Susan Tedeschi (born 9 November 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Susan Tedeschi (born 9 November 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American blues and soul musician who has received multiple Grammy Award nominations. She is known for her singing voice, guitar playing, and stage presence. Married to blues guitarist Derek Trucks, Tedeschi is also known for her current endeavor, Tedeschi Trucks Band (originally know as "Soul Stew Revival"), a conglomeration of The Derek Trucks Band and assorted other musicians.

The Susan Tedeschi Band began in 1994 and featured Tom Hambridge and Adrienne Hayes. In 1995 Tedeschi began playing guitar and honing her skills. In December that year she released Better Days to regional audiences. Record contracts were difficult to keep together; however, recording sessions from 1997 were acquired by Richard Rosenblatt, and the band was signed to Tone-Cool Records and Just Won't Burn was released in February 1998 to rave reviews from blues publications.

During 1998 and 1999 Tedeschi toured extensively through out the United States and her spectacular stage presence and powerful voice drew larger crowds. Eventually Tedeschi was opening for John Mellencamp, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers Band, Taj Mahal and Bob Dylan. In 2000, Just Won't Burn reached gold record status, rare for such a production. She recorded two tracks with Double Trouble band members Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon for their album.

Tedeschi's voice has been described as a blend of Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, though she explains this is due to sharing the same influences as the two. Her guitar playing is influenced by Buddy Guy, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King and Doyle Bramhall.

Tedeschi grew up in Norwell, Massachusetts and attended the Berklee College of Music where she received her bachelor of music in composition and performance. Tedeschi had always been musically inclined, performing in musicals, singing for family members, and listening to her father's record collection. She formed a band in high school called the Smoking Section at age 15, sang in a Gospel choir at Berklee and began sitting in with local blues jams at venues in Boston. In 2001, she married Derek Trucks, Allman Brothers guitar player, leader of The Derek Trucks Band, and nephew of founding Allmans drummer Butch Trucks. They have two children, Charlie and Sophia. They currently reside in Jacksonville,FL, and regularly collaborate on each other's albums.

700 Houses
Susan Tedeschi Lyrics

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Looking out my window,
What do I see?
Seven hundred houses,
Scattered in front of me.
Silence all around me,
Deafening the air.
Not a sign of anyone,
I just have to stare.

What is this madness?
My hopes and dreams are sand.
All the signs that led me home
Are scattered to the wind.
I?m searching for my friends,
And shaking in my skin.
Where have all of my saints gone?
Will they come marching in?

Chorus:
What can be done?
Another storm to overcome.
What can be done?
What can be done?
Another storm to overcome.
Now?

Let?s pick up the pieces
From this tragedy.
You and I must come to terms
With this reality.
I?m lost, and I?m looking,
My city?s washed away.

But you know that I?ll be back,
I?m coming back to stay.

Overall Meaning

In Susan Tedeschi's song "700 Houses," the singer is looking out the window and seeing a view of seven hundred houses scattered in front of her, with silence surrounding the area. The sight is overwhelming and defeaning at the same time, and she is searching for her friends who seem to have scattered as well. The lyrics hint at a sense of loss, devastation and confusion after a natural disaster, with the storm washing away her city and signs that led her home. However, despite this, there is an undercurrent of hope and determination as she and her listeners must deal with the reality of the situation and pick up the pieces to rebuild.

One interesting fact about this song is that it was inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. According to Tedeschi, she wrote the song after viewing pictures of the aftermath of the hurricane and visiting the city herself. Another notable fact about the song is that it features a prominent horn section, adding depth and power to the overall sound. It was released in 2008 as a single off her album "Back to the River," which was widely praised for its mix of blues, soul and rock influences.

Apart from that, the song has been featured in multiple TV shows, including "The Blacklist" and "NCIS: Los Angeles." It has also been used as inspiration for community rebuilding efforts in New Orleans and other cities affected by natural disasters. Moreover, the song was co-written by songwriter Tom Hambridge, who has worked with Tedeschi on multiple projects over the years. It was produced by George Drakoulias, who has worked with other notable artists such as The Black Crowes and Tom Petty.

The song is played in the key of G, with a chord progression of G, Am, C and D in the verses, and the chorus consisting of Em, C, G and D. The bridge features G to Em to C, with an Am chord leading back into the chorus. The song's verses are relatively slow, with a solemn feel, while the chorus is more upbeat and rocking, highlighting the song's message of resilience and determination despite hardship.

In conclusion, "700 Houses" is a powerful song that speaks to the aftermath of natural disasters and the human spirit to rebuild and overcome difficult situations. It combines strong lyrics with a powerful musical arrangement that showcases Tedeschi's talent as a vocalist and musician. It has resonated with listeners all over the world, and it continues to inspire hope and positivity in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking out my window,
Observing the view outside from my window

What do I see?
Questioning what is observed

Seven hundred houses,
Visualizing the view of 700 houses

Scattered in front of me.
Noticing the position of the houses

Silence all around me,
The absence of sound in the environment

Deafening the air.
The silence is so intense that it's loud

Not a sign of anyone,
No indication of human presence

I just have to stare.
The only thing to do is to keep on looking

What is this madness?
Questioning the situation as being insane

My hopes and dreams are sand.
Goals and aspirations are uncertain and unstable like sand

All the signs that led me home
Cues directing my way back home