Slaid Cleaves’ music is marked by both the quirky blend of isolated eccentricity and steely resilience of his Yankee upbringing and the weathered soul of Texas, the state he has called home for over a decade now. First registering on the national folk scene by winning the Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk competition in 1992, Cleaves released his national debut No Angel Knows (Philo/Rounder) in 1997, following a string of self-released albums and many nights logged in folk clubs as both a performer and a soundman. Met with effusive critical praise, No Angel Knows was followed by Broke Down (Philo/Rounder) in 2000, which expanded his audience exponentially by virtue of its exceedingly well-crafted songs and rugged Gurf Morlix production. In addition to the title track, a Rod Picott collaboration that won Song of the Year at the Austin Music Awards in 2001, Broke Down featured a couple of interpretations of other writers’ songs prefiguring Slaid’s later work, including a poignant reading of fellow Austinite Karen Poston’s “Lydia.”
Following Broke Down came 2004’s Wishbones (Philo/Rounder), a richly detailed exploration of life’s darker corners where still a ray of hope somehow shines. Wishbones climbed to the top of the Americana Radio chart coming in at #1 for 2004 while Slaid toured relentlessly promoting the album. It was after the recording of Wishbones that Cleaves began to consider the endeavor that became Unsung. “Over the years,” Cleaves explains, “as I grew as a songwriter, my songs began to make up the bulk of my sets. But I continued to throw in the odd song by a hero or friend, both in my shows and on the records I made. I did that partly out of tribute to my influences, but also to give my set, or album, some context and some variety.” These are songs from the songwriter trenches – compositions Cleaves first heard at late-night song-swaps, open-mic nights, during downtime at recording sessions, and on modest self-released CDs. Thanks to the work of producers David Henry and Rod Picott (a long-time Cleaves cohort and fellow Mainer), the performances and backdrops on Unsung are as evocative and captivating as the songs themselves. Cleaves’ gifts as an interpreter are such that the line between singer and song vanish completely.
"Cleaves tells gorgeously compact stories in a voice packed with Texas trail dust." -- Entertainment Weekly
"...one of the finest singer-songwriters in Texas." -- Neil Strauss, The New York Times
Black T-Shirt
Slaid Cleaves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your drone boots out back smokin′ pot
Gotta black eye and you wear it proud
Guns and Roses way up loud
Just a little cut up on your brow
The principal said don't come back now
Every night it′s a scream and shout
There's a new boyfriend and he wants you out
You know what you'll put your mama through
You hitchhike to work then you hitchhike back
Hope you′re home before the sky goes black
Cars go by but they don′t stop
These days no one picks you up
You know your going to pay for the things you do
You know what you'll put your mama through
Over the bridge to the Texaco
There′s a guy works there you used to know
He knows a dealer off the interstate
Now you got a plan and a .38
You know your going to pay for the things you do
You know what you'll put your mama through
In your black t-shirt, in the parking lot
In your drone boots out back smokin′ pot
Slaid Cleaves's song Black T-Shirt is a poignant commentary on the struggles that young people go through. The song starts with a description of the singer in a parking lot, wearing a black t-shirt and smoking pot. The lyrics reveal that the person has a black eye and wears it proudly while listening to Guns N' Roses. The principal has expelled them, and they fight with their partner every night. There is a new boyfriend in the picture, and the singer is thrown out of the house. The lyrics go on to describe how the singer is struggling to make ends meet, hitchhiking to work and getting a ride back. Nobody picks them up, and they end up walking home. The song concludes with the singer planning to rob a dealer with a .38, knowing that they will pay for their actions.
The song is a raw and honest portrayal of the struggles that young people, especially those from impoverished backgrounds, face every day. The black t-shirt symbolizes the singer's struggle to fit into a society that judges them based on their clothing, appearance, and past actions. The drone boots indicate a sense of rebellion from authority, a recurrent theme in youth culture. The need to smoke pot and listen to Guns N' Roses is an escape from the harsh reality of life.
Moreover, the lyrics describe the desperation that leads people to make terrible decisions, such as robbery. The singer has no other option but to rob a dealer, even though they know they will end up paying for the crime. The song's message is simple yet powerful - society must understand that young people face enormous challenges and that they need support and guidance instead of being judged and condemned.
Line by Line Meaning
In your black t-shirt, in the parking lot
You're standing in the parking lot wearing a black t-shirt.
In your drone boots out back smokin' pot
You're smoking marijuana out back while wearing drone boots.
Gotta black eye and you wear it proud
You have a black eye, but you're not ashamed of it.
Guns and Roses way up loud
You're playing Guns and Roses music very loudly.
Just a little cut up on your brow
You have a minor injury on your forehead.
The principal said don't come back now
You were asked to leave school by the principal.
Every night it's a scream and shout
Every night is filled with yelling and arguing.
There's a new boyfriend and he wants you out
Your new boyfriend wants you to leave.
You know your going to pay for the things you do
You're aware that your actions will have consequences.
You know what you'll put your mama through
You're aware of the pain you're causing your mother.
You hitchhike to work then you hitchhike back
You have to hitchhike to and from work.
Hope you're home before the sky goes black
You hope to be home before sunset.
Cars go by but they don't stop
Cars drive past you without stopping to offer a ride.
These days no one picks you up
It's difficult to get a ride these days.
Over the bridge to the Texaco
You go over a bridge to get to the Texaco gas station.
There's a guy works there you used to know
You used to know an employee at the Texaco gas station.
He knows a dealer off the interstate
The employee at the Texaco gas station knows a drug dealer near the interstate.
Now you got a plan and a .38
You have a plan and a gun.
You know your going to pay for the things you do
You're aware that your actions will have consequences.
You know what you'll put your mama through
You're aware of the pain you're causing your mother.
In your black t-shirt, in the parking lot
You're still standing in the parking lot wearing a black t-shirt.
In your drone boots out back smokin' pot
You're still smoking marijuana out back while wearing drone boots.
Writer(s): Slaid Cleaves, Roderick L Picott
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeff Power House Park
I first heard this guy at UNH in NH., twenty plus you years ago. He is truly outstanding. Slaid is one of the reasons I picked up the guitar. I have been telling just about everyone I know about him. My freinds love 'em. Big shout out from NH Mr. Cleaves.
Kal Schieck
This is amazing, it was recommended by Spotify and I can't stop listening to it :)
TheAppleStaindShirts
i live in Scotland and make it my duty to convert at least 3 people a month to listen to this guy and convert them to love him (dosnt take much effort :-p )
toterola451
Excellent song, excellent artist. Thanks for posting these. You all are so great!
Ed Muskie
Thanks for uploading it. I noticed the song on bootliquor, and this version sounds even better, I think. I hope that he will come and tour Europe one day. It would be nice to see him in a small club here sometime.
paul elliott
Brilliant - damn fine indeed, and Slaid is a great singer songwriter
Gonna have a Slaid day today with Brokedown, Wishbones, Still Fighting and the Horseshoe Lounge records
Great afternoon listening ahead
Breakfast in Hell, afternoon at the Horseshoe Lounge ...happy days
joe w
And “One Good Year”.
Gerard Kuijpers
Great song great performer!
Adam Hoople
Great tune!!
William Kingrey
Great tune!