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.
This Too Will Pass
Rodney Crowell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the winds of change hit hard and knock you off your guard
And you find out there's a serpent in the grass
Though forked tongues might speak if truth is what you seek
This too will pass
When your all tied up in knots and your friends are taking shots
And the sun comes up and kicks you in the ass
This too will pass
Sometimes you've gotta go down the middle of the road
Where compromise puts speed bumps in your path
If you know what you won't let no one say you don't
This too will pass
Sometimes you gotta crawl through the middle of it all
But don't compromise your heart for something crass
When everything you do just feels like nothing new
This too will pass
When your all locked up in pain be careful who you blame
This too will pass
The main subject of Rodney Crowell's song This Too Will Pass is the human experience of going through difficult times in life. The lyrics acknowledge the struggles that people go through every day, that can range from being betrayed by someone you trusted, feeling stuck in a tough situation, being judged by others or dealing with pain. Nevertheless, the message is ultimately one of hope, as the chorus confirms that no matter the adversity, it is fleeting, and everything eventually passes.
The opening line "When the winds of change hit hard and knock you off your guard" is a metaphor for when life throws us off balance unexpectedly. The imagery of "a serpent in the grass" refers to any negative people or influences that may try to deceive and manipulate us when we are vulnerable. However, the lyrics remind us that even when people lie and manipulate for their own gain, eventually, the truth will come out, and we can move forward.
Throughout the rest of the song, Crowell uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey that no matter how bad things may seem, it is only a temporary situation. The verse about "stumbling down the aisle" may refer to getting married or walking down the aisle at a funeral, both life events that can evoke strong emotions. The lyrics about "crawling through the middle of it all" may be a metaphor for going through the emotional pain of addiction or dealing with depression.
Line by Line Meaning
When the winds of change hit hard and knock you off your guard
When unexpected changes come and catch you off guard
And you find out there's a serpent in the grass
And you discover that there is deception or danger around
Though forked tongues might speak if truth is what you seek
Even though there may be those who speak in deceit, if you strive for truth
This too will pass
This difficult period will eventually come to an end
When your all tied up in knots and your friends are taking shots
When you feel trapped and your friends are criticizing you
And the sun comes up and kicks you in the ass
And life seems to continuously challenge you
When your stumbling down the aisle and you feel like you're on trial
When you struggle and feel judged at every turn
Sometimes you've gotta go down the middle of the road
Sometimes you need to take a moderate approach
Where compromise puts speed bumps in your path
Where reaching a compromise may slow down your progress
If you know what you won't let no one say you don't
If you know what you stand for, no one can make you doubt yourself
Sometimes you gotta crawl through the middle of it all
Sometimes you need to persevere through a tough situation
But don't compromise your heart for something crass
But don't sacrifice your values for something trivial or unimportant
When everything you do just feels like nothing new
When you feel stuck in a routine and nothing seems to change
When your all locked up in pain be careful who you blame
When you are hurting, be cautious of who you hold responsible
This too will pass
This pain and sorrow will eventually come to an end
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RODNEY CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind