Split Lip Rayfield is a vocal and (acoustic) instrumental group from Wichit… Read Full Bio ↴Split Lip Rayfield is a vocal and (acoustic) instrumental group from Wichita, Kansas. Though they are sometimes classified as a bluegrass or alt-country band, their music draws on a wide array of influences.

Formed in 1995 as a trio including Kirk Rundstrom (guitar), David Lawrence (banjo) and Jeff Eaton (bass), the group was soon signed to Bloodshot Records, the label home of Rundstrom's previous band, metal-country act Scroat Belly. Early on, the group's gimmick was Eaton's homemade one-string bass, named Stitchgiver, built from the gastank of a 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis and a piece of hickory and strung with one piece of Weedwhacker line.

The name "Split Lip Rayfield" was inspired by a real-life person of that name who lived in Eaton's hometown of Gumbo, Missouri, when Eaton was a boy.

In 1996 Lawrence left the group and was replaced on banjo by Eric Mardis, a guitarist from Lawrence, Kansas. The trio of Rundstrom, Eaton and Mardis recorded the album Split Lip Rayfield in 1998; Bloodshot released it that same year. Soon after, Wayne Gottstine, a member with Rundstrom in Scroat Belly, joined the group on mandolin. Gottstine has also been featured as a vocalist and songwriter for the group.

1999 saw the release of In the Mud, the first album on which the group performed as a quartet. This album contained fan favorites such as Gottstine's "3.2 Flu", Rundstrom's "Devil", Mardis' "Hounds" and a cover of the George Jones/Melba Montgomery song "Easy Street." The band followed up the album's release with a nationwide tour.

The band's next album, Never Make It Home, also achieved success, as did the subsequent tour.

Following the Never Make It Home tour, Split Lip Rayfield took a short hiatus so that its members could refocus on family life and side projects. Upon reassembling, the group traveled to New Orleans to make a record with friend and fellow performer Mike West. The resulting disc, Should Have Seen It Coming, won critical praise.

In 2005, Gottstine left the touring group for personal reasons. The remaining trio continued to tour, however. Gottstine returned in Summer 2006 after Kirk Rundstrom's cancer diagnosis.

Early in 2006, while on tour in Colorado, Rundstrom sought medical attention for pain in his throat and difficulty in swallowing. Doctors quickly concluded that he had esophageal cancer, and would need immediate, intense treatment.

Heavy doses of radiation and chemotherapy were unable to completely reverse the damage, and Rundstrom's health suffered greatly from the treatments. However, by early autumn, he was playing shows again. A fully-reunited Split Lip Rayfield embarked on another tour, and played what was billed as its "final" show on December 8, 2006, at the Cotillion Ballroom in Wichita.

Rundstrom passed away on February 22, 2007 in Wichita. He is survived by his father, wife and two daughters.

The group decided to continue playing without a replacement, dedicating each show to Rundstrom. Gottstine rejoined the fold permanently and their first show without Rundstrom was in August 2007.

They have since recorded and released their fifth album, "I'll Be Around".

I'll Be Around
Split Lip Rayfield Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I ever needed you
It′s now

Time passes quickly now
And everything changes

I'm hoping that you′ll come to find
That pain is only fleeting

I know that we will meet again, but remember,
That if you need me.

I'll be around
I'll be around
I′ll be around
I′ll be around

The plans we had may never be
It's a time that′s gone

But I remember faithfully
The battles need we won

I see you in each passing day
The stories I could tell

What awaits us time will tell
But remember
If you need me

I'll be around
I′ll be around

I'll be around
I′ll be around

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Split Lip Rayfield's song "I'll Be Around" reflect the theme of time and changes, but also the idea of enduring love and support. The first verse of the song talks about needing someone at a particular moment and hoping that they will be there for the singer. The singer understands that things change with time, but pain is not permanent, and they will meet again. The chorus of the song repeats the message that the singer will always be around if needed.

The second verse of the song reflects on how various plans may not come to fruition, and time marches on, but the singer remembers past battles won and the support given. The singer sees the person they need in every passing day and could tell countless stories of their experiences together. The verse ends similarly to the first one, with the message that they will always be there if needed.

The song's lyrics portray a sense of longing, nostalgia, and hopefulness. They acknowledge that time and circumstances can change, but the love and support people share can transcend those changes. The song leaves a message of reassurance that no matter what happens, the singer is around for the person they need.

Line by Line Meaning

If I ever needed you
I require your presence now

It's now
Currently, in this moment

Time passes quickly now
The speed of time has increased

And everything changes
The world is constantly evolving

I'm hoping that you'll come to find
I have a desire for you to realize

That pain is only fleeting
Suffering is temporary

I know that we will meet again, but remember,
We will have another encounter, but don't forget that

That if you need me.
In a time of necessity, I am available.

I'll be around
I will be present and available

I’ll be around
I will be present and available

The plans we had may never be
Our intended actions may never occur