Some would call it fate. Others might chalk it up to coincidence. Either wa… Read Full Bio ↴Some would call it fate. Others might chalk it up to coincidence. Either way, the story of Texas Renegade’s genesis seems more than random—and their new album, “Bad Dreams and Other Things,” proves the union was meant to be. Consider this. Twins Tyson and Eli Carver, who were born in the Texas Hill Country town of Wimberley, moved to Durango, Colo., at age 14. That same year, Andy Bertelsen and Kasey Klepfer moved with their respective families to Wimberley. When the twins graduated high school, the lure of their hometown tugged them back—when a friend introduced them to their future bandmates, their course was set. The Carvers and Bertelsen formed Texas Renegade in 2002; Klepfer joined in 2004, and drummer Luke Ayres came on in 2007. Except for Ayres, it’s the only band any of them have been in (unless you count Bertelsen’s stint playing snare in his elementary-school band). In Texas Renegade—the moniker their first guitarist bestowed on them at a high-school party—Bertelsen handles lead vocals, songwriting and guitar. Mandolinist/guitarist/backing vocalist Tyson and bassist Eli picked up their instruments at 20 and 19, respectively, after ditching fiddle lessons at age 13. Klepfer taught himself to play harmonica seven years ago, and only Ayres (drums) has played his instrument—or any instrument—consistently since childhood. But they’re hardly a batch of late-bloomers. Bertelsen’s voice, which could earn him honorary Braun brother status in Reckless Kelly, carries the nuances of a practiced, yet intuitive singer. With mandolin and harp as frequent lead instruments and Tyson’s harmonies, Texas Renegade creates a soulful, rootsy country-rock blend that places them squarely in the Americana realm; which is only fitting for a band whose formative influences include the Wallflowers, John Hiatt, Counting Crows, Emmylou Harris, the essential Texans and the classic rock their parents played. “Bad Dreams and Other Things,” their third album, cements their status among talents like The Band of Heathens, Jack Ingram, the aforementioned Reckless Kelly and similar artists who share deep Lone Star roots and hybrid sensibilities. And like many of those artists, they honed their skills under the tutelage of Kent Finlay at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, where the Carvers and Bertelsen earned degrees at Texas State University. (Klepfer is a University of Texas grad; Ayres’ degree is from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.) Recorded mainly at Top Hat Recording in South Austin and produced by Austin drummer Stephen Belans (James McMurtry, Alejandro Escovedo), who helmed their last release, “After Everything,” it features 12 Bertelsen-penned cuts and guest spots by keyboardist Michael Ramos (BoDeans, John Mellencamp) Dobro player Cindy Cashdollar (Van Morrison, Ryan Adams) and guitarists Gabe Rhodes, Brad Rice and John Sanchez. Filled with smart lyrics and sweet harmonies, “Bad Dreams” stylistically encompasses everything from the harp- and guitar-driven mid-tempo rock of the first single, “Crazy,” to the soulful country-rock of “Coming Home,” the mournful “Comanche Moon” and the heartfelt “St. Christopher,” an acoustic ballad about death that Bertelsen sings with such an ache in his voice, he leaves no doubt about its authenticity. “Every one of my songs has some sort of story behind it,” he notes. “That is to say, every single song stems from some actual event that has occurred. However, the extent can vary considerably from song to song.” Rarely, he admits, does he write a song that’s entirely based in reality. Which is not to say his lyrics aren’t personal—or meaningful. At least some of his inspiration has to come from being so involved in the lives of his bandmates. Bertelsen and the Carvers are also roommates, and all five swear they’re having the time of their lives in the band. “We like to think we have more fun than any other band on the scene right now,” says Tyson. “People always approach us and say they really enjoy the music, but they also enjoy the fact that we are having fun onstage. We are the true definition of a band. Everyone has equal say and we are a family of guys who really care about one another and love to play music together.” Adds Eli, “We have a lot of fun together on the road and have a very laid-back vibe when we’re together. Pretty much anything goes.” “Anything” includes Camp, a fluffy canine described by Tyson as “half Lhasa-apso, a quarter Chihuahua and a quarter wolf,” who has traveled everywhere with the band for two years. “Some people think he has magical powers, but we just think he is the coolest dog in the world,” says Tyson. Adds Eli, “People try to steal him everywhere we go. There is a very good chance he is more famous than we are.” Well, maybe for now. But once people get a chance to hear “Bad Dreams and Other Things,” Camp’s popularity may have to take a back seat to the band’s. He’ll still get to ride in his primo leather captain’s chair, though—unless they graduate to a bus, in which case, he’ll probably get two seats—and his own bunk. Because, like the rest of these guys, he’s a Texas Renegade!

