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.
Too Early
Son Volt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Paid it with lines to show
You've had your fill of asphalt
Cough tremors, and smoke-filled doors
Look like the habit controls you
You look like you need a rest
You've made it to the timber-line
Don't know what to expect
God knows, you don't need it
Too early, you might be the one
You to find yourself somewhere else
Too early in the sun
Song strains, distant, over
A barroom drink-filled roar
The old folksinger lays it down
Not for long, no longer ignored
Spinning tales of temptation
Gambling days lost and won
No crimes committed here
Too much habit could be the one
God knows, you don't need it
Too early, you might be the one
To find yourself somewhere else
Too early in the sun
Never seen half of what you've seen
Real life never quite adds up
The road goes on when the faces don't
Word of mouth never tells the truth
Like to hear your story told
With a two-step beat and rhyme
Could be Tennessee or Texas
On and on, that road winds
God knows, you don't need it
Too early, you might be the one
To find yourself somewhere else
Too early in the sun
The first verse of "Too Early" by Son Volt tells the story of someone who has been on the road for a long time. The "mileage" has taken its toll and shows in the lines on the person's face. They have had enough of asphalt and the harmful effects of being on the road like cough tremors and smoke-filled doors. They look like the habit of being on the road controls them; however, they have made it to the timber-line and do not know what to expect. This person seems to be searching for something, but they are not sure what.
The second verse shifts to a barroom where an old folksinger is playing some distant song strains over a "drink-filled roar." The singer is telling stories of temptation, gambling, and lost and won days, but there have been no crimes committed. The habit of being on the road could be the one that controls the folksinger. The chorus comes in after both the verses, emphasizing that it might be too early for the person to find themselves somewhere else. Maybe they need more time to heal and reflect before moving on.
The final verse talks about how life is not always as it seems. The road continues when the faces do not, and word of mouth never tells the whole truth. The singer would like to hear the person's story, but only if it is told with a "two-step beat and rhyme." The song ends with the chorus repeating one last time.
Overall, the song "Too Early" talks about the effects of being on the road and how it can take a toll on people. It emphasizes the importance of taking time for oneself before moving on to the next thing.
Line by Line Meaning
Mileage has taken its toll
Years of driving have worn you down
Paid it with lines to show
The lines on your face tell the story of your travels
You've had your fill of asphalt
You're tired of driving and being on the road
Cough tremors, and smoke-filled doors
Your health is declining from all the driving and smoke-filled bars
Look like the habit controls you
Your addiction to driving and the lifestyle that comes with it is taking over
You look like you need a rest
You need a break from the constant driving and traveling
You've made it to the timber-line
You've reached a breaking point and don't know what to do next
Don't know what to expect
You're unsure of what the future holds for you
God knows, you don't need it
You don't need to keep pushing yourself to drive and travel
Too early, you might be the one
It's too soon to tell where you'll end up or what you'll do next
You to find yourself somewhere else
You might need to change your lifestyle to find happiness
Too early in the sun
It's too soon to start a new chapter in your life
Song strains, distant, over
The sound of a song plays in the distance
A barroom drink-filled roar
The sound of a crowded bar fills the air
The old folksinger lays it down
An old musician plays a song
Not for long, no longer ignored
Although the musician is not popular, they still play their music
Spinning tales of temptation
The musician sings about times of temptation and risk-taking
Gambling days lost and won
The musician sings about gambling and the ups and downs that come with it
No crimes committed here
The musician hasn't done anything illegal or wrong
Too much habit could be the one
The musician's habits could lead to their downfall
Never seen half of what you've seen
Most people haven't experienced what you have
Real life never quite adds up
Reality is never what you expect it to be
The road goes on when the faces don't
The road and lifestyle continue, even when people and relationships change
Word of mouth never tells the truth
Stories passed down aren't always true
Like to hear your story told
People enjoy hearing about your experiences
With a two-step beat and rhyme
A country-style rhythm that makes people want to dance
Could be Tennessee or Texas
This could be happening anywhere in the South or West
On and on, that road winds
The road and journey continue, never-ending
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAY FARRAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heather Dumoulin
the best recovery song ever written .... excellent performance .. thank you so much Son Volt ..... from all of us who keep putting our efforts into sobriety this is a gift.
Tia 2 ALL
I agree with you. I’m in recovery also. I hope you are doing good. 💖
Buster 928
Son Volt.... Never got the props they deserved... Great stuff.
tdottim
This is one of the best shows on all of Youtube
Holly Burke
this song is just beautiful
Wren Ouderkirk
This one always just kills me.
dbl dee
the most moving song from trace
Don Winter
Thank you. Wow. Terrific song. Terrific group.
Tom McDonough
god I love that song.
tdottim
Fucking perfect.