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/
West Texas Moon
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you're telling me I gotta climb
But baby I don't like them stones you put in my shoes
So maybe I'll just keep on walking
Trying to stay a step ahead of the blues
Darling I know we ain't never done paying our dues
So bring me some bright-eyed angel
Keep on strumming my guitar out of tune
Baby let's get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon
Well I've had my fair share of the women
And I've drank my fill of the wine
But none of that can hide me from running out of time
So come on six shotgun angel
Keep strummin' my guitar out of tune
Sundown's coming 'round
Baby let's get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon
Yeah, sundown's coming 'round
Baby let's get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon
Baby don't cry cause you knew I'd have to fly
I can't kiss those wide open spaces, goodbye
Well I've been to the top of the Great Divide
Where the rain don't know which way to flow
There where the sky and the highway collide
My heart flew South for Mexico
So come on honky tonk angel
Strum another trail blue tune
Sundown's coming 'round
Baby lets get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon
Sundown's coming 'round
Baby let's get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon
Yeah that crazy West Texas moon
The lyrics to Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers's song West Texas Moon speak of a restless journey filled with challenges, but also a sense of hope and determination. The opening line, "Now honey I don't mind that mountain/That you're telling me I gotta climb," suggests a willingness to face obstacles head-on. However, the following lines express frustration at unexpected hurdles, represented by the "stones you put in my shoes." Despite this, the singer resolves to keep moving forward "trying to stay a step ahead of the blues." The repeated phrase "Baby let's get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon" reinforces the sense of purpose in the face of adversity.
The second verse continues the theme of a journey filled with experiences, both enjoyable and potentially damaging. The singer has "had [their] fair share of the women/And [has] drank [their] fill of the wine," but also acknowledges that these experiences can only delay the inevitable passage of time. The repeated refrain of "Sundown's coming 'round" suggests a sense of urgency, as the singer and their companions seek to make the most of the time they have left. The final verse adds a sense of geographical specificity, describing the Great Divide and the singer's heart flying south for Mexico. The call for a "honky tonk angel" to "Strum another trail blue tune" emphasizes the sense of camaraderie and shared experience in the face of challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Now honey I don't mind that mountain
I am not afraid of facing challenges and obstacles in life
That you're telling me I gotta climb
You can challenge me, but I won't back down from the task
But baby I don't like them stones you put in my shoes
I don't appreciate you making my journey more difficult with unnecessary challenges
So maybe I'll just keep on walking
I refuse to let obstacles stop me from making progress
Trying to stay a step ahead of the blues
I'm doing my best to avoid feeling down and sad
Darling I know we ain't never done paying our dues
We have a history and a past that we can never fully escape from
So bring me some bright-eyed angel
I need some positivity in my life to help me move forward
Keep on strumming my guitar out of tune
I need music to help me cope with the challenges of life
Sundown's coming 'round
The end of the day is near
Baby let's get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon
Let's continue to pursue our dreams, even if they seem impossible
Well I've had my fair share of the women
I have plenty of experience when it comes to relationships
And I've drank my fill of the wine
I have indulged in life's pleasures
But none of that can hide me from running out of time
No amount of pleasure or experience can stop me from aging and approaching the end of my life
So come on six shotgun angel
I need someone to fight alongside me
Keep strummin' my guitar out of tune
I need music to help me cope with the difficulties of life
Yeah, sundown's coming 'round
The end of the day is approaching
Baby let's get chasin' that crazy West Texas moon
Let's keep working towards our goals, even if they seem impossible
Baby don't cry cause you knew I'd have to fly
Don't be sad that I have to move on
I can't kiss those wide open spaces, goodbye
I can't say goodbye to the opportunities and experiences that I know are still out there
Well I've been to the top of the Great Divide
I have experienced the highs and lows of life
Where the rain don't know which way to flow
I have been to places where things don't work out as expected
There where the sky and the highway collide
I have been to places where natural beauty meets man-made interference
My heart flew South for Mexico
My heart seeks adventure and new experiences
So come on honky tonk angel
I need someone to join me in my journey
Strum another trail blue tune
I need music to help lift my spirits
Yeah that crazy West Texas moon
I will keep chasing after my dreams, no matter how impossible they seem
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.