Angel Of The Moonlight
Texas Renegade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I went one more time to the five and dime tonight
I came back dead broke with a bottle of coke and a shiner on my eye
Then I found your number, I called it up
I drink whiskey straight from my coffee cup
Then I left the house and I headed out
There were empty bottles and cigarette smoke
Someone pass it around and tell me one more little dirty joke
Cause I'm lonely as ever, I'm ugly as sin, I need something better than this shape I've been in tonight

I've been in tonight

Little angel of the moonlight must have fallen down from grace
Cause it's getting way past midnight and I see the tears that stain your pretty face
But you're all innocence, lace, and white, little angel of the moonlight

I found one more rhyme at the bottom of my page
Just another line about all the times you turned your back and walked away
Left me here with my heart in my hands
Don't you worry dear if I don't understand all these little things, they're gonna make me who I am

Little angel of the moonlight must have fallen down from grace
Cause it's getting way past midnight and I see the tears that stained you weary face
With that coming of age boy, he broke your heart again

So walk on mine and now it's wearing thin again tonight it's black or white
Little angel of the moonlight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Texas Renegade's song "Angel Of The Moonlight" evoke the feeling of loneliness and the search for something better. The singer begins by describing a rough night, returning home broke and bruised, but finding solace in the thought of calling someone. The lyrics suggest that the singer is feeling down on himself, as he describes himself as "ugly as sin" and in need of something better. The repeated line "I've been in tonight" emphasizes his feeling of being stuck in a rut.

The singer then shifts his focus to the "little angel of the moonlight" who he describes as having fallen from grace. He recognizes her beauty and innocence, yet sees the tears on her face and the pain she has experienced. He offers himself up as someone who understands her pain, having been left with "his heart in his hands" before. The final lines of the song are ambiguous, leaving listeners to wonder what will happen next for the singer and the little angel of the moonlight.

Overall, "Angel Of The Moonlight" captures the feeling of searching for connection and meaning in a bleak world. The lyrics are poetic and evoke strong emotions, allowing listeners to relate to the singer's struggles and empathize with the little angel of the moonlight.

Line by Line Meaning

I went one more time to the five and dime tonight
I went to a store to buy something, probably because I had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go.

I came back dead broke with a bottle of coke and a shiner on my eye
I returned from the store broke, with only a bottle of Coke and a black eye to show for my troubles.

Then I found your number, I called it up
I found your number somewhere and decided to call you.

I drink whiskey straight from my coffee cup
I'm not very picky about what I drink and sometimes mix whiskey with coffee.

Then I left the house and I headed out
I left my house and started walking somewhere.

There were empty bottles and cigarette smoke
I noticed that there were no more bottles left and the air was filled with smoke from cigarettes.

Someone pass it around and tell me one more little dirty joke
I asked someone to share a dirty joke with me to lighten the mood and pass the time.

Cause I'm lonely as ever, I'm ugly as sin, I need something better than this shape I've been in tonight
I feel very alone and unattractive, and I desire something or someone to make me feel better about myself.

I've been in tonight
I've been alone and feeling down all night.

Little angel of the moonlight must have fallen down from grace
I see you as an innocent and pure person who's probably had some bad experiences.

Cause it's getting way past midnight and I see the tears that stain your pretty face
It's getting late and I can see that you've been crying because your face is stained with tears.

But you're all innocence, lace, and white, little angel of the moonlight
Despite whatever experiences you've had, you still possess a pure and innocent quality.

I found one more rhyme at the bottom of my page
I discovered another rhyme at the bottom of my writing.

Just another line about all the times you turned your back and walked away
The rhyme was about how you've left me many times in the past, possibly causing me pain and heartbreak.

Left me here with my heart in my hands
Whenever you left, you left me feeling vulnerable and with my emotions exposed.

Don't you worry dear if I don't understand all these little things, they're gonna make me who I am
Even if I don't understand everything that's happening or what's being said, these experiences are helping me grow and shape who I am.

With that coming of age boy, he broke your heart again
You recently experienced heartbreak from a boy who has just come of age and is still exploring life and relationships.

So walk on mine and now it's wearing thin again tonight it's black or white
You're using me as a shoulder to lean on, but even my support is becoming strained. Things seem like they're either good or bad, with no in-between.

Little angel of the moonlight
Even though you've been through tough times, you still possess a gentle and heavenly quality.

Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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