Better Than Being Alone
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!

Better Than Being Alone
Texas Renegade Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I wish that I was somebody else
Cause I can't seem to stand myself and the things I do
Cause I want you and nobody else
You got one in the chamber
One on the shelf
And one in the corner crying for help over you

Every time that you come around
You get me up, you bring me down
When you take me out, get me stoned
You lead me on and right back home
You taste like whiskey, you punch like wine
You go down hard and look so fine
You fall out of love, you're right back in
You get your buzz and get thick skin
You love like a stranger, that's when I break just like a bone
But it's better than being alone

You say things when I leave the room
My ears they ring and I'm confused
When you take my strings, you tie me a noose
You either give me love or you give me the blues
Hey girl just take a good look at the mess we've made
We've got blood on our hands, blood on the blade
And I see the innocence starting to fade in you, in you.

Every time that you come around
You get me up, you bring me down
When you take me out, get me stoned
You lead me on and right back home
You taste like whiskey, you punch like wine
You go down hard and look so fine
You fall out of love and you're right back in
You get your buzz and get thick skin




You love like a stranger
But there's no danger in the telephone, and it's better than being alone.

Overall Meaning

The Texas Renegade's song "Better Than Being Alone" is a song that tells the story of a man who is struggling with his own self-doubt and insecurities while he pursues a rocky relationship with a woman who he cannot seem to resist. The man in the song wishes that he could be someone else because he cannot stand himself and what he does. He desires the woman he is with, and no one else, even though the relationship between the two is unhealthy and constantly fluctuates, causing him to feel both high and low emotions.


The lyrics also show that although the woman in the song brings him joy, she also brings him pain, and he cannot help but love her. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is dangerous, and although the man in the song knows this, he would rather take chances with her because it's "better than being alone." The man even acknowledges the fact that they have created a mess, and that their relationship has caused them both to have blood on their hands and fade their innocence. Regardless, the man cannot stay away from her.


Line by Line Meaning

Well I wish that I was somebody else
I am not happy with who I am


Cause I can't seem to stand myself and the things I do
I am disappointed with my actions and behavior


Cause I want you and nobody else
I want to be with you exclusively


You got one in the chamber
You always have someone else on your mind


One on the shelf
You have someone else waiting in the wings


And one in the corner crying for help over you
Someone who wants to be with you, but can't because you're with me instead


Every time that you come around
Whenever you're near me


You get me up, you bring me down
You have an emotional effect on me, both good and bad


When you take me out, get me stoned
When we go out and party


You lead me on and right back home
You give me false hope, only to bring me back to reality


You taste like whiskey, you punch like wine
You have a strong impact on my senses


You go down hard and look so fine
You are tough but attractive


You fall out of love, you're right back in
You change your mind about me quickly


You get your buzz and get thick skin
You drink to feel numb and ignore your feelings


You love like a stranger, that's when I break just like a bone
You love me one minute, then hurt me the next


But it's better than being alone
Despite the pain, it's still better to be with you than to be alone


You say things when I leave the room
You talk about me when I'm not there


My ears they ring and I'm confused
I am hurt and confused by what you say about me


When you take my strings, you tie me a noose
You control me completely


You either give me love or you give me the blues
Either I feel loved by you or I feel miserable


Hey girl just take a good look at the mess we've made
Let's acknowledge the chaos and damage we've caused


We've got blood on our hands, blood on the blade
We've hurt each other badly


And I see the innocence starting to fade in you, in you.
I can see that you are changing, and becoming less innocent


But there's no danger in the telephone
There's no risk of emotional pain or drama when we're not together


And it's better than being alone.
But even though it's safe, it's still not as good as being with you.




Contributed by Taylor F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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