Son Volt formed after the breakup of the band Uncle Tupelo, owing to the simmering creative differences between songwriters Farrar and Jeff Tweedy. The group's members lived in Minneapolis, St Louis, and New Orleans at the time. Son Volt is often considered the closest continuance of Uncle Tupelo's Alt-country/Americana sound and musical legacy. Jeff Tweedy would steer his post-Uncle Tupelo group Wilco towards more adventurous sonic territory - and greater critical and commercial success - in a move that has sharply divided fans.
Farrar has released albums under his own name and the Son Volt nameplate, though there is little continuity in supporting band members. After a strong initial showing with 1995's Trace, the original Son Volt lineup released two more records before going on permanent hiatus in 1999. After the original members were unable to reach an agreement on the terms of a reunion, Farrar put together a new version of Son Volt in 2004. The revived Son Volt has regained its creative footing with 2005's confident Okemah and the Melody of Riot. Son Volt went on to release "The Search" in the Spring of 2007.
Catching On
Son Volt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't find a way
Guess it's not you and me
Only dogs have their day
Another case of words that melt
It's not a question of right
Nightmares in broad daylight
Season crash, season burn
And now I'm reaching out, it's true
When you don't see me, I'm catching on to you
You don't see me
I'm catching on to you
Took a break to get that far
Like the sound from a hundred-dollar guitar
Bought from an old catalogue
Yesterday's dust and heartache
As the pieces fall like candy when you're young
Medicine when you're old
There's no reason or rhyme
Sidestepping around
On an elevator climb
When you don't see me, I'm catching on to you
You don't see me, I'm catching on to you
Another jail, another burned-out inside
Skeleton love left to die
Take whatever lies ahead
The good with the bad, and leave the rest
When you don't see me, I'm catching on to you
You don't see me
I'm catching on to you
The song "Catching On" by Son Volt seems to be about a relationship that has hit a rough patch. The singer is struggling to find a reason or a way to salvage the relationship but ultimately concludes that it's not meant to be. The line "only dogs have their day" suggests that some relationships are fleeting and don't always have a happy ending. The singer is also aware that they may not be on the same page as their partner, as the line "when you don't see me, I'm catching on to you" implies that there is something being hidden or kept secret.
The song also touches on the idea of survival and persevering through difficult times. The line "you survive another turn" suggests that the singer has been through tough situations before and has come out the other side. However, the line "nightmares in broad daylight" implies that there are still lingering emotional scars from these past experiences.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation and acceptance that the singer must move on despite the pain and heartache. The line "take whatever lies ahead, the good with the bad, and leave the rest" suggests that the singer is willing to face the unknown and embrace whatever comes their way.
Overall, "Catching On" is a melancholic but insightful look at the ups and downs of relationships and the struggles of learning to let go in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't find a reason
Unable to find a justification for something
Can't find a way
Unable to find a solution to a problem
Guess it's not you and me
Realizing that it's not going to work out between two people
Only dogs have their day
Only a few people end up being successful or lucky
Another case of words that melt
Another instance of shallow promises and unfulfilled commitments
It's not a question of right
It's not about who is right or wrong
Nightmares in broad daylight
Feeling troubled and scared even during daytime
Season crash, season burn
Experiencing highs and lows in life
You survive another turn
Managing to get through another difficult situation
And now I'm reaching out, it's true
Making an effort to connect with someone
When you don't see me, I'm catching on to you
Figuring out what someone is really like when they're unaware of your presence
Took a break to get that far
Taking a break from something to achieve better progress
Like the sound from a hundred-dollar guitar
Achieving something good with minimal resources
Bought from an old catalogue
Obtaining something from the past
Yesterday's dust and heartache
Past memories that are not worth keeping
As the pieces fall like candy when you're young
Easy things in life that people enjoy when they're young
Medicine when you're old
Experiences that teach valuable life lessons when one grows older
There's no reason or rhyme
There's no explanation or pattern to something
Sidestepping around
Avoiding confrontation or difficult situations
On an elevator climb
Working hard to reach a higher level
Another jail, another burned-out inside
Another time of feeling trapped and emotionally drained
Skeleton love left to die
A romance that's come to an end and feels lifeless
Take whatever lies ahead
Accepting whatever the future brings
The good with the bad, and leave the rest
Embracing both good and bad experiences and moving on
When you don't see me, I'm catching on to you
Perceiving someone's true self when they're not paying attention
Contributed by Allison I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
HomelandConspiracy
Can't find a reason
Can't find a way
Guess it's not you and me
Only dogs have their day
Another case of words that melt
It's not a question of right
Nightmares in broad daylight
Season crash, season burn
You survive another turn
And now I'm reaching out, it's true
When you don't see me
I'm catching on to you
You don't see me
I'm catching on to you
Took a break to get that far
Like the sound from a hundred-dollar guitar
Bought from an old catalogue
Yesterday's dust and heartache
As the pieces fall
Like candy when you're young
Medicine when you're old
There's no reason or rhyme
Sidestepping around
On an elevator climb
When you don't see me
I'm catching on to you
Another jail, another burned-out inside
Skeleton love left to die
Take whatever lies ahead
The good with the bad and leave the rest
When you don't see me
I'm catching on to you
You don't see me
I'm catching on to you
Catching on
Catching on
wenders99
"Trace" might very well be the best disc of the modern alt-country movement. I've always gotten the sense that Farrar was writing for his musical life on this record, that every song was for broke. Wilco's output will stand the test of time better than most of Son Volt's (Farrar's), but this disc is without equal. It is almost perfect, in my opinion. There is no better road album than this. Cheers to Jay for his contributions to songwriting. I'm thankful he's here.
Jeremy Wagner
All hail Dave Boquist! This guy rules so hard.
jerry hello
Man, his tone is just incredible.
doogal1234
Wow, a gold top with a bigsby - God bless him for having the guts to take it out and play it
marraddonna
This is easily superior to the record version. It's just that bit slower, and both the guitar and vocals are so much more expressive...love it!
SolamenteVees
Absolutely.
Mark Mackin
I’ll never forget seeing this song with this lineup at the 40 watt in Athens Ga. you could see they were locked in by watching their feet stomping in unison. Just like you can here starting around the 3:45 mark. In the zone!
dan cepeda
Old Son Volt was a wonderful thing, but happily so is the new version of Son Volt. Seen them live twice. BTW, this Austin City Limits DVD is a MUST HAVE for any Son Volt fan. Classic and timeless.
talpajam
Took me half a day to figure out Boquist' tunings...this is a band that inspires tears. I mean that in every good way.
wenders99
Trace is one of the most important discs of the past 20 years, maybe ever in the canon of American music. This is not hyperbole. It is, as any fan knows, essential.