Wold was born in Oakland, California. When he was four years old, his parents split up. His father played boogie-woogie piano and Wold tried to learn when he was five or six, but could not. At the age of eight, he learned to play the guitar from K. C. Douglas, who worked at his grandfather's garage, later realizing that he had been taught the blues. Douglas wrote the song "Mercury Blues" and had played with Tommy Johnson in the early 1940s. Wold left home at 13 to avoid abuse at the hands of his stepfather, and lived rough and on the road in Tennessee, Mississippi and elsewhere, until 1973. He would travel long distances by hopping freight trains, looking for work as a farm labourer or in other seasonal jobs, often living as a hobo. At various times, Wold worked as a carnie, a cowboy and a migrant worker. Paraphrasing H. L. Mencken, Wold described this time of his life by saying "Hobos are people who move around looking for work, tramps are people who move around but don't look for work, and bums are people who don't move and don't work. I've been all three."
When asked about his nickname, Wold has said: "because it's just true: I always get seasick". When he was ill on a ferry from Norway to Copenhagen, later in his life, a friend began playfully using the name and, despite Wold not rising to it for a while, it stuck. When asked about his name on British Sunday morning television show, Something for the Weekend, he replied, "I just get sick on boats". On Top Gear, when asked about his name, Wold replied "Well, I guess I just don't like boats!"
Wold made his first UK television appearance on Jools Holland's annual Hootenanny BBC TV show on New Year's Eve 2006. He performed a live rendition of "Dog House Boogie" on the "Three String Trance Wonder" and the "Mississippi Drum Machine". After that show his popularity exploded in Britain, as he explained in an interview:
"I can't believe it, all of the sudden I'm like the cat's meow!"
He was well received in the UK, winning the 2007 MOJO Award for Best Breakthrough Act and going on to appear at major UK festivals such as Reading, Leeds and Glastonbury. In 2007 he played more UK festivals than any other artist.
Wold toured early in 2008, playing in various venues and festivals in the UK. He was joined on stage by drummer Dan Magnusson. KT Tunstall also dueted with Wold at the London Astoria in January 2008.[20] Wold also played many other festivals throughout the world in 2008, including Fuji Rock in Japan, East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival in Australia, also in April 2008,[21] and Roskilde in Denmark.
Wold's major-label debut, I Started Out with Nothin and I Still Got Most of It Left was recorded with Dan Magnusson on drums, was released by Warner Music on September 29, 2008, and features Ruby Turner and Nick Cave's Grinderman.
He has toured the UK extensively since 2007 being supported by Duke Garwood, Gemma Ray, The Sugars, Billie the Vision and the Dancers in January 2008, Amy LaVere in October 2008, Melody Nelson at the Brighton Dome on 7 October, and Joe Gideon & The Shark in January 2009. His tours in October 2008 and January 2009 were all sold out and included performances at the Royal Albert Hall, the Edinburgh Queen's Hall, the Grand Opera House in Belfast, the Apollo in Manchester, the City Hall in Newcastle and the London Hammersmith Apollo.
In 2009, Wold was nominated for a Brit Award in the category of International Solo Male Artist, That same year, BBC Four broadcast a documentary of Wold visiting the southern USA entitled Seasick Steve: Bringing It All Back Home. On January 21, Wold hosted "Folk America: Hollerers, Stompers and Old Time Ramblers" at the Barbican in London, a show that was also televised and shown with the documentary on BBC Four as part of a series tracing American roots music.
In an interview with an Australian magazine, Wold attributes much of his unlikely success to his cheap and weather-beaten guitar, "The Trance Wonder" and reveals the guitar's mojo might come from supernatural sources. "I got it from Sherman, who is a friend of mine down in Mississippi, who had bought it down at a Goodwill store. When we were down there last time he says to me, 'I didn't tell you when you bought it off me, but that guitar used to be haunted'. I say, 'What are you talking about, Sherman?'. He says, 'There’s 50 solid citizens here in Como who'll tell you this guitar is haunted. It's the darnedest thing – we’d leave it over in the potato barn and we'd come back in and it would be moved. You'd put it down somewhere and the next morning you’d come back and it would have moved. When you took that guitar the ghost in the barn left'. He told me this not very long ago and I said to him, 'Sherman! Why didn't you tell me this before?' and he said, 'Well the ghost was gone – I didn't want it around here no more!'"
On January 3, 2010, Wold appeared on the popular BBC motoring show Top Gear as the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car. He was the last star to drive in the blue Chevrolet Lacetti.
In February 2010, Wold was nominated for a Brit Award in the category of International Solo Male Artist for the second consecutive year.
In 2010, Wold made numerous festival appearances throughout the summer, including the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, the main stage at V Festival, the main stage at the Hop Farm Festival and many more.
In February 2011, Wold signed to Play It Again Sam to release his new album with the exception of the US, where it will be released on Third Man Records. Subsequently his new album You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks was released on his new labels and it was announced that former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones had played on the new album, and performed alongside Wold to promote it.
On 16 August 2014 he was the headline act at Beautiful Days in Exeter, UK, and on the 24th August he headlined at 'Victorious Festival' in Southsea, Portsmouth, UK.
Whiskey Ballad
Seasick Steve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(whistling)
To all those people living in their flats not so pristine.
Who look up from the alleyways at the sky that we've both seen.
For some I now they see it from a different point of view.
The red doors painted black the sky is grey not baby blue.
So lighten up have a cup of my happy golden drink
It will taste strong to begin with, but you'll get used to it I think.
It'll wash away your sorrows and soak up your concern.
Only trouble when you wake up... not a single tables turned.
But it's alright.... it's alright.... it's alright....
(whistling)
So if you're a bit unhappy or you're slightly depressed
Just humble on to this song I wrote, relieve some of your stress
Cause when I sing the Chorus there's one thing I know for sure
A nice clean shot of whiskey is my recommended cure
So lighten up have a cup of my happy golden drink
It will taste strong to begin with, but you'll get used to it I think.
It'll wash away your sorrows and soak up your concern.
Only problem when you wake up... not a single tables turned.
But it's alright.... it's alright... it's alright..
It's alright.... It's alright.... it's alright....
So lighten up have a cup of my happy golden drink
It will taste strong to begin with, but you'll get used to it I think.
It'll wash away your sorrows and soak up your concern.
Only problem when you wake up... not a single tables turned.
So lighten up have a cup of my happy golden drink
It will taste strong to begin with but, you'll get used to it I think.
It'll wash away your sorrows and soak up your concern.
Only problem when you wake up... not a single tables turned.
In Seasick Steve's song "Whiskey Ballad," the singer addresses those who may be feeling down or stuck in their current living situation. He acknowledges that some may see the world from a different perspective, with red doors painted black and a grey sky instead of a bright blue one. Despite this, Seasick Steve offers his solution to easing one's troubles: a shot of whiskey. He implores the listener to "lighten up" and try his "happy golden drink," promising that it will wash away their sorrows and concerns. However, he does acknowledge the potential consequences the next morning, with "not a single tables turned."
The lyrics of "Whiskey Ballad" are both optimistic and cautionary. On one hand, Seasick Steve encourages the listener to find joy and solace in the simple pleasures of life, such as a shot of whiskey or a song that can lift their spirits. On the other hand, he reminds them that their problems won't disappear entirely and that the consequences of indulging in vices can still have an impact. Through his lyrics, Seasick Steve portrays a sense of empathy and understanding towards those who may be struggling, while also urging them to keep pushing forward.
Line by Line Meaning
To all those people living in their flats not so pristine.
This song is for people living in less-than-perfect conditions who also look up at the same sky.
Who look up from the alleyways at the sky that we've both seen.
The sky is shared by everyone, even those living in alleyways.
For some I now they see it from a different point of view.
But some people have a different perspective on the sky and the world around them.
The red doors painted black the sky is grey not baby blue.
The world can seem bleak and dreary, especially for those in less-than-ideal living conditions.
So lighten up have a cup of my happy golden drink
The singer is offering a drink as a means of lifting spirits and providing temporary relief.
It will taste strong to begin with, but you'll get used to it I think.
The drink may be harsh at first, but it will become more tolerable over time.
It'll wash away your sorrows and soak up your concern.
Drinking the happy golden drink will alleviate worries and troubles temporarily.
Only trouble when you wake up... not a single tables turned.
The temporary relief provided by the drink does not change one's underlying circumstances or problems.
But it's alright.... it's alright.... it's alright....
Despite the hardships of life, things will ultimately be okay.
So if you're a bit unhappy or you're slightly depressed
The singer acknowledges that many people struggle with negative emotions.
Just humble on to this song I wrote, relieve some of your stress
The song is offered as a means of stress relief and comfort.
Cause when I sing the Chorus there's one thing I know for sure
The singer believes that drinking whiskey can be a helpful, temporary solution to problems.
A nice clean shot of whiskey is my recommended cure
The singer explicitly recommends drinking whiskey as a way to briefly alleviate troubles.
Contributed by Lila D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Red John
To all those people living in their flats
Not so pristine
Who look up from the alley ways
That skies that we've all seen
But somehow I know that
They see it from a different point of view
The red door's painted black
The sky is gray not baby blue
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
Soak up your concern
Only trouble when you wake up
Not a single tables turn
But it's all right, it's all right, it's all right
So if you're a bit unhappy
Or you're slightly depressed
Just hum along to this song I wrote
Release some of your stress
But when I sing the chorus
There's one thing I know for sure
A nice clean shot of whiskey
Is my recommended cure
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
And soak up your concern
Only problem when you wake up
Not a single tables turn
But it's all right, it's all right, it's all right
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
And soak up your concern on a problem
When you wake up not a single tables turn
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
And soak up your concern
Only problem when you wake up
Not a single tables turn
watereddownwater
I remember listening to this with my dad all the time when I was younger and when he was making stuff in his garage he would listen to you're songs this made me remember good times and memories. My dad died of a brain tumour about a year ago when I heard this I just started crying. Miss you dad ❤
José Rodolfo Klimek Depetris Machado
Que som bom de ouvir, Seasick Steve é simples mas muito tocante.
Paul Bell
Always makes myself smile.... Lovely song :-)
01moggie
you cheer me up more than anything dude <3
Red John
To all those people living in their flats
Not so pristine
Who look up from the alley ways
That skies that we've all seen
But somehow I know that
They see it from a different point of view
The red door's painted black
The sky is gray not baby blue
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
Soak up your concern
Only trouble when you wake up
Not a single tables turn
But it's all right, it's all right, it's all right
So if you're a bit unhappy
Or you're slightly depressed
Just hum along to this song I wrote
Release some of your stress
But when I sing the chorus
There's one thing I know for sure
A nice clean shot of whiskey
Is my recommended cure
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
And soak up your concern
Only problem when you wake up
Not a single tables turn
But it's all right, it's all right, it's all right
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
And soak up your concern on a problem
When you wake up not a single tables turn
So lighten up, have a cup
Of my happy golden drink
It'll taste strong to begin with
You'll get used to it, I think
It'll wash away your sorrows
And soak up your concern
Only problem when you wake up
Not a single tables turn
lotteelse85
A "cheers" to the other side... Miss you, Mark 🖤
TheHoff6300
holy shit this dude makes some good music. how is it possible that it took me to the year 2011 till i noticed this ?!
AM
soo good love this too!
Andrew Ruffing
There should be a "FUCKING IN LOVE WITH IT" button for Seasick Steve songs
thomas hookton
Steve you are Legend!