Bingham dropped out of school at 17 and was introduced to rodeo bull riding. He learned the emotional aspect of pain early in life, when shuttling between small towns and family members in the hardscrabble ranching communities of West Texas and Hobbs, New Mexico -- and became well-acquainted with the physical facets of pain during his years on the Southwestern rodeo circuit.
That ache is palpable in the grooves of Mescalito, Ryan Bingham’s Lost Highway debut, but what’s even more plain is the steely strength needed to overcome it -- a tenor that’s evident in both the singer-songwriter’s preternaturally wizened voice and his remarkably poignant songs, which resonate with roadhouse wisdom and rough-and-ready border-town piquancy.
The Beg For Broken Legs Songfacts reports that Bingham's fourth album, Tomorrowland, was recorded in Malibu, California with producer Justin Stanley and self-released through Bingham's new independent record label Axster Bingham Records on September 18, 2012.
He has won an Oscar for the best film song (Crazy Heart - The Weary Kind) in 2010.
Influences include Bob Dylan among others.
Bread And Water
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stuck outside the middle of the desert wishin' I was home
Long way from no where, wishin' I was somewhere
Sangre de Cristo to the Devil's Backbone
I've been to California and North Carolina
Hung with the hippies in Austin and the cowboys of Mexico
I've laid up in Fort Worth with beautiful ladies
In the back of a Ranchero, I rode down to Laredo
Had a good time at the La Posada, yeah, you know I was left alone
On a rig out of El Paso, rainin' down in Houston
Told the truck driver put the pedal to the metal
'Cause Houston gets me down
On down to Louisiana, Whiskey River Landing
Crawfish pie and eat jambalaya with a big ole coon ass smile
The song Bread and Water by Ryan Bingham is a heartfelt tribute to a life of wandering and hardship. The opening lines of the song convey the sense of deprivation that the singer has experienced in his life, as he has gone without basic necessities such as bread and water. He describes being stuck in the middle of the desert and longing to be back home. The use of geographical references, from Sangre de Cristo to the Devil's Backbone provide a vivid sense of the vast, empty spaces he has traveled through. The second verse of the song explains that the singer has traveled extensively across the United States, from California to North Carolina. He has hung out with counterculture hippies in Austin and the rugged cowboys of Mexico. He has also spent time with beautiful women in Fort Worth and hitchhiked through San Anton. The chorus of the song evokes the sense of being constantly on the move, with the truck driver putting his foot down on the accelerator to escape the feeling of being trapped.
Bingham's song is a poignant reflection on the experience of living on the fringes. This is conveyed by the use of imagery drawn from the lives of truckers, rodeo riders, and working-class people. The lyrics paint a picture of a life in which the joys and struggles of everyday existence are magnified by the constant need to move. The chorus of the song captures the sense of urgency that comes with this kind of life as the singer declares, "Houston gets me down." In this context, Houston represents a place of stagnation, a trap that must be escaped at all costs. Overall, Bread and Water is a powerful anthem of the wandering soul, a testament to the resilience of those who choose to live outside the boundaries of conventional society.
Line by Line Meaning
I've lived without bread and I've lived without water
I have suffered and survived without the basic necessities of life
Stuck outside the middle of the desert wishin' I was home
Feeling lost and alone in the harsh, unforgiving environment
Long way from no where, wishin' I was somewhere
Being far away from any familiar places and yearning to be somewhere else
Sangre de Cristo to the Devil's Backbone
Travelling through different terrains, from the mountains to the valleys
I've been to California and North Carolina
Having travelled to the opposite coasts of the country
Hung with the hippies in Austin and the cowboys of Mexico
Experiencing the lifestyles and cultures of different places, from the liberal city of Austin to the rugged masculinity of Mexico
I've laid up in Fort Worth with beautiful ladies
Having enjoyed the company of attractive women in a relaxed setting in Fort Worth
Hitch hiked on down 281 and hit the rodeo in San Anton
Travelling by hitchhiking to San Anton to attend the rodeo
In the back of a Ranchero, I rode down to Laredo
Travelling in the back of a pickup truck to reach Laredo
Had a good time at the La Posada, yeah, you know I was left alone
Enjoying a good time at La Posada but ultimately feeling isolated and alone
On a rig out of El Paso, rainin' down in Houston
Working on an oil rig that took me from El Paso to Houston during heavy rains
Told the truck driver put the pedal to the metal
Urging the truck driver to drive faster to escape a depressed state caused by being in Houston
'Cause Houston gets me down
Feeling emotionally drained while in Houston
On down to Louisiana, Whiskey River Landing
Travelling further south to Louisiana to reach Whiskey River Landing
Crawfish pie and eat jambalaya with a big ole coon ass smile
Indulging in the delicious cuisine of Louisiana with a wide, delighted smile
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Ryan Bingham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@singfest-co
I've lived without bread and I've lived without water,
Stuck outside the middle of the desert wishin' I was home.
Long way from no where, wishin' I was somewhere,
Sangre de Cristo to the Devils Backbone.
I've been to California and North Carolina,
Hung with the hippies in Austin and the cowboys of Mexico.
I've laid up in Fort Worth with beautiful ladies,
Hitch hiked on down to Tijuana and hit the rodeo in San Anton...
In the back of a Ranchero, I rode down to Laredo,
Had a good time with the la posada, yea you know I was left alone.
On a rig out of El Paso, rainin' down in Houston,
Told the truck driver put the pedal to the metal cause Houston gets me down.
On down to Louisiana, Whiskey River Landing,
@thejeepsta4
Ryan’s such a great musician. As a Navy dude born & raised in Texas, this song specifically I relate too. Love it, wish more people my age were into this type of music.
@wolfguardian8312
An outstanding recording....what more can I say?? Captures all the charm and pain of the common man....
@hfm2374
Ryan and some of the other younger emerging throwback's make you proud to be born and raised in the South. Great song!
@sup393
If anyone ever tours again see him live
@susangooch7087
I have loved Ryan Bingham for 13 years now . I was ever so blessed to see Ryan Bingham live November 2019 , At Tennessee Theatre .
@huntervargas3592
Not gonna lie he kinda of blows now, he’s alright but sings all his song slow and doesn’t put the energy in them like he did back in 2011-2013
@momosan31
I NEVER thought I would listen to country until I heard Bingham in Crazy Heart. And then I realized that I was just deceived by mainstream media (again) into thinking I had actually heard any country before. This guy has a set of chops and can play the blues like a madman. Great artist!
@ranchdressing1037
Ryan's words make me realize how much of life I've missed out on.
@2nd_snideelf144
His music is great. This song where he says he's living out in the desert. I've done that. Not by choice. Lived out of my comfortable car parked in the southern New Mexico desert under the shade of some huge Afghan pine trees. At least I did have bread and water and enough to get food to eat.
@rgvblazer
This guy is even more phenomenal live...can't wait to see him again. I paid $10 to see this Bingham for St. Patrick's Day in Dallas. Great musician.