Receiving a hand up in this business of music from the likes of Ray Wylie Hubbard is no small accomplishment, and that mentorship – and sometimes harsh instruction – was not lost on Sam Riggs, who has had the fortunate opportunity to meander through Wylie’s cerebral countryside over the last few years. At the time of their meeting, Riggs was already a commercially-viable songwriter with an impressive root system, having sprung from his family’s musical genes; but he was still feeding off the unripe fruits of his youth. Through the songwriting school of Hubbard, he learned the time-honored virtue of patience and the aptitude for turning the rough and tumble falls to the ground into a steady, recovered gait.
“He opened my eyes to songwriting, and I could see the idiot I had been and the idiot I was going to be, and he helped me to navigate that. He taught me what it really is to be a songwriter.”
Those rough and tumble falls steadily began upon Riggs’ relocation in 2007 from his home base in Florida to Austin, Texas, after some friends brought him a CD from the prominent Texas-based band, Reckless Kelly. Their unprocessed lyrics and raw production hit Riggs squarely between the eyes, like hammer on nail, driving him to plant his personal flag in a place where he could be his own artist. His inception was less than spectacular, as he struggled to imprint himself on the hearts of Texas Music fans while also drawing heavy influence from commercial radio. With hard stares and indifferent responses, Riggs diligently worked to strip down the polish and bring out the more natural shine – a task that resulted from the truth that, as Riggs so accurately put it, “You can’t bullshit a Texan.” The experience was both a breath of fresh air and a simultaneous smack in the face, and it ultimately cultivated the signature collection that is his debut record release, OUTRUN THE SUN.
“The only thing that matters is how you interpret this life. I wanted this to be reflection of my intent and an echo of my soul as songwriter and artist.”
Following the release of the 2012 EP, Lighthouse, OUTRUN THE SUN is a perfectly ripened delicacy that will be available for the picking on October 29, 2013, on Nashville-based Vision Entertainment. Produced by Erik Herbst (Eli Young Band, Bowling For Soup, Josh Abbott Band), the debut album of Sam Riggs & The Night People signals a lyrical comprehension that reaches far beyond Sam’s years, and musical compositions that are both brave and progressive. The driving will in “Longshot”; the matter of abuse in “The Change”; and the love-provoked courage in “Lighthouse” are just a few of the towering giants included in this release.
The record is fully backed by a live show that comes out swinging and keeps the energy high. Having opened for acts that include Chris Knight; Joe Diffie; Kevin Fowler; Pat Green; the Eli Young Band; the Randy Rogers Band; and, of course, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sam Riggs & The Night People have become well-educated in the art of working a crowd. Riggs himself never fails to dazzle with his “musical chair” performances that never restrict him to one location on the stage. Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, fiddle, and even drums are all part of the magic that he hypnotically spins on a nightly basis.
“Your audience is like a dreamer, and the last thing you want to do is wake a dreamer. We try to draw them in with our music and keep them entranced in that dream.”
Gravity
Sam Riggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
one by one they're linin up to fill their cups and cash in all their dreams
well i'll stop by for just one round then i'm outta town to the place i need to be
and when i get up here i like to kick the headlights off so i can see
sometimes it's hard to think with all the bright lights and the bars
so here i am six pack in hand just starin at the stars
and lay back on this faded hood
fill my cup all systems good for launch
get so high above this town i'm gone
and i wish that i could stay
up here and far away
from gravity
lookin down on that broken town
full of what ifs and i could've beens
same old story every day
that i just can't stand to hear again
see i been down there all my life
and somehow it's never felt like home
but up here in the stars i think i found a place
where all my dreams belong
someday i know i'm gonna find a way to blow this town
but until then i'll drive up here
so it don't pull me down
and just lay back on this faded hood
fill my cup all systems good for launch
well i pull up and burn it down
get so high above this town i'm gone
and i wish that i could stay
up here and far away
from gravity
just lay back on this faded hood
fill my cup all systems good for launch
i pull up and burn it down
get so high above this town i'm gone
nd i wish that i could stay
up here and far away
from gravity
The lyrics to Sam Riggs's song, Gravity, describe a deep yearning to escape from a small, stale town and find a place where one's dreams can thrive. Every Friday night, the town comes alive with people looking to fulfill their desires, but the singer only stops by for one drink before heading to his desired destination. He drives away from the bright lights and bars to a quiet, open space where he can look at the stars without any interference, laying back on his car hood with a six-pack, free from the distractions of the bustling town. He dreams of staying up there, high above the town, and away from its pull - from its gravity.
Looking down on the town from his elevated viewpoint, the singer feels disdain for the same old stories of "what ifs and I could've beens" that are repeated every day. He has been in the town all his life, but it has never felt like home. However, up in the stars, he thinks he has found a place where his dreams can come true. He knows he will leave one day, but for now, he escapes to the peacefulness and hopefulness that he finds in the stars, away from the humdrum of everyday life.
The song speaks to the desire to break free from the monotony of small town life and find a place where one's dreams can come true. It highlights the importance of finding a space that allows for clarity of thought and escape from distractions. The singer experiences peace and hopefulness when lying on his car hood, gazing at the stars, and the song conveys this message strongly.
Line by Line Meaning
every friday night this old town comes to life and paints a neon scene
The town becomes lively on Fridays, with many people heading out to enjoy nightlife under the brightly lit neon signs.
one by one they're linin up to fill their cups and cash in all their dreams
People flock to the bars in the hopes of finding something more, looking to satisfy their dreams and desires.
well i'll stop by for just one round then i'm outta town to the place i need to be
The singer only stops by the town for one drink, then leaves for a better place that is more suited to him.
and when i get up here i like to kick the headlights off so i can see
Once the singer is away from the brightly lit neon signs of the town, he enjoys turning off his headlights to take in the beauty of the night sky.
sometimes it's hard to think with all the bright lights and the bars
The distractions of the town's bright lights and bars can make it difficult for the singer to focus and think clearly.
so here i am six pack in hand just starin at the stars
The singer finds solace in the stars and spends time enjoying them while drinking a six pack of beer.
and lay back on this faded hood
The singer lies down on the hood of his car, finding comfort in solitude.
fill my cup all systems good for launch
The singer takes a sip from his cup, gearing up for his escape from the town.
well i pull up and burn it down
The singer speeds away from town, leaving it all behind.
get so high above this town i'm gone
The singer feels liberated once he has left the town and can be free, soaring high above the rest of the world.
and i wish that i could stay up here and far away from gravity
The singer wishes he could stay up in the sky, far away from the gravity that anchors him to the town and its troubles.
lookin down on that broken town full of what ifs and i could've beens
From his high vantage point, the singer looks down on the town and sees only missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential.
same old story every day that i just can't stand to hear again
The monotony of daily life in the town becomes unbearable for the singer, who is yearning for more.
see i been down there all my life and somehow it's never felt like home
Despite having lived in the town for his entire life, the singer has never felt like he truly belongs there.
but up here in the stars i think i found a place where all my dreams belong
Looking up at the stars, the singer finds a place where his dreams can come true and he can truly belong.
someday i know i'm gonna find a way to blow this town
The singer is determined to leave the town one day, to escape its confining nature.
but until then i'll drive up here so it don't pull me down
Until he is able to leave the town for good, the singer will continue to escape to the stars to avoid being weighed down by the town's problems.
Contributed by Declan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.