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.
WOLF
Shooter Jennings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
at the news stand and five and dime
I caught a borrowed glance at the problems of the world
Everything either too high or low
Am I country enough or too rock-n-roll
And God bless poor Anna Nicole
Can't find no shelter from the storm that's coming on
Yeah stick together, or just die like the other dogs
I just can't weather this feeling like I don't belong
In the midst of helter skelter, I just can't find no shelter for The Wolf
Oh, no no
I keep on writing my songs to sing, along this two bit smoke parade
I never wanted the money, and I never wanted fame
Like everyone else who rides my name
Who's poised to push right me in front of that train
And make out like pirates, while I sink in the rain
[Chorus]
Ohhh, no no nooo
(Just can't find no shelter)
No, na no, na no, na no, na no, na no, no
(Just can't find no shelter)
I just can't find no shelter for The Wolf
Oh, no shelter, from the storm that's coming on
Yeah stick together, or just die like the other dogs
Oh, I just can't weather, this feeling like I don't belong
Oh, the midst of helter skelter, I just can't find no shelter
Oh, the midst of helter skelter, I just can't find no shelter for The Wolf
Oh, no no nooo
The lyrics depict a sense of unease and confusion in the singer's mind as he buys a pack of cigarettes at the newsstand. The singer seems to be overwhelmed with the problems of the world and has a sense that everything is either too high or low. He questions whether he is country enough or too rock-n-roll and brings up Anna Nicole, who was a famous model and actress who passed away due to an overdose. The chorus emphasizes the feeling of not being able to find shelter from the storm that is coming, meaning that the singer feels that there is no escape from the hardships that are on their way. He encourages people to stick together or they will die like the other dogs, to avoid being left alone and helpless. The singer then talks about how he keeps on writing his songs to sing for this "two-bit smoke parade," indicating that he is not in it for the money or fame. He feels that everyone else who rides his name is trying to push him in front of a train, while they make out like pirates and he sinks in the rain. The lyrics suggest that the singer feels like he is struggling to find a place in the world, and that he is fighting to protect himself from being used and exploited.
The song was written and recorded by Shooter Jennings, son of country music icons Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. It was released in 2010 on the album "Black Ribbons." The album is a concept album, which is a narrative or story that is told through a collection of songs. The album tells the story of a dystopian future where a radio DJ named Will "The Wiz" Harlan defies the government and broadcasts anti-establishment messages. "The Wolf" is one of the songs on the album, and it fits into the overall story by emphasizing the struggle against the establishment.
Line by Line Meaning
Buyin' a pack of Winston Lights
at the news stand and five and dime
I was just buying some cigarettes at the corner store.
I caught a borrowed glance at the problems of the world
I saw a headline about the world's problems while I was at the store.
Everything either too high or low
Everything these days is either too extreme or not enough.
Am I country enough or too rock-n-roll
I'm not sure if my music fits into either the country or rock genres.
And God bless poor Anna Nicole
I feel bad for the late Anna Nicole Smith.
Can't find no shelter from the storm that's coming on
I feel like there's a big problem coming that I can't escape from.
Yeah stick together, or just die like the other dogs
We need to stick together to survive, or we'll end up like everyone else.
I just can't weather this feeling like I don't belong
I don't feel like I fit in anywhere, and it's really bothering me.
In the midst of helter skelter, I just can't find no shelter for The Wolf
It feels like chaos all around me, and I can't find a safe place to be.
I keep on writing my songs to sing, along this two bit smoke parade
I keep making music even though it feels like a cheap imitation of what came before me.
I never wanted the money, and I never wanted fame
I never cared about the fame or the fortune, I just wanted to make good music.
Like everyone else who rides my name
People are using my name and music to make money for themselves.
Who's poised to push right me in front of that train
There are people who want to take advantage of me and put me in a bad situation.
And make out like pirates, while I sink in the rain
These people will benefit from my downfall while I'm left alone to suffer.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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