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.
Wishing Well
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need no more rain
I've been gone for so long
I think the devil lost my name
I took a little ride
On a heartache highway
Loving from you, honey
When I go astray
Lose my way
Honey, I go down
To the wishing well
Standing at them crossroads
I've been begging for change
I said I've been gone for so long
The devil lost my name
The big wheel is burning up the rubber
The highway is killing time
And this here gutless six string
Eases my mind
When I go astray
Lose my way
I go on down
To the wishing well
I said I've been wasting my time
I don't need no more rain
Blood drips from my knuckles
It helps ease the pain
Standing at them crossroads
I've begging for change
I said I been gone for so long
I think the devil lost my name
When I go astray
Lose my way
Honey, I go down
To the wishing well
The lyrics to Ryan Bingham's "Wishing Well" evoke a sense of struggle and determination in the face of adversity. The singer of the song seems to have been through a lot and is using music as a way to ease the pain of his experiences. The opening lines, "I've been wasting my time, I don't need no more rain," suggest that the singer has been feeling stuck and weighed down by life's challenges. However, he is not defeated and is determined to keep moving forward.
Later in the song, the lyrics reference the idea of standing at crossroads and begging for change, perhaps a metaphor for the various choices and decisions the singer has had to make in his life. The idea of going down to the wishing well when he loses his way reinforces the notion that the singer is looking for guidance and hope.
The imagery in the song is poignant and vivid, with lines like "blood drips from my knuckles, it helps ease the pain" painting a picture of someone who has been through physical and emotional turmoil. Overall, "Wishing Well" is a powerful song that speaks to the struggles and triumphs of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been wasting my time
I have been using my time inefficiently
I don't need no more rain
I am tired of facing more difficult circumstances
I've been gone for so long
I have been away from my past for an extended period
I think the devil lost my name
I have been out of touch with who I was previously
I took a little ride
I went on a journey
On a heartache highway
On a path that has led to emotional pain
Loving from you, honey
Being near you has given me joy
Keeps me moving on my way
Encourages me to continue my journey
When I go astray
When I am not following the right path
Lose my way
When I am directionless
Honey, I go down
I look for help
To the wishing well
From a traditional source of guidance and hope
Standing at them crossroads
Facing uncertainty
I've been begging for change
I am requesting a new beginning
The big wheel is burning up the rubber
Time is fleeting and valuable
The highway is killing time
The journey is passing us by quickly
And this here gutless six string
Playing the guitar without passion or purpose
Eases my mind
Helps me relax and feel calm
Blood drips from my knuckles
I have experienced physical pain
It helps ease the pain
It is a coping mechanism for me
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