Weeks and Jason Null formed the band in their small hometown of Corinth, Mississippi in 2004. They met when Weeks, who was in a band, was playing guitar at his best friend’s house, when Null, who was in a rival local group, walked in to rehearse with his band. Within days of that meeting, Null and Weeks were writing and honing the intimate writing style that now defines Saving Abel. In early 2005, the pair’s songs caught the ear of noted producer Skidd Mills (12 Stones, Saliva, Submersed), who took the band into his 747 Studios in Memphis. Mills notes, “It was ‘18 Days’ that hooked me. The first time I heard it I was like, ‘these guys are the real deal; they’ll be doing this for a long time.’ Jason and Jared have always understood that the most important part of the music business is having great songs.”
Saving Abel gradually came together in the final electric lineup of guitarist Scott Bartlett, bassist Eric Taylor, and drummer Blake Dixon, and the band paid its dues both onstage and off. Weeks would toss Saving Abel demos onto the stage when bigger bands played in town, and between playing gigs, working day jobs, and Weeks and Null constantly driving from Mississippi to Memphis to record their self-titled EP with Mills, it was a busy and prolific couple years. Weeks remembers; “I used to work at a hospital. I’d have to be there at 4:30 in the morning drawing blood. I’d wake people up and stick a needle in their arm. I’d be walking around the hospital, singing ‘Addicted’ in my head, writing down the lyrics on patients’ clipboards and doctor script pads.”
Null and Weeks bring in differing songwriting approaches influences, giving Saving Abel a well-rounded sound. Null comes from a musical family, and recalls Saturday nights at the local community center as a child. “We didn’t miss it, ever! It was bluegrass band after bluegrass band. We’d hoot and holler, as we used to say. My brother traded my bike for a guitar for me when I was 6, and I learned ‘Johnny B. Goode’ that night! I go back to Willie and Waylon, but as a kid of the ‘80s, I also love Metallica. Also, Angus Young is one of my main influences, as well as the guitar sound and solos of Seattle bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.” For his part, a teenage Weeks played basketball and went to state twice in tennis before music consumed his life. A big fan of the blues and Southern Rock, Weeks calls himself the more “literal” songwriter of the two, explaining, “If something is really bothering me, or how I’m feeling at that moment, I’ll write about it. For me to get the most out of a song, I have to get it almost to the point I’m ready to cry if I can’t get it out, and that makes people relate to it.”
After shopping their indie EP for almost a year, a copy of ‘Addicted’ found its way to one-time Virgin A&R Consultant Scott Frazier and manager partner Rick Smith. They were so excited that they sent the song to the label’s Chairman/CEO Jason Flom. Flom was impressed upon first listen and immediately sent A&R vet Kim Stephens (Collective Soul, Matchbox 20, Edwin McCain) to see the band in Jackson, Tennessee. The band was signed the next day. Says Stephens, “I was sold on the merit of the songs and instantly recognized this was a band with huge potential.”
Saving Abel, the Virgin debut produced by Mills, features mostly brand-new tunes, plus a few favorites from the indie EP, including the poignant, perfectly crafted “18 Days,” “Running From You,” and “Drowning Face Down.” Null explains that “18 Days” was lyrically inspired by sheriff Buford Pusser of ‘Walking Tall’ fame, while laughingly admitting that the rowdy road trip in “New Tattoo” (“The blue is for the bruise you left in my heart / and the red is for the color we’re about to paint this town”) is “based on a true story.” Null furthers: “Our goals are always to concentrate on the song, not just one cool part to make a kid bop his head. Every person I talk to loves a different song of ours.” Null was also the one who gave the band its name: “I Googled the story of Cain and Abel and found a line about ‘there was no Saving Abel,’ which just jumped out at me.” Everyone agreed and the name stuck…much like Saving Abel's songs get instantly stuck in the minds and ears of everyone who hears them. With a radio-ready sound combining big riffs and memorable melodies, Saving Abel has created a polished combination of Southern and Alternative rock…. 2008 style. Get Addicted. Get Saving Abel. You can go to http://savingabel.com
Mississippi Moonshine
Saving Abel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your intentions to
Get me out on the floor
Undress me with your eyes
To see a sweet surprise
I know I've been here before
Just to be by your side
You gotta another thing comin'
Cause I'm not runnin'
Just to wait and stand
Next in line
Let me introduce you ya to miss
Miss almost made it, miss understood
Miss always jaded, miss up to no good
Miss never gonna make it, miss don't know how to take it
You ain't my made in Mississippi, moonshine kinda whiskey
What are you gonna do?
