Crowell was born in Houston, Texas to James Walter Crowell and Addie Cauzette Willoughby. A contemporary of Steve Earle and, like Earle, influenced by the (songwriting) greats Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, Crowell played guitar and sang for three years in Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band".
He was married to Rosanne Cash (daughter of famous singer/guitarist Johnny Cash) from 1979 to 1992 and had a great influence on her career, producing most of her albums during that period. They collaborated on a number of duets, including 1988's "It's Such a Small World." Though Crowell and Cash are now divorced, they remain on friendly terms, performing together occasionally. Six years after the breakdown of his marriage to Rosanne he married Claudia Church.
Although best known as a songwriter and alternative country artist, Crowell enjoyed mainstream popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His critically acclaimed album, 1988's Diamonds and Dirt, produced five No. 1 hits during a 17-month span in 1988 and 1989: "It's Such a Small World" (a duet with Cash), "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried," "She's Crazy for Leaving," "After All This Time" and "Above and Beyond." His follow-up album, 1989's "Keys to the Highway," produced two top 5 hits in 1990, which were "Many a Long and Lonesome Highway" and "If Looks Could Kill."
As Crowell's popularity in mainstream country faded, he continued his prolific songwriting. In 2001 he released The Houston Kid on Sugar Hill Records. Many songs on the album were semi-autobiographical, and the album included a duet with Crowell's ex father-in-law Johnny Cash on "I Walk the Line (Revisited)". Initially, Cash was annoyed at Crowell changing the tune to his song, but he came to like the finished product. Crowell followed up this effort with Fate's Right Hand in 2003 and The Outsider in 2005. Crowell considers these three albums his finest work as a solo artist.
2004 saw the release of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a reunion of The Notorious Cherry Bombs, a group that existed briefly in the 1970s with Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Tony Brown, and others. The future Keith Urban hit "Making Memories of Us" was included on this disc.
In 2005, Crowell served as producer for established Irish singer/songwriter Kieran Goss on the album Blue Sky Sunrise.
Things That Go Bump In The Day
Rodney Crowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt like James Dean with her on my arm
The night was a free ride, lit by the moon
I prayed from the inside, "Don't let it end soon"
It's funny how the things we want
Become the things we don't in the long run
The one that we let slip through
Oh, oh, we're never gonna get away
Yeah, yeah, from the things that go bump in the day
The things that go bump in the day
I've got a good friend in love with the blues
He lives down the dark end with nothing to lose
Believing in sorrow, he's making the most
And maybe tomorrow he can give up the ghost
It's funny how the things we need
Only make you bleed when the chips fall
The one that made the world go 'round
Just up and knocks you down with a phone call
It's funny how the things we fear
Become the things we hear when we're all alone
The things that we don't understand
Get up and bite your hand like a dog bone
Oh, oh, we're never gonna get away
Yeah, yeah, from the things that go bump in the day
Oh, oh, we're never gonna get away
Yeah, yeah, from the things that go bump in the day
The things that go bump in the day
The things that go bump in the day
Rodney Crowell's "Things That Go Bump In The Day" is a song that tells two stories of love and loss. The first verse is about a night where the singer is with a woman who has a reputation, and he feels like a rebel with her on his arm. He is having the time of his life and doesn't want the night to end. However, he soon realizes that what he wants doesn't always align with what he needs, and what he needs is love that isn't fleeting. The chorus reminds listeners that no matter how much we try to escape from pain, we can't avoid the things that haunt us during the day. The second verse is about a friend of the singer who is in love with sorrow, living a life of pain and too stubborn to let go. The verse speaks to the idea of attachment to old habits and things that no longer serve us, even if they cause us harm. In the end, the singer acknowledges that the things we fear, need, and want all have a way of showing up when we least expect it.
The lyrics portray a sense of nostalgia and longing for something that seems unattainable. The first verse feels like a summer fling that ended too soon, and the second verse is about a friend who can't escape the cycle of pain. Both verses are connected by the chorus's central theme- the things that go bump in the day- reminding the listener that the past can come back to haunt you when you least expect it. The song's melody is melodic and upbeat, creating a sound that initially appears happy, but the lyrics tell a different story.
Line by Line Meaning
She was a prom queen, taking the world by storm
She was like royalty, ruling over everything and everyone with confidence and grace
I felt like James Dean with her on my arm
I felt cool and rebellious, like a movie star breaking the rules by being with her
The night was a free ride, lit by the moon
The night felt like an adventure, full of excitement and endless possibilities
I prayed from the inside, "Don't let it end soon"
I wanted the night to last forever, and prayed silently that it wouldn't come to an end
It's funny how the things we want
It's ironic how the things we desire
Become the things we don't in the long run
End up being the things we regret or don't actually want in the end
The one that we let slip through
The person we didn't realize we wanted or let go of too easily
Becomes the one love true when she's the gone one
Ends up being the one true love we realize we lost only after they're gone
I've got a good friend in love with the blues
I have a friend who is deeply connected to and affected by sad music
He lives down the dark end with nothing to lose
He lives in a rough part of town and has nothing left to lose
Believing in sorrow, he's making the most
Although he feels sad, he's trying to find pleasure in life wherever he can
And maybe tomorrow he can give up the ghost
Perhaps tomorrow he could die or stop putting up a fight to stay alive
It's funny how the things we need
It's ironic how the things we require or depend on
Only make you bleed when the chips fall
End up hurting us more when we're in a difficult situation or when things go wrong
The one that made the world go 'round
The person or thing that was central to our existence and happiness
Just up and knocks you down with a phone call
Suddenly leaves or hurts us by simply calling or communicating their decision
It's funny how the things we fear
It's ironic how the things we're afraid of
Become the things we hear when we're all alone
End up being the things we imagine or hear in our heads when we're by ourselves
The things that we don't understand
The things that confuse us or we can't comprehend
Get up and bite your hand like a dog bone
Surprise us and have negative consequences, like a dog biting a bone that hurts their mouth
Oh, oh, we're never gonna get away
We'll never escape or avoid
Yeah, yeah, from the things that go bump in the day
The unpredictable and unsettling things that happen during the day
The things that go bump in the day
The unexpected and scary things that can happen during normal daytime activities
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RODNEY CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind