Shooter Jennings lived his first few years in a crib on his parents' tour bus. By age five, he was playing drums. Between tours, he took piano lessons. He started playing guitar at fourteen and sometimes played in his father's band. He and his father recorded a few things together when they happened to have some microphones set up and the tape recorder plugged in. At age sixteen, Jennings discovered rock 'n' roll.
As an adult, Jennings left Nashville, Tennessee to seek his fortunes in Los Angeles. He assembled and performed with Stargunn, a southern rock band whose sound he described as Lynyrd Skynyrd mutating into Guns N' Roses. Stargunn performed at local clubs for six years, built a rabid following and earned praise from the local music press. But the Hollywood party scene eventually began to bother him. He says, "I was posing as a rocker—a country guy trying to be something he wasn't."
On March 30, 2003, Jennings dissolved Stargunn and moved to New York City to spend time with his girlfriend and sort out what he wanted to do next. An unexpected gig at the House of Blues a few weeks later revived his creativity. He returned to Los Angeles to form another band, the 357s. After six weeks in the studio, he completed his first solo album, Put the O Back in Country. Universal South released the album in early 2005.
Jennings portrayed his father in the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line. He is the host of Shooter Jennings' Electric Rodeo, a two-hour weekly music show on Sirius Satellite Radio's Outlaw Country channel. He currently dates Drea de Matteo. Shooter Jennings' second solo album "Electric Rodeo" was released on April 04, 2006.
Aviators
Shooter Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know we've had our problems lately
And you've left me after all these years
And I know I probably could've treated you better
Along the line I've seen my mistakes like that time
That I took you to Waffle House
And you made me mad and I made you walk home in the rain
But you never got my sense of humor
I never meant to hurt you
I never understood the hillbilly things I do
If our love don't work now darling maybe later
You can't see the tears behind my aviators
And oh I know I probably should've come home more often
On those long lonely winter nights
But you know out of all those women
I was always your number one
And I'm sorry about that time I got drunk
And hit on your mom and slashed your daddy's tires
But I figured they had it coming
And I'm sorry about that time
That I accidentally shot your dog
While I was hunting and I told you he ran away
Oh wait a minute I told you that didn't I? Oh darling
I could never share those secrets of my heart
I feel so much closer to you now that we're apart
If our love don't work now darling then maybe later
You can't see the tears behind my aviators
The song "Aviators" by Shooter Jennings is an emotional ballad about regret and longing for what is lost. The persona of the song is speaking to their former partner, acknowledging the problems that led to the relationship's demise. Despite having made mistakes - mistreating them, neglecting them - the persona expresses their love and desire to make things right, admitting that they "never understood the hillbilly things I do". They express the difficulty in sharing their true feelings and vulnerabilities, something they feel they can only do behind the safety of their aviators, the sunglasses they wear to protect themselves from the world.
The overall message of the song is one of regret and missed opportunities, with the persona acknowledging their mistakes and expressing their desire to make things right, even if it may be too late. The lyrics are raw and honest, providing a introspective look into the mind of someone struggling to reconcile their past with their future.
Line by Line Meaning
Now darling,
Starting on a loving tone, Shooter Jennings addresses his partner.
I know we've had our problems lately
Acknowledging that their relationship has been problematic recently.
And you've left me after all these years
Admitting that his partner has left him after being together for so long.
And I know I probably could've treated you better
Remorseful of his past actions and acknowledging that he could have been a better partner.
Along the line I've seen my mistakes like that time
Reflecting on his past mistakes and how they have affected their relationship.
That I took you to Waffle House
Recalling a specific instance when they went to Waffle House.
And you made me mad and I made you walk home in the rain
Remembering a fight they had that resulted in her having to walk home in the rain.
But you never got my sense of humor
Acknowledging that his partner did not appreciate his sense of humor.
Anyway no you never laughed at my jokes
Confirming that his partner did not find his jokes funny.
I never meant to hurt you
Clearing up that he never intended to hurt his partner.
I never understood the hillbilly things I do
Admitting that he does not always understand his own behavior and actions.
If our love don't work now darling maybe later
Speculating that their relationship may work out in the future.
You can't see the tears behind my aviators
Asserting that he is hiding his emotions (tears) behind his sunglasses (aviators).
And oh I know I probably should've come home more often
Regretting not being with his partner more often.
On those long lonely winter nights
Recalling specific times when he was not there for his partner.
But you know out of all those women
Stating that despite his flaws, she was the one he loved the most.
I was always your number one
Affirming that he was her top priority.
And I'm sorry about that time I got drunk
Apologizing for a past incident when he got drunk.
And hit on your mom and slashed your daddy's tires
Describing a regretful situation when he acted poorly towards her parents.
But I figured they had it coming
Justifying his actions, even though they were wrong.
And I'm sorry about that time
Apologizing for another regretful situation.
That I accidentally shot your dog
Recounting a painful memory for both of them, when he accidentally shot her dog while hunting.
While I was hunting and I told you he ran away
Admitting that he lied to her about how the dog died, hoping to protect her from the truth.
Oh wait a minute I told you that didn't I? Oh darling
Realizing that he just admitted to having lied to her, and addressing her with an affectionate term.
I could never share those secrets of my heart
Confessing that he has kept secrets from her and has not been completely honest about his true feelings.
I feel so much closer to you now that we're apart
Paradoxical statement that suggests he feels closer to her now that they are not in a relationship.
If our love don't work now darling then maybe later
Repeating his belief that their relationship may work out in the future.
You can't see the tears behind my aviators
Reiterating that he is hiding his emotions from her.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: LEROY POWELL, WAYLON ALBRIGHT JENNINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind