from past mistakes, learning to forgive oneself and others, and having faith in the possibility of a better future. Rocky Votolato's "I'll Catch You" is an emotional composition that encourages listeners to confront their personal demons and let go of their pains, releasing themselves from their ghosts and stepping out of their past.
Line by Line Meaning
The days behind you are haunting
The consequences of your past actions continue to trouble you.
The ones your living in now
Your current life is being overshadowed by your past.
The ghost of your past carries
Your past mistakes and experiences continue to affect your present.
The weight of your name
Your reputation is limiting you and holding you back.
Where would you be who are you
If not for your past, who would you be now?
Without the scaring and the heals that stepped on you
Without the painful experiences and people who have hurt you.
That you cling to with all of your strength
You hold onto your pain and past because it makes you who you are.
Let go, free fall, it's scary, I know, to forgive all of the devils
It's difficult to forgive those who have wronged you and let go of the pain, but it's necessary to move forward.
Let go, I'll catch you
Even though it's scary, I'll support you and be there for you if you let go of the pain.
It's scary, I know, to understand what must be done
It's hard to face the truth and do what needs to be done, but it's necessary for healing.
Fifty eight Guthrie Street
A specific place that holds meaning and memories for the singer.
An old postcard you sent
A reminder of a past communication that still affects the artist.
To help close up wounds that I love to reopen
The singer is conflicted about healing from their past, even though they want to.
Quarters in the tequila
Drinking to numb the pain and memories.
On the streets of Houston
A specific place where the singer has dealt with their struggles.
You can keep on drinking
Continuing to try to numb the pain is not a long-term solution.
But never drown out where you've been
The past will always be a part of who you are, no matter how much you try to forget it.
There is a statesman servant beneath
An underlying part of yourself that is strong and capable.
The thick skin of remembering
Even though remembering the past is painful, it has made you stronger.
Armor for protection
Your past experiences have equipped you with the tools you need to protect yourself in the future.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rocky Votolato
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@baileysuefleck0126
Why do not more people listening to him?? I've loved him since 2010
@user-vg2fm7zy4s
Maybe its just me but i think this song is so much more amazing live, not that it isn't great already! Im just saying the live version, is pretty.. amazing :)
@Dingleberries
thanks for sharing man
@manhattan_maria
For my love.