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.
Medicine Hat
Son Volt Lyrics
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Unveilings free from saturation
Departures raised with no masquerading.
There will be teachers that die by their own hand
Pundits that push headlong for atonement
Friends and followers devoted to living.
And those committed to society's circles
Unwary cogs with no cadence or virtue.
There will be right, there will be wrong.
Drop of the hat and it's already started
Just like that and the deed is done
What I'd give for the hat to be medicine
The time is now to be on the run.
Son Volt's "Medicine Hat" is a contemplation on the unpredictability and impermanence of life, and an acknowledgment of the fact that there are many forces beyond our control. The lyrics above describe various scenarios that will inevitably play out in the course of life – droughts, floods, departures – and the different types of people who inhabit the world – teachers who take their own lives, pundits seeking redemption, loyal friends and followers. Some, like the watchers who plot from the shadows, seem to have their own agendas, while others simply go through life as "unwary cogs with no cadence or virtue."
The song seems to suggest that in the face of all this, the only thing we can really do is keep moving forward, because the world will keep turning with or without us. The chorus, "What I'd give for the hat to be medicine, the time is now to be on the run," acknowledges the desire for some sort of magic fix for the chaos of life, but also recognizes that there is no such thing. Instead, the only option is to keep moving, to run like the wind and hope that we can outrun whatever comes our way.
Overall, "Medicine Hat" is a poignant meditation on the human condition, and a reminder that, despite all the unpredictability and darkness in the world, there is always hope to be found in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other.
Line by Line Meaning
There will be droughts and days inundated
There will be times of scarcity and times of abundance
Unveilings free from saturation
New discoveries that break through the norms
Departures raised with no masquerading
Leaving without pretending
There will be teachers that die by their own hand
Some educators will take their own life
Pundits that push headlong for atonement
Experts advocating for redemption with urgency
Friends and followers devoted to living
People who follow and cherish life
There will be watchers that plot from in confines
There will be people who scheme secretly
And those committed to society's circles
Others who are dedicated to communal networks
Unwary cogs with no cadence or virtue
People without a sense of rhythm or morality
There will be right, there will be wrong.
There will be both good and evil
Drop of the hat and it's already started
Things can change quickly
Just like that and the deed is done
Actions can have swift consequences
What I'd give for the hat to be medicine
Wishing for a solution to problems
The time is now to be on the run.
The moment has arrived to escape
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAY FARRAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind