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!

Coming Home
Texas Renegade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well it's 32 degrees
Ain't seen the sun in seven days
I'm five miles east where the Balcones breaks
It gets light and dark again
I get so high that I'm right back down again

I saw your face on the tv screen
I read your name in a magazine

I heard your voice on the radio
I can't believe that I let you go
Where the stars are burning out like kerosene
You're here tonight in every one of my dreams
And I've come to hate the things I know
Cause I miss you, and I don't believe you're ever coming home.

I fall for you quicker, than the winter sun in the western plains
My mind gets sicker, but your memory remains
Where ever you are, that's where I wanna be
Not alone in this bar on Fredericksburg and 7th street

I saw your face on the tv screen
I read your name in a magazine
I heard your voice on the radio
I can't believe that I let you go
Stars are burning out like kerosene
You're here tonight in every one of my dreams
And I've come to hate the things I know
Cause I miss you, and I don't believe you're ever coming home.

Well I can't pretend I don't know where you've been
Or where you'll be sleeping tonight
I can't drown it in sin, down underneath the deep end of my soul
No matter how hard I try

I saw your face on the tv screen
I read your name in a magazine
I heard your voice on the radio
I can't believe that I let you go
Stars are burning out like kerosene
You're here tonight in every one of my dreams
I've come to hate the things I know
Cause I miss you, and I don't believe you're ever coming home.

So I miss you, and I don't believe you're ever coming home.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Texas Renegade's song "Coming Home" depict a heartbreaking story of a man who is missing his loved one and struggling to come to terms with their absence. The first stanza speaks of his physical location as he describes the environment around him. The cold, sunless weather coupled with his proximity to the Balcones breaks may symbolize his emotional state. He then reflects on how he often sees his former partner on different forms of media, making it hard for him to move on. He reveals that he misses her and doesn't believe she'll ever return.

In the second stanza, the singer opens up about his intense feelings for this person. He admits to falling for her quickly, like the winter sun in the western plains. However, despite their past together, she is nowhere to be found. He sits alone in a bar, thinking of her. In the final segment, the man tries to come to terms with his missed opportunity with this woman. He knows where she has been, and where she's sleeping tonight, but he can't bring himself to let go. He ends the song by repeating his despair, "I miss you, and I don't believe you're ever coming home."

Overall, the lyrics depict a sense of longing, loss, and missed opportunity. The singer's desperation is clear, as he cannot escape the memories of this person. While the song describes a romantic relationship, the emotions depicted are universal and relatable to anyone who has missed someone they loved.

Line by Line Meaning

Well it's 32 degrees
The temperature outside is quite cold.

Ain't seen the sun in seven days
The weather has been gloomy and overcast for a week.

I'm five miles east where the Balcones breaks
The singer is located five miles from the Balcones geological fault line.

It gets light and dark again
The regular cycle of day and night occurs.

I get so high that I'm right back down again
The artist experiences highs and lows, both in moods and in substance use.

I saw your face on the tv screen
The singer has seen an image of their lost love on television.

I read your name in a magazine
The singer has seen their lost love's name in print media.

I heard your voice on the radio
The artist has heard their lost love's voice on the radio.

I can't believe that I let you go
The artist regrets ending their relationship with their lost love.

Where the stars are burning out like kerosene
The night sky is dark and full of fading stars.

You're here tonight in every one of my dreams
The singer dreams of their lost love every night.

And I've come to hate the things I know
The artist dislikes their current knowledge of the situation and the outcome of their relationship.

Cause I miss you, and I don't believe you're ever coming home.
The singer longs for their lost love and feels that they will never return.

I fall for you quicker, than the winter sun in the western plains
The singer falls in love quickly and deeply, much like how the sun sets quickly in the winter in the western plains.

My mind gets sicker, but your memory remains
The singer's mental health declines, but memories of their lost love persist.

Where ever you are, that's where I wanna be
The artist desires to be with their lost love, no matter where they are.

Not alone in this bar on Fredericksburg and 7th street
The artist is currently in a bar located at the intersection of Fredericksburg and 7th street, and does not want to be there alone.

Well I can't pretend I don't know where you've been
The singer is aware of their lost love's whereabouts and activities.

Or where you'll be sleeping tonight
The singer does not know where their lost love will be sleeping that night.

I can't drown it in sin, down underneath the deep end of my soul
The artist cannot escape their feelings or emotions, no matter how much they try to distract or numb themselves.

So I miss you, and I don't believe you're ever coming home.
The artist reiterates their longing for their lost love and their belief that they will never return.

Contributed by Joseph N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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