After Roger had an unsuccessful experience playing piano for a local band, he decided to create his own. The following is a list of the members of the Roger Creager Band along with the instruments they play.
Craig Smith - lead guitar
Alan Huff - piano, accordion, washboard
Matt Medearis - drums
John T. Slaughter - fiddle, mandolin
Stormy Cooper - bass guitar
Discography
Albums
- Live Across Texas (2004)
- Long Way to Mexico (2003)
- I Got the Guns (2002)
- Having Fun All Wrong (1999)
Popular songs
- The Everclear Song
- Love
- Having Fun All Wrong
- I Got The Guns
- Things Look Good Around Here
- Long Way To Mexico
- Love Is Crazy
Dead Love
Roger Creager Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you want the world to sing your praise
Don't let them see you sweat
Don't let your eyes get wet
That's just the way I was raised
What would my mom and daddy say
If they could see me now
And since you've been gone
I've been drinking just a little bit more
My buddies clear out when I walk in through
The front of that bar room door
They know what I want to talk about
When I pull your tear stained pictures out
I'm in a crying, moaning, whining, groaning
Wishing you were back
In these arms along again kind of feeling
Draw the curtains
Pull down the shades and turn the TV on
I hate for people to see me like this
But I hate being alone
I'm trying a new way of getting over you
I wish my friends were more sympathetic
When I'm feeling blue
And since you've been gone
I've been drinking just a little bit more
My buddies clear out when I walk in through
The front of that bar room door
They know what I want to talk about
When I pull your tear stained pictures out
I'm in a crying, moaning, whining, groaning
Wishing you were back
In these arms along again kind of feeling
And since you've been gone
I've been drinking just a little bit more
My buddies clear out when I walk in through
The front of that bar room door
They know what I want to talk about
When I pull your tear stained pictures out
I'm in a crying, moaning, whining, groaning
Wishing you were back
In these arms along again kind of feeling
Crying, moaning, whining, groaning
Wishing you were back
In these arms alone again kind of feeling
The lyrics of Roger Creager’s song, “Dead Love” captures the post-breakup dilemma of not knowing how to cope with the absence of an ex-lover. The opening lines, “Stand up straight walk tall and proud, If you want the world to sing your praise, Don't let them see you sweat, Don't let your eyes get wet, That's just the way I was raised” sets the stage for the theme of the song which highlights the societal expectations of putting up a strong front even when one is hurting. The next lines “What would my mom and daddy say, If they could see me now, You walked out and turned it all around” reveals the pain that comes with moving on after a break-up, and the difficulty that comes with having to appear strong even when everything inside feels like it is falling apart.
Further down, the song expresses the depression that accompanies a break-up as the singer finds himself drinking more frequently and his buddies clearing out when he walks into a bar. The line, “When I pull your tear-stained pictures out, I'm in a crying, moaning, whining, groaning, Wishing you were back” depicts the desperation and heartache brought on by the absence of a lover, as the singer is caught in the vicious cycle of missing his lover and trying to find ways to cope with the loss.
Overall, Roger Creager’s “Dead Love” captures the complex emotions of post-breakup life, drawing attention to the societal expectations of putting up a front of strength, while struggling with the pain and loneliness that comes after a break-up.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand up straight walk tall and proud
If you want to achieve great things, you need to be confident and self-assured.
If you want the world to sing your praise
If you want to be recognized and respected, you need to work hard and make an impact.
Don't let them see you sweat
Don't show weakness or vulnerability, as it can be exploited by others.
Don't let your eyes get wet
Don't show emotion or cry, as it can be seen as a sign of weakness.
That's just the way I was raised
These values of confidence and strength were instilled in me by my upbringing.
What would my mom and daddy say
If my parents were still alive, what would they think of me now?
If they could see me now
If my parents could see the person I've become despite their teachings.
You walked out and turned it all around
You leaving me caused my life to go off the rails and break all the rules I was taught.
And since you've been gone
Ever since you left me, my life has gone downhill.
My buddies clear out when I walk in through the front of that bar room door
My friends don't want to be around me when I'm in a bad state.
They know what I want to talk about when I pull your tear stained pictures out
My friends know that I'm still struggling to get over you and will dwell on my heartbreak.
I'm in a crying, moaning, whining, groaning, wishing you were back, in these arms again kind of feeling
I'm stuck in a cycle of sadness and regret, wishing that you were with me again.
Draw the curtains, pull down the shades and turn the TV on
I don't want anyone to see me in this state, so I isolate myself in my home.
I hate for people to see me like this
I'm ashamed that I'm not living up to the values instilled in me by my upbringing.
But I hate being alone
At the same time, I can't stand the loneliness either.
I'm trying a new way of getting over you
I'm trying to move on from you in a new way.
I wish my friends were more sympathetic when I'm feeling blue
I wish my friends were more understanding and supportive when I'm feeling sad and lonely.
Crying, moaning, whining, groaning, wishing you were back, in these arms alone again kind of feeling
I'm stuck in a cycle of sadness and regret, wishing that you were with me again.
Contributed by Gabriella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.