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/
Tell Yer Momma
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was born to lose and my travelin' shoes was the only shoes I had
Well I used to be cool
I was that Sunday afternoon sunken drunken stumblin' fool
'Till I met your momma
She pulled me outta that terrible fix
Well I know daddy's been away awhile
Tell your momma your daddy done quit his drinkin'
Tell your momma your daddy done found the Lord
Tell your momma your daddy done quit his cussin' - his fightin' - his carryin' on
But don't you tell your momma goddamn your daddy's bored
Well I used to be sly
I'd stay out all night
And how I loved to fight
And make them young girls cry
Well I used to be crude
I was rude shrewd glued screwed tattooed
Down n dirty with a just plain surly attitude
'Till I met your momma
She pulled me outta that terrible fix
Well I know daddy's been away awhile
Cause it's been hard to teach an old dog new tricks
Well if a thousand times I seen the light
You know that I've gone blind a thousand times again
And if a thousand times I said ""I do""
You know I turned my tail a thousand-one again
I didn't mean no harm I's just havin' fun again
Tell your momma your daddy done quit his drinkin'
Tell your momma your daddy done found the Lord
Tell your momma your daddy done quit his cussin' - his fightin' - his carryin' on
But don't you tell your momma no
Don't you tell your momma oh no
Don't you tell your momma goddamn your daddy's bored
In the first verse of Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers' song "Tell Yer Momma," the singer describes his previous lifestyle as being "bad," "cool," and reckless. He was born to lose and constantly traveled, only owning one pair of shoes. He spent his Sunday afternoons drunk and stumbling until he met "your momma." She saved him from his terrible ways and helped him reform his behavior. He acknowledges that his father has been absent for a while, making it difficult for him to change his ways as an "old dog."
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's past habits, describing himself as "sly" and someone who loved to fight and make young girls cry. He had a crude and surly attitude and was tattooed. Again, he emphasizes that "your momma" saved him from this lifestyle.
The chorus is a message to their child: tell your momma that your dad has quit drinking, found God, and stopped cursing, fighting, and carrying on. But the final line is a playful twist where the singer asks the child not to tell "your momma" that he is bored now that he has changed his ways.
Overall, the song tells the journey of the singer from a wild lifestyle to a more settled and disciplined one, thanks to the influence of "your momma."
Line by Line Meaning
Well I used to be bad
I used to be a mischievous person.
I was born to lose and my travelin' shoes was the only shoes I had
I was born unlucky and my only possessions were my shoes, which never stopped traveling.
Well I used to be cool
I used to be a cool person.
I was that Sunday afternoon sunken drunken stumblin' fool
I used to be drunk on Sunday afternoons and would stumble around like a fool.
'Till I met your momma
Until I met your mom.
She pulled me outta that terrible fix
She helped me out of a difficult situation.
Well I know daddy's been away awhile
I know that dad has been absent for a long time.
Cause it's been hard to teach an old dog new tricks
It has been difficult to educate someone who has lived a certain way for a long time.
Tell your momma your daddy done quit his drinkin'
Let your mother know that your father has stopped drinking.
Tell your momma your daddy done found the Lord
Tell your mother that your father has become religious.
Tell your momma your daddy done quit his cussin' - his fightin' - his carryin' on
Tell your mother that your father has stopped using foul language, fighting, and disturbing the peace.
But don't you tell your momma goddamn your daddy's bored
Don't tell your mother that your father is bored and perhaps looking to get back into his old habits.
Well I used to be sly
I used to be a sneaky person.
I'd stay out all night
I would stay out all night.
And how I loved to fight
And I enjoyed fighting.
And make them young girls cry
And I would make young girls cry.
Well I used to be crude
I used to be impolite.
I was rude shrewd glued screwed tattooed
I was rude, cunning, addicted, mischievous, and tattooed.
Down n dirty with a just plain surly attitude
I had an unpleasant and uncooperative attitude.
'Till I met your momma
Until I met your mom.
She pulled me outta that terrible fix
She helped me out of a difficult situation.
Well if a thousand times I seen the light
If I had a moment of clarity a thousand times.
You know that I've gone blind a thousand times again
You know that I have lost my moment of clarity a thousand times.
And if a thousand times I said ""I do""
And if I got married a thousand times.
You know I turned my tail a thousand-one again
You know that I ran away a thousand and one times.
I didn't mean no harm I's just havin' fun again
I did not mean to cause any harm; I was just having fun.
Don't you tell your momma no
Don't tell your mother anything.
Don't you tell your momma oh no
Don't tell your mother anything, oh no.
Don't you tell your momma goddamn your daddy's bored
Don't tell your mother that your father is bored and perhaps looking to get back into his old habits.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Roger Clyne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind