Don't Wanna Wake Up
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!

Don't Wanna Wake Up
Texas Renegade Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can't change my ways
My stubborn ways of loving you
I've tried everything I know
Now there's nothing left to do

I'm always late to work
Cause I am sleeping in
But I aint been staying out late
The problem lies herein

Chorus:
Well I don't wanna wake up
To an empty bed
I wanna stay right here
With thoughts of you running through my head
And I don't wanna wake up
To see the truth
No I wanna stay right here in this dream with you

Now baby when you left
You took a part of me
And now it seems my heart
Is coming apart at the seams

And every night I pray
That you'll come back to me
But you said you'd never change your mind
So I'll just drift off to sleep

Chorus

Now once she's gone she won't come back
A good friend told me the other day
But I sure hope he's wrong this time
Cause it's too late to change my ways

And here in my dreams
I'm spending my days with you
Wrapped up in your love
Holding you close to me
Well there's nothing that I'd rather do





Chorus

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Wanna Wake Up" by Texas Renegade is about a man who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his relationship has ended. The first verse says that he has tried everything he knows to fix things, but it hasn't worked, indicating that the couple has already gone through a rough patch in their relationship. The second verse reveals that the man is struggling with waking up in the morning and going to work because he is feeling the pain of the breakup. