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.
Broken Heart Tattoos
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With tattoos
The blood in your arm, hell, it's good and it's warm
And still free to choose
So take your sweet time and walk a straight line
In two
But don't you be shy in your wilder side
Or be afraid to let loose
Somewhere inside where it all lives and dies
I know
There lies a heart unbroke in the dark
Where love still grows
So follow the roads that make you feel old
And brand new
If you remain kind yet aware of the signs
Then you'll know what to do
With broken heart tattoos
Your unspoken thoughts are yet to be bought
Or sold
The whispers of time will write down the lines
And stories will be told
As the wind blows your life will unfold
Some truth
Remember that eyes shoot arrows through lies
Should you sing out of tune
With broken heart tattoos
The song "Broken Heart Tattoos" by Ryan Bingham, is an ode to the innocence and hopefulness of the youth, who are yet to be scarred by the harsh realities of life. The opening lines of the song "You are unborn and yet to be scarred with tattoos" alludes to the idea that the youth are full of life, free to make choices and live their lives based on their own terms. The line "the blood in your arm, hell, it's good and it's warm and still free to choose" reinforces the idea that the youth are yet to be jaded by the harsh realities of life.
The song encourages the listener to take their time and walk a straight line, but not to be afraid to explore their wilder side or let loose. This idea is further reinforced in the chorus of the song when Bingham sings, "with broken heart tattoos, somewhere inside where it all lives and dies I know there lies a heart unbroke in the dark where love still grows". Here, he reminds us that even in the midst of heartbreak and disappointment, love still has the power to heal.
The song encourages us to remain kind yet aware of the signs, so that we know what to do when we are faced with difficulties in life. The last line "Remember that eyes shoot arrows through lies should you sing out of tune with broken heart tattoos" has a double meaning. Firstly, it alludes to the idea that when we are true to ourselves and our values, we will be able to see through false flattery and pretensions. Secondly, the use of the phrase "broken heart tattoos" suggests that even when our heart is broken, we can still choose to persevere and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
You are unborn and yet to be scarred
With tattoos
You are young and untouched by heartbreak, but eventually you will accumulate emotional scars just like tattoos on your skin.
The blood in your arm, hell, it's good and it's warm
And still free to choose
You have passion and vitality, and you are free to make choices about your future.
So take your sweet time and walk a straight line
In two
But don't you be shy in your wilder side
Or be afraid to let loose
With broken heart tattoos
Take your time in making decisions and staying on the right path, but don't forget to embrace your adventurous and wild side, especially when it leads to brokenness.
Somewhere inside where it all lives and dies
I know
There lies a heart unbroke in the dark
Where love still grows
Despite the inevitability of heartbreak, you still have a pure heart capable of love that persists even in darkness.
So follow the roads that make you feel old
And brand new
If you remain kind yet aware of the signs
Then you'll know what to do
With broken heart tattoos
Choose paths that both comfort and challenge you, and as long as you stay compassionate and perceptive, you'll know how to navigate the difficult terrain of love and heartbreak.
Your unspoken thoughts are yet to be bought
Or sold
The whispers of time will write down the lines
And stories will be told
Your thoughts and experiences are unique and cannot be easily influenced or compromised. Time will record your journey and share your story.
As the wind blows your life will unfold
Some truth
Remember that eyes shoot arrows through lies
Should you sing out of tune
With broken heart tattoos
As you experience the unpredictable nature of life, strive to remain honest and genuine. While others may try to deceive you, people will always recognize integrity even amidst imperfection, pain, and brokenness.
Writer(s): RYAN BINGHAM
Contributed by Andrew P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cedric Compin
You are unborn and yet to be scarred with tattoos
The blood in your arm, hell, it's good and it's warm and still free to choose
So take your sweet time and walk a straight line in two
But don't you be shy in your wilder side or be afraid to let loose
With broken heart tattoos
Somewhere inside where it all lives and dies I know
There lies a heart unbroke in the dark where love still grows
So follow the roads that make you feel old and brand new
If you remain kind yet aware of the signs then you'll know what to do
With broken heart tattoos
Your unspoken thoughts are yet to be bought or sold
The whispers of time will write down the lines and stories will be told
As the wind blows your life will unfold some truth
Remember that eyes shoot arrows through lies should you sing out of tune
With broken heart tattoos
Strange Wayfaring Stranger
@Adam Harris Actually it's right.
"‘Broken Heart Tattoos’ is the first single and second track from Ryan Bingham’s Fear and Saturday Night.
The song functions as a letter to Ryan’s unborn child.
Ryan tells us in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine:
'Over the past couple of years, we’d been talking [about] if we wanted to have kids or not. We had it in our minds. You start thinking about, “Wow, what would I have to say to my kid if I had one?” And that was kind of how the song began. Then, a few months later, [Anna, his wife] told me she was pregnant, so it was like, all right, I got that one down.'
Their first child was born in the summer of 2015."
Mini Doug78
I honestly don’t know how I heard of this song but once I heard it, I never stopped listening to it. Such a good song, one of my favorite Ryan Bingham’s songs
Noble Savage
There's a great breath of talent out there in the forefront today.....and rightfully so... Ryan has always been pushing through just doing what he does, and I am grateful
Victor Morigeau
It's a life living song!!!!!
Eric
Best one on the album.
nick doe
Eric nope, most beautiful sure but overall best no "Snow falls in June" is lol
Victor Morigeau
Eric thank you
Cedric Compin
You are unborn and yet to be scarred with tattoos
The blood in your arm, hell, it's good and it's warm and still free to choose
So take your sweet time and walk a straight line in two
But don't you be shy in your wilder side or be afraid to let loose
With broken heart tattoos
Somewhere inside where it all lives and dies I know
There lies a heart unbroke in the dark where love still grows
So follow the roads that make you feel old and brand new
If you remain kind yet aware of the signs then you'll know what to do
With broken heart tattoos
Your unspoken thoughts are yet to be bought or sold
The whispers of time will write down the lines and stories will be told
As the wind blows your life will unfold some truth
Remember that eyes shoot arrows through lies should you sing out of tune
With broken heart tattoos
Franklin Mendez
Thanks
David Masingo
For his daughter..a tough road for all dads
Shaun Clark
Great music. Glad I caught it on E Town.