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.
Sunshine
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fall on me
Won't you tell me
When the hour is late
Tell them old crows
Want to fly away
Tell the darkness
That you ain't no slave
Won't you follow me
Through the night
Won't you guide me
When we go by
Says trouble
Along the road ahead
Some lawmen
Really want me dead
Well sunshine
Ain't done nothing
Is what I told that man
Said I ain't done nothing
With these two hands
See there ain't no blood
Ain't no blood on my hands
Stains to come
Made the government mad
Well sunshine
Well sunshine
Follow me
Won't you guide me
Till I can see
Tell them old crows
Want to fly away
Tell the darkness
That you ain't no slave
The song "Sunshine" by Ryan Bingham is a poignant and introspective piece that speaks to the power of light in dark times. The first verse begins with a simple plea for the sun to shine down upon the singer, telling the old crows to fly away and the darkness that it is not in control. This can be seen as a metaphor for the singer's own struggle with personal demons and the desire to escape them. The second verse continues the theme of the sun as a guide, asking it to lead the singer through dark times and help him avoid trouble along the way. The mention of "lawmen" who want him dead adds a touch of danger to the song and suggests that the singer may be on the run from the law or other dangerous forces.
The final verse sees the singer defending himself against accusations of wrongdoing, protesting that he has done nothing wrong with his own two hands. The reference to stains that have made the government mad suggests that the singer may be a victim of false charges or a corrupt system. Throughout the song, the repeated refrain of "well sunshine" emphasizes the power of light to overcome darkness and bring hope to the singer's life. The soaring melody and plaintive lyrics create a sense of yearning and longing for something better, while the use of natural imagery helps to ground the song in the tangible world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well sunshine
The singer is addressing the sun and asking for its presence.
Fall on me
The singer wants the sun's rays to touch and bless him.
Won't you tell me
The singer is requesting the sun to give him guidance.
When the hour is late
The artist wants to be guided even when it's dark and difficult to see.
Tell them old crows
The artist is referring to his troubles and wants the sun to help him overcome them.
Want to fly away
The singer wants his troubles to leave him and never come back.
Tell the darkness
The singer wants the sun to shed light on his path, to help him overcome his fears.
That you ain't no slave
The artist acknowledges that the sun has power and he is asking for its help, but he also wants to remind it that he is not a slave of darkness or fear.
Won't you follow me
The artist wants the sun to be with him every step of the way.
Through the night
The artist wants the sun's guidance even when it's dark and difficult to see.
Won't you guide me
The singer wants the sun to show him the right path and to help him make the right decisions.
When we go by
The artist wants the sun's guidance during his journey.
Says trouble
The singer acknowledges that there will be obstacles along his path.
Along the road ahead
The singer knows that there are challenges waiting for him in the future.
Some lawmen
The singer is referring to people who want to harm him.
Really want me dead
The artist is in danger and his life is at risk.
Ain't done nothing
The artist is proclaiming his innocence.
Is what I told that man
The singer is telling someone that he did nothing wrong.
Said I ain't done nothing
The singer is insisting that he is innocent.
With these two hands
The artist is emphasizing that he did not commit any crime.
See there ain't no blood
The artist is explaining that there is no physical evidence of his wrongdoing.
Ain't no blood on my hands
The artist is proclaiming his innocence.
Stains to come
The singer knows that people will try to frame him and make him look guilty.
Made the government mad
The artist is in trouble because he angered the government or other authorities.
Follow me
The singer wants the sun to be with him always, to guide and protect him.
Till I can see
The singer wants the sun to stay with him until he can see his path clearly.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE 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