Miss can't get you know who
When you end up on your own
Undress me with your eyes
It ain't no big surprise
Last call, you're drinkin' alone
You think I'm running across the room
Just to be by your side
You gotta another thing comin'
Cause I'm not runnin'
Just to wait and stand
Next in line
Let me introduce you ya to miss
Miss almost made it, miss understood
Miss always jaded, miss up to no good
Miss never gonna make it, miss don't know how to take it
You ain't my made in Mississippi, moonshine kinda whiskey
You think you've got it so good
Little miss leaving, little miss would if you could
Oh just another little miss wannabe
If you don't know her
Let me introduce you ya to miss
Miss almost made it, miss understood
Miss always jaded, miss up to no good
Miss never gonna make it, miss don't know how to take it
You ain't my made in Mississippi, moonshine kinda whiskey
The lyrics to Saving Abel's song "Mississippi Moonshine" paint a picture of a woman trying to entice the singer to dance with her while he watches her every move. She makes assumptions that he wants to be with her, but the singer clarifies that he is not willing to play her game. The chorus reveals that the woman is a familiar type - a misunderstood and misguided soul who has been overlooked in life. The singer also flatly rejects her, saying that he's not interested in that type of woman.
The lyrics are full of imagery and creative wordplay, painting a vivid picture of the singer's experience. The use of the phrase "Undress me with your eyes" is a powerful way to describe the woman's attempts to lure him in. Additionally, the line "Mississippi, moonshine kinda whiskey" is a clever play on words, using the word "moonshine" in a cultural sense rather than a literal one.
Overall, the lyrics to "Mississippi Moonshine" convey a strong message of rejecting stereotypes and refusing to be manipulated. The singer doesn't buy into the woman's charms, no matter how tempting they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been watching you,
I have been observing your actions.
And your intentions to
And I've realized your plan to
Get me out on the floor
Encourage me to join the party.
Undress me with your eyes
Look at me with desire.
To see a sweet surprise
To be pleasantly surprised by me.
I know I've been here before
I sense I have experienced this situation previously.
You think I'm runnin' across the room
You believe I am rushing to you.
Just to be by your side
Just to stand next to you.
You gotta another thing comin'
You have misunderstood the situation.
Cause I'm not runnin'
Because I'm not in a hurry.
Just to wait and stand
Just to wait in line.
Next in line
Next to whoever is in front of me.
Let me introduce you ya to miss
I would like to introduce you to Miss
Miss almost made it, miss understood
Miss who came close but was not successful, Miss who was not properly understood
Miss always jaded, miss up to no good
Miss who is typically cynical, Miss who is often doing something dishonest
Miss never gonna make it, miss don't know how to take it
Miss who will never succeed, Miss who can't deal with failure
You ain't my made in Mississippi, moonshine kinda whiskey
You are not the type of whiskey I like (Mississippi moonshine).
What are you gonna do?
What's your plan of action?
Miss can't get you know who
Miss can't get the person she wants.
When you end up on your own
When you realize you are alone.
Undress me with your eyes
Keep looking at me with desire.
It ain't no big surprise
It's not unexpected.
Last call, you're drinkin' alone
It's the end of the night and you have no one left to drink with.
You think I'm running across the room
You believe I am rushing to you.
Just to be by your side
Just to be next to you.
You gotta another thing comin'
You have misunderstood the situation.
Cause I'm not runnin'
Because I'm not in a hurry.
Just to wait and stand
Just to wait in line.
Next in line
Next to whoever is in front of me.
Let me introduce you ya to miss
I would like to introduce you to Miss
Miss almost made it, miss misunderstood
Miss who came close but was not successful, Miss who was not properly understood
Miss always jaded, miss up to no good
Miss who is typically cynical, Miss who is often doing something dishonest
Miss never gonna make it, miss don't know how to take it
Miss who will never succeed, Miss who can't deal with failure
You ain't my made in Mississippi, moonshine kinda whiskey
You are not the type of whiskey I like (Mississippi moonshine).
You think you've got it so good
You believe everything is going well for you.
Little miss leaving, little miss would if you could
Young lady who wants to leave, young lady who will do it if she could.
Oh just another little miss wannabe
Just another girl trying to be someone she is not.
If you don't know her
If you are not familiar with her.
Let me introduce you ya to miss
I would like to introduce you to Miss
Miss almost made it, miss misunderstood
Miss who came close but was not successful, Miss who was not properly understood.
Miss always jaded, miss up to no good
Miss who is typically cynical, Miss who is often doing something dishonest.
Miss never gonna make it, miss don't know how to take it
Miss who will never succeed, Miss who can't deal with failure.
You ain't my made in Mississippi, moonshine kinda whiskey
You are not the type of whiskey I like (Mississippi moonshine).
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SKIDD MILLS, JASON TODD NULL, JARED WEEKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind