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.
Direction Of The Wind
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lame and fickle feuds
No time for all these bribes that keep
A poor man sewin' shoes
In a box
There's just no time for propaganda
Or media filled with hate
That slither around like snakes
In your brain
When people all around
Are startin' to begin
To understand that here and now
Is what we're livin' in
Yesterday is gone
So that a new day can begin
And it seems there's been
A change of direction
In the wind
There's just no time for talkin' prejudice
Of different colored fellows
No time for cruel harassment
Of the strippers in stilettos
On the boulevard
There's just no time for these traditions
Tyin' people down to class
When everyone's a shade of green
That suffers in the grass
Of greed
When people all around
Are startin' to begin
To understand that here and now
Is what we're livin' in
Yesterday is gone
So that a new day can begin
And it seems there's been
A change of direction
In the wind
There's just no time for the delusion
No use for stealin' dreams
No time for the intentions
When you say let freedom ring
On foreign land
There's just no time for the reflection
Without recognizin' crimes
No time for all the rules that limit
Human equal rights
To this day
When people all around
Are startin' to begin
To understand that here and now
Can be powered by the wind
Yesterday is gone
So that a new day can begin
And it seems there's been
A change of direction
In the wind
No time for all these factories
Of guilt and all the glues
No time for this supply
If this demand can never chose
To eat healthy
There's just no time for the control
Of what we do and what we say
No time for all these holy wars
With gods out on display
What happened to peace and love?
When people all around
Are startin' to begin
To understand that here and now
Is what we're livin' in
Yesterday is gone
So that a new day can begin
And it seems there's been
A change of direction
In the wind
The song Direction of the Wind by Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses speaks about the changing world and the need to let go of prejudices, propaganda, and control in order to embrace the present moment. The lyrics suggest that people have grown tired of the way things used to be and are starting to understand that they need to live in the present and move forward. The reference to different prejudices like racism and class divisions highlights the unfairness that exists and suggests that people need to move past these barriers to truly embrace the present.
The lyrics also suggest that there is no time for propaganda and control that try to manipulate people's thoughts and actions. The line "No time for all the rules that limit human equal rights to this day" hints at the need for change and equality. The song suggests that we need to recognize our past mistakes and move towards a peaceful and loving future.
Overall, the song is about the changing times, the need to let go of what was and embrace what is, and the hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
There's just no time for the agenda
There is no time for the narrow-minded views and opinions of others
The lame and fickle feuds
The petty and unstable conflicts are meaningless
No time for all these bribes that keep
A poor man sewin' shoes
In a box
There is no time for the corruption that keeps the disadvantaged working hard for low pay and no opportunity for growth
There's just no time for propaganda
There is no time for the biased and misleading information that is often spread by the media
Or media filled with hate
Or for the media that promotes a message of anger and hostility
No time for scripted messages
That slither around like snakes
In your brain
There is no time for the pre-written and manipulative messages that try to control one’s thoughts and beliefs
When people all around
Are startin' to begin
To understand that here and now
Is what we're livin' in
As more and more people start to comprehend that we are living in the present moment, there is less patience for outdated ideas and behavior
Yesterday is gone
So that a new day can begin
And it seems there's been
A change of direction
In the wind
The past has dissolved, opening up a new opportunity for a fresh start and the chance to alter one’s approach
There's just no time for talkin' prejudice
Of different colored fellows
There is no time for conversations that promote ill feelings towards those who are different than us
No time for cruel harassment
Of the strippers in stilettos
On the boulevard
There is no time for the hurtful and abusive behavior towards sex workers on the streets
There's just no time for these traditions
Tyin' people down to class
There is no time for the societal customs that divide people into classes, restricting one’s growth and success
When everyone's a shade of green
That suffers in the grass
Of greed
When everyone is on the same level, each person is susceptible to falling victim to the avaricious tendencies that can corrupt one’s spirit
There's just no time for the delusion
No use for stealin' dreams
No time for the intentions
When you say let freedom ring
On foreign land
There is no time for the illusions that may trick one into pursuing impractical goals, and no room for the motive behind imposing one’s beliefs on other nations in the name of freedom
There's just no time for the reflection
Without recognizin' crimes
No time for all the rules that limit
Human equal rights
To this day
There is no time for introspection if one cannot acknowledge the injustices that have been committed in the past. The rules of society limiting human rights continue to be challenged to this day and should not be ignored
When people all around
Are startin' to begin
To understand that here and now
Can be powered by the wind
As more people start to grasp that the present moment holds immense power, renewable energy sources, such as wind, gain more favor
No time for all these factories
Of guilt and all the glues
No time for this supply
If this demand can never chose
To eat healthy
There is no time for institutions that project shame or the products that hold no beneficial value. The consumer should have the option to make informed purchases for a healthy lifestyle
There's just no time for the control
Of what we do and what we say
There is no time for the regulation over one’s thoughts, words, or actions
No time for all these holy wars
With gods out on display
What happened to peace and love?
There is no time for battles over religious beliefs and values, instead there should more focus on the principles of peace and love
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE RYAN BINGHAM, RYAN BINGHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elliott P
on Western Shore
"Loud on the Western shore, you're no longer brave"
You used to be scared, but now you are bravely living your life out loud
Think you missed this one
More than once
Significant I think that he ended the song with "you are no longer brave".
Think it was easy for him to have been brave previously because he had nothing to lose as he also points out in What would I've become. He does now and that's changed him