For the past fifteen years, the members of Scalawag have been no strangers to the musical landscape of New England. It was during this time, while performing in bands such as Marty Keystone, Full Tilt Boogie, The Freeks, and The Makem and Spain Brothers, that the groundwork for this new group was being laid. After crossing paths and sitting in with each other at various shows, a musical friendship was born. In late 2002, they decided the time was right to begin this new collaboration.
For three months the band holed up in a south Manchester, NH house and began to work out what should become the Scalawag sound. They wanted to incorporate the rhythms of Sun Records recordings, the musical simplicity of Woody Guthrie, the lyrical storytelling of an early Springsteen, the loose grooves of The Rolling Stones, and the musicianship of The Band. When they emerged, Scalawag was able to create a sound that was reminiscent of all of these artists, yet unique unto itself.
In the four years following the formation of the band, Scalawag has been perfecting their live shows while constantly playing venues throughout northern New England. In between these performances, the members of the band have also been demonstrating their strong songwriting skills, penning dozens of songs, resulting in their debut release "Wheel on Steel"
http://scalawagmusic.com/
They have a myspace too =).
http://myspace.com/scalawagmusic
ORION
Scalawag Lyrics
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There′s a sale on batteries, but everyone's buying gas
Three lights up in the middle of the night sky
We'll stay outside and watch for three nights
While the world waits
Three lights up in a row, it′s just a small sight
In the middle of the rewrites
You′re hungry when there's food on your plate
You′re early when you thought you were late
You're funny even though they′re not laughing
You're finished even though they′re not clapping
So you go to a place far away so you don't have face
The people who scare you
The people who know you, and the people who love you
Have nothing to do with the dreams that you've gone through
Three lights up in the middle of the night sky
We′ll stay outside and watch for three nights
While the world waits
Three lights up in a row, it′s just a small sight
In the middle of the rewrites
To make the world great
Just because I'm alone, doesn′t mean that I'm lonely
′Cause even when I'm alone, I′m still dancin' too slowly
Just because I'm alone doesn′t mean that I want you to stay
It′s scary, waking up from the dream
It's harder when you know you can′t scream
But it's worth it when you know it has ended
You can show it, and then hope they′re offended
Three lights up in the middle of the night sky
We'll stay outside and watch for three nights
While the world waits
Three lights up in a row, it′s just a small sight
In the middle of the rewrites
To make the world great
Three lights up in the middle of the night sky
We'll stay outside and watch for three nights
While the world waits
The song "Orion" by Scalawag is a thought-provoking piece that speaks about the human struggle of self-doubt and facing one's fears. The lyrics begin by describing how people are often attracted to things that are not essential, such as purchasing candy instead of fruit and gas instead of batteries. The three lights up in the middle of the night sky become a reference point for the characters in the song. They watch the lights for three nights as they wait for the world to change.
The song continues on to describe how individuals often suppress their dreams and ideas due to fear of rejection or judgement from others. The line "So you go to a place far away so you don't have face" speaks to this idea of running away from one's greatest desires. The chorus provides a juxtaposition between being alone and being lonely, expressing that loneliness doesn't always accompany the act of being alone. The overarching message of the song is that it's important to face one's fears and chase after their dreams despite potential judgement from others.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sale on fruit, but everyone's buying candy
People often choose instant gratification (candy) over long-term benefits (fruit).
There's a sale on batteries, but everyone's buying gas
People prioritize convenience (gas) over preparedness (batteries).
Three lights up in the middle of the night sky
The singer observes a small but intriguing occurrence in the sky.
We'll stay outside and watch for three nights
The artist is willing to invest time in appreciating and understanding the unusual event.
While the world waits
The world has larger concerns, while the artist focuses on the immediate experience.
Three lights up in a row, it's just a small sight
Even small things can be significant and deserving of attention.
In the middle of the rewrites
The world is constantly changing and improving, represented here as a draft that needs editing.
To make the world great
The goal is to contribute to the world's betterment, however small one's actions may be.
Just because I'm alone, doesn't mean that I'm lonely
Solitude and loneliness are not always synonymous.
'Cause even when I'm alone, I'm still dancin' too slowly
One can still enjoy life's small pleasures and delights even when alone.
Just because I'm alone doesn't mean that I want you to stay
Independence and autonomy are important to the singer, even if others assume otherwise.
It's scary, waking up from the dream
Realizing that one's aspirations may be unattainable or different from reality can be daunting.
It's harder when you know you can't scream
Feeling powerless and unable to express oneself can make a difficult situation worse.
But it's worth it when you know it has ended
The singer recognizes the value of moving on from a difficult situation.
You can show it, and then hope they're offended
The singer is willing to express themselves truthfully, even if it may upset others.
We'll stay outside and watch for three nights
Repetition of the earlier sentiment, emphasizing the importance of taking the time to appreciate simple but beautiful things.
While the world waits
The world's problems remain, but finding small pleasures can make it more bearable.
Writer(s): Teo Saefkow
Contributed by Isabella Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.