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!

Bar Ditch
Texas Renegade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I met Jesus in a bar ditch
Behind the wheel of my '87 Ford
And I met the devil at the bottom of a bottle
And it scared my ass straight to the Lord
(X2)

I did not see no burning bush
Just a Hayes County road sign

When I turned my head to look,
I could not keep it between the lines

But I met Jesus in a bar ditch
Behind the wheel of my' 87 ford
I met the devil at the bottom of a bottle
And it scared my ass straight to the Lord

I'd spent most all night hanging out with my so-called friends
But now I'm indisposed
And I'm hitchhiking down this road
Praying "Lord, I ain't ever gonna do that again"

Well I met Jesus in a bar ditch
Behind the wheel of my '87 Ford
I met the devil at the bottom of a bottle
And it scared my ass straight to the Lord
(X3)

Yes, he scared my ass straight to the Lord
I said he scared my ass straight to the Lord.

Overall Meaning

The Texas Renegade's song "Bar Ditch" tells a story of the singer's experience of meeting Jesus and the devil in unexpected places. The first verse explains how the singer met Jesus in a bar ditch, behind the wheel of his '87 Ford. The second verse continues with the idea that the singer also met the devil at the bottom of a bottle. This experience was so profound that it made the singer turn to the Lord.

The song uses religious imagery in a unique way to tell the story of the singer's journey from sin to redemption. The bar ditch and the '87 Ford represent the darkness and brokenness in the singer's life, while Jesus and the Lord represent the light and hope of salvation. The devil at the bottom of the bottle represents the temptation and danger that the singer faced in his struggle with sin. In the end, the singer's experience leads him to turn away from his sinful ways and seek redemption through faith.

One interesting thing about the song "Bar Ditch" is that it was written by Texas Renegade's lead singer, Josh Grider. Grider has said that the song was inspired by a real-life experience he had while driving home from a bar one night. Another interesting fact is that the song has been covered by multiple country music artists, including Cody Johnson and Jason Boland. The song has become a fan favorite and is often played at live shows.

Chords:
Verse: D, G, D, A
Chorus: Bm, G, D, A

Line by Line Meaning

Well I met Jesus in a bar ditch
I had a moment of divine realization and met Jesus while I was stuck in a ditch on the side of the road.

Behind the wheel of my '87 Ford
I was in my car, a 1987 Ford, when I had this spiritual experience.

And I met the devil at the bottom of a bottle
I also had an encounter with the devil when I was drinking alcohol excessively.

And it scared my ass straight to the Lord
This experience made me realize my mistakes and led me to turn my life around and seek salvation.

I did not see no burning bush
My divine realization didn't come from any grand or dramatic event like Moses seeing a burning bush in the Bible.

Just a Hayes County road sign
Instead, it was a simple sign on the side of a county road that caught my attention and made me look inward.

When I turned my head to look,
I had to turn my attention away from the distractions of the world to see the sign and have my spiritual experience.

I could not keep it between the lines
Before this experience, I was lost and struggling to find my way in life, both literally and metaphorically.

I'd spent most all night hanging out with my so-called friends
Before my moment of realization, I was surrounded by people who didn't truly care about me or my well-being.

But now I'm indisposed
After my experiences with Jesus and the devil, I'm in a state of discomfort and unease.

And I'm hitchhiking down this road
I'm now traveling a new path, seeking redemption and forgiveness for my past mistakes.

Praying "Lord, I ain't ever gonna do that again"
I'm seeking guidance and strength from God to help me stay on the right path and avoid repeating my past mistakes.

Yes, he scared my ass straight to the Lord
My experience with the devil was a wake-up call that helped me realize the importance of finding salvation and seeking forgiveness for my sins.

I said he scared my ass straight to the Lord.
My encounter with the devil was a life-changing moment that led me to seek redemption and find a new path in life.

Contributed by Colin J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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