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.
Guess Who's Knocking
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Guess who is knocking on the door?
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
Lie, I'm the brave young lad
Out of the wild I run
I'm the forsaken child,
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Guess who is knocking on the door?
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
Lie, I'm the brave young lad
Followed by hollowed years
I learn to bark and knock
You keep your mother near
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Guess who is knocking on the door?
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
The lyrics to Ryan Bingham's song "Guess Who's Knocking" are a powerful declaration of someone who has been through struggles and is now demanding their rightful place in the world. The repetition of the line "Guess who is knocking on the door?" emphasizes the singer's determination to be heard and seen. The use of profanity in the chorus sets a confrontational mood and further emphasizes the singer's assertiveness.
The accompanying verses paint a picture of someone who has grown up in difficult circumstances ("out of the wild I run," "forsaken child") but has learned to survive ("I learn to bark and knock"). The line "you keep your mother near" suggests a strained relationship with the singer's own mother, adding another layer of complexity to their story.
Overall, "Guess Who's Knocking" is a song about perseverance and the triumph of someone who has overcome adversity. The repetitive chorus and forceful language make it a rallying cry for anyone who has struggled to be heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Who do you think could be here?
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Could you please make a guess?
Guess who is knocking on the door?
Can you predict who's at the door?
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
It's me, can't you recognize me?
Lie, I'm the brave young lad
Don't believe everything you hear
Out of the wild I run
I have a wild nature
I'm the forsaken child,
I am neglected and abandoned
Swept underneath your hood
I am hidden by your pretense
I learn to bark and knock
I have learned how to assert myself
You keep your mother near
You are overly protective
Followed by hollowed years
My past has been unfulfilling
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
It's me, and I'm unapologetic
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
It is me, and I am not going anywhere
It's me motherfucker, I'm knocking on the door!
I am here, and I demand to be let in
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: 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