Roger Clyne's lyrics frequently showcase his Southwestern roots, and frequently imply images of cowboys, Federales, and references to Mexico and places in Arizona, amongst other Southwestern references.
After the demise of The Refreshments, a semi-successful rock band of the 1990s whose top radio hit was "Banditos," former frontman Roger Clyne and drummer P.H. Naffah formed a new band that would be called Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers.
The two were joined by former Gin Blossom, Scott Johnson; Steve Larson, former guitarist for another Tempe band, Dead Hot Workshop; and bass player Danny White. They released their first album, Honky Tonk Union in 1999.Honky Tonk Union was released in limited quantities with a bonus live CD, Real to Reel. The next year, they released an extended version of Real to Reel as a stand-alone album.
The musical feel of Honky Tonk Union was a noticeable change from Clyne's previous works with The Refreshments. Whereas The Refreshments had a prominent lead guitar and edgy southwestern rock feel, Honky Tonk Union displayed a heavier country influence along with focusing more on the singer-songwriter aspect of the band.
The Peacemakers' next studio effort, 2002's Sonoran Hope and Madness, explored the deeper themes of returning to the basics of life, of loss and of resurgence. Sonoran Hope and Madness was a tale of the demise of a much-loved way of life.
In 2002, Scott Johnson left the band to rejoin with the Gin Blossoms, leaving the part of lead guitar to Steve Larson.
2004 saw the release of Americano, the band's third, and most streamlined, studio effort. ¡Americano! is a story set not in the dusty Mexican borderlands, like the previous albums, but on a Mexican beach, miles away from the daily grind. This album was conceived and written in a third-world cantina, and canvasses the spectrum of human emotion.
In early 2004, shortly after the release of ¡Americano!, Danny White left the Peacemakers to start his own recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee. He was replaced by Nick Scropos, who was the bassist for another Tempe band, Gloritone. Scropos was slated to join the band when it formed in 1998, but was unable to do so due to his obligation to Gloritone. His playing can be heard on track nine of Honky Tonk Union, Green & Dumb.
In March of 2005, the Peacemakers were asked to play at Billy Bob's Texas, a famous honky-tonk joint that has hosted the likes of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Pat Green. They quickly turned around and sold a live CD featuring songs from that performance entitled Live at Billy Bob's Texas, which sold well enough to make them the only independent band to have five consecutive top-10 albums on the Billboard Internet Sales Chart.
In April of 2006, the Peacemakers released a four song EP, Four Unlike Before, which is currently available only through iTunes.
The band's fourth studio album, No More Beautiful World, was released on March 20, 2007.
The Peacemakers tour heavily, both as a headlining band and opening for national acts such as Sammy Hagar and John Fogerty.
Twice a year, an ever-increasing following of fans from around the globe descend on the Mexican beach town of Rocky Point (Puerto Peñasco) for their "Circus Mexicus" bash. Circus Mexicus features a four-hour long concert at the Sunset Cantina. The weekend culminates with a "hangover bash" at JJ's Cantina in nearby Cholla Bay on Sunday at which band members mingle with the fans and sign autographs.
The warm waters and ever increasing recreational opportunities motivate many participants to make "Circus Mexicus" a semi-annual pilgrimage of several days.
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Beautiful Disaster
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will you mix your perfume up, from diesel fumes and gasoline
Be my sweet insurgence, load the magazine
Let's shoot out the lights tonight, we've been waiting too long for them to turn green
Now, take the wheel, the highway's clear
I got the throttle, now baby you steer
Let's squeeze every drop out of this machine
'Til this Goddamn rig can't run no faster
Baby ain't we a, beautiful disaster
Stars burn their brightest, just before they burn out
Here in our prime, I know it's just the way of things
So if were short on years, baby we're long on miles
So let's grind the gears, and sink the needle in the red on all the dials
REPEAT CHORUS
You know I love to watch them angels
Fightin' over you
Heaven knows they left me... long ago
Oooh, la salvadora, oh, sweet catastrophe
Ahh, siren song, the captain says there's nothing wrong
As I dash my ship upon your shore, a mad, drunk, and reckless troubadour
I'm outside here hollerin' at your door, begging you for more of you
Now, take the wheel, the highway's clear
I got the throttle, now baby you steer
Let's squeeze every drop out of this machine
The coffee, the diesel, the methamphetamines
'Til this horses scream we can't run no faster
Baby ain't we a, beautiful disaster
Baby ain't we a...beautiful disaster
The lyrics in Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers's song "Beautiful Disaster" describe a wild and reckless love affair, a relationship that is tumultuous and destructive but also exhilarating and worth every bit of trouble. The singer is addressing his lover, asking her to be his Mary Magdalene, which represents an alluring temptress and a patron saint of transgression. He wants her to be his American dream, but it's not the traditional one of success and wealth. Instead, it's a dream of adventure, risk-taking, and nonconformity. He wants her to mix her perfume up from diesel fumes and gasoline, a smell that represents danger and excitement. He asks her to be his sweet insurgence, someone who rebels against the norm and takes action. He wants them to shoot out the lights and take risks, fueled by adrenaline and passion. The chorus describes their relationship as a beautiful disaster, a contradiction of intensity and chaos, something that burns brightly but is doomed to end in flames.
The second verse reinforces the idea that their relationship is fleeting, temporary and they're living in the moment. The singer knows their passion will inevitably burn out, but they want to make the most of their time together. They're short on years, but they've covered a lot of ground, indicating a life filled with experiences and adventures. He wants to push it to the limit, driving fast and hard until there's nothing left. The bridge reinforces the theme of recklessness and danger, with the singer likening himself to a mad, drunk, and reckless troubadour. He's willing to dash his ship upon her shore and beg for more of her, no matter what the cost.
Overall, "Beautiful Disaster" is a song that captures the thrill of living fast, taking risks, and embracing the chaos. The singer is passionately in love with his partner, and while he knows their time is limited, he wants to revel in every moment they have together.
Line by Line Meaning
Will you be my Mary Magdalene, would you be my American dream
Will you be the savior I need, and can I rely on you to fulfill all of my hopes and dreams?
Will you mix your perfume up, from diesel fumes and gasoline
Can we embrace the rough and unconventional parts of life, and find beauty and alluring qualities in them?
Be my sweet insurgence, load the magazine
Join me in rebelling against the norm, and let's arm ourselves for the journey ahead.
Let's shoot out the lights tonight, we've been waiting too long for them to turn green
Let's take charge of our lives and create our own opportunities, instead of waiting for the right moment to come along.
Now, take the wheel, the highway's clear
Take control and guide us towards the future we desire.
I got the throttle, now baby you steer
I'll handle the speed and intensity, but I need your direction and guidance.
Let's squeeze every drop out of this machine
Let's make the most of every opportunity that comes our way, and push ourselves to the limit.
The coffee, the diesel, the methamphetamines
Let's embrace the highs and lows of life, and use everything at our disposal to keep going.
'Til this Goddamn rig can't run no faster
Let's keep pushing ourselves to the brink, until it's no longer possible to go any faster or harder.
Baby ain't we a, beautiful disaster
Together we may be flawed and unconventional, but we're still beautiful and capable of great things.
Stars burn their brightest, just before they burn out
Before something fades away completely, it often shows a burst of brilliance and intensity.
Here in our prime, I know it's just the way of things
We're at our best right now, but we can't ignore the fact that nothing lasts forever.
So if were short on years, baby we're long on miles
Even if we don't have as much time as we'd like, we've still covered a lot of ground and made great memories.
So let's grind the gears, and sink the needle in the red on all the dials
Let's push ourselves to the limit, and take risks that may cause us to grind or damage ourselves in the process.
You know I love to watch them angels, Fightin' over you
People are often drawn to those who are captivating and alluring, and fight for their attention and affection.
Heaven knows they left me... long ago
Even though others may still be attracted to you, I know that your heart doesn't belong to me anymore.
Oooh, la salvadora, oh, sweet catastrophe
You may be a difficult or dangerous force to deal with, but I can't help but be drawn to you because of it.
Ahh, siren song, the captain says there's nothing wrong
Even though we may be headed towards danger or disaster, the person in charge still believes everything is fine.
As I dash my ship upon your shore, a mad, drunk, and reckless troubadour
I'm willing to risk everything and throw myself into the unknown, just to be near you.
I'm outside here hollerin' at your door, begging you for more of you
I'm desperate for your affection and attention, and will do whatever it takes to be close to you.
Baby ain't we a...
No matter what happens, we are always going to be...
beautiful disaster
...a unique and captivating force that may be dangerous or difficult to handle, but is still beautiful in its own way.
Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.