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.
http://www.azpeacemakers.com/
State of the Art
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could not love the light
Were it not for gravity there would be no flight
Had I not lost the path, I'd have never found my way
Equal parts my heart I gave to bloom and to decay
With a rattle and a grind I find that I'm back at my favorite part
But I may not be your kind if your kind is faint or heart
You may be hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
Oooohh
I call upon my demons as I call upon my saints
I lend an equal ear to each and I suffer no complaints
When the furies be your ushers and the shadows be your guide
The best way out of hell is through the other side
With a rumble and a grind I find that I'm back at my favorite part
Well I may not be your kind if your kind is faint or heart
When the World is sick and tired and it's begging you to fall apart
You may be hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
You may be hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
Ooohhh
With a rumble and a grind I find that I'm back at my favorite part
Well I may not be your kind if your kind is faint or heart
When the World is sick and tired and it's begging you to fall apart
You could be hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
Yeah you're hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
Yeah you're hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
Hey!
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la la
ooohhh
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la la
ooohhh
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la la
ooohhh
The lyrics of this song by Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are a reflection of the struggles that one goes through in life. The opening lines speak of the darkness that we all experience at some point in our lives, but how this darkness serves as a means to appreciate the light. He then compares this to gravity and flight, suggesting that without the struggles, we would not have the opportunity to rise above them and achieve our goals.
The chorus of the song stresses on the idea that everyone has their favorite part in life, and even though it may seem tough, people must find a way to hold on, as they are state of the art. The idea of being state of the art is about being unique and valuable, even though it may seem like one is barely hanging on, it is a state that people must cherish.
The second verse shifts gears and talks about how one must embrace their demons as they do their saints. The song suggests that we must accept all aspects of our selves and give equal attention to the negative and the positive aspects, only then can one triumph over any obstacles. The song concludes with an optimistic note, encouraging people to hold onto life, even when they are hanging on by a mere thread.
Line by Line Meaning
Had I not known the darkness
Without experiencing sadness or pain, I wouldn't appreciate happiness or joy.
I could not love the light
The contrast between the darkness and the light is what makes us appreciate the good things in our lives.
Were it not for gravity there would be no flight
Without obstacles or challenges, we wouldn't have the opportunity to push ourselves and achieve great things.
Had I not lost the path, I'd have never found my way
Sometimes getting lost or making mistakes is necessary in order to find the right path in life.
Equal parts my heart I gave to bloom and to decay
I gave my heart equally to those things that brought me joy and those that caused me pain, as both experiences are necessary to fully appreciate life.
With a rattle and a grind I find that I'm back at my favorite part
Life is full of ups and downs, but sometimes we find ourselves back in a familiar, comfortable place.
But I may not be your kind if your kind is faint or heart
I may not be the right person for you if you can't handle the challenges and struggles of life.
When the World is sick and tired and it's begging you to fall apart
When everything seems to be going wrong and the world is against you, it can be easy to give up.
You may be hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
Even if you feel like you're barely holding on, you're still something valuable and worth appreciating.
I call upon my demons as I call upon my saints
I accept and acknowledge my flaws and my strengths equally.
I lend an equal ear to each and I suffer no complaints
I listen to both the positive and negative aspects of myself without judging or complaining about them.
When the furies be your ushers and the shadows be your guide
Even when you're facing difficult times, it's important to recognize that there are always opportunities to learn and grow from them.
The best way out of hell is through the other side
The only way to overcome a difficult situation is to go through it, rather than trying to avoid it.
You could be hanging by a thread but now you're state of the art
Even if things seem difficult or painful, you are still a valuable and unique individual.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la la
Repeating the phrase 'Sha la la' is a way to express joy and positivity, despite the challenges of life.
Contributed by Jacob O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.