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.
October
Rocky Votolato Lyrics
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Every debt will be paid in the end
Lives lived will be brought back into focus
As each one looses the place where it begins
Please tell them I said I'm sorry
I knew not all that I did
This message carried hopefully will carry
Feel your losses you'll know that it's October
Stretched out short days eat you from within
Lives lived brought back homeward
I'm leaving home again
Please tell me it's not the last time
Though that day awaits keep it far from here
There's still much work we've to get done
Your lighthouse is burning my travels clean
In the song "October" by Rocky Votolato, the lyrics paint a melancholic picture of the inevitable loss and transience of life. The opening lines, "Everyone will sing songs of lost mothers" set the tone for the rest of the song, indicating that everyone will experience loss in their lives. This is further emphasized in the second line, "Every debt will be paid in the end", suggesting that every action has consequences, and every life will eventually come to an end.
The song urges the listener to appreciate the time they have, and to take stock of their lives. The line "Lives lived will be brought back into focus" is a reminder that we should take time to reflect on our experiences and make the most of them. The idea of fleeting time is further emphasized in the phrase, "As each one loses the place where it begins". This suggests that life is a journey, and every moment is an opportunity to learn, grow and experience new things.
The penultimate stanza of the song reflects on the importance of apologies and making amends. It speaks to the idea that words are not enough, and that actions speak louder than anything else. The final lines of the song, "Your lighthouse is burning my travels clean" suggest that the singer is moving on from a certain circumstance, but they will never forget the lessons they've learned or the people they've met along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone will sing songs of lost mothers
The pain of losing a mother is universal and will be echoed in songs throughout time.
Every debt will be paid in the end
Eventually, all actions have consequences and one must pay for their debts, whether good or bad.
Lives lived will be brought back into focus
As we approach the end of our lives, we realize the importance of our experiences and how they shape us.
As each one looses the place where it begins
Our journey in life takes us far from where we started, as we grow and change throughout our lives.
Please tell them I said I'm sorry
Apologies should be made when necessary, even if it's difficult.
I knew not all that I did
Sometimes our actions have unintended consequences and we must take responsibility for them.
This message carried hopefully will carry
The singer hopes that their message will be received and understood by the person they're addressing.
Much more weight than words of men down here
The message being conveyed is more important than the trivial words spoken by others in the world.
Feel your losses you'll know that it's October
As we experience the pain of our losses, we become acutely aware of the inevitability of change and the passage of time.
Stretched out short days eat you from within
The feeling of isolation and melancholy that can occur during the autumn months, as the days get shorter and darker.
Lives lived brought back homeward
As we near the end of our lives, we start to reflect on where we came from and the memories that shaped us.
I'm leaving home again
The artist is going on another journey, whether physical or emotional.
Please tell me it's not the last time
The singer hopes that this isn't the last time they'll see the person they're addressing.
Though that day awaits keep it far from here
The inevitability of death looms, but the singer wants to keep it far from their current thoughts and experiences.
There's still much work we've to get done
There is still so much to accomplish in life and the singer wants to make the most of their time left.
Your lighthouse is burning my travels clean
The guidance and support provided by the person they're addressing has helped the artist stay on course and overcome challenges.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rocky Votolato
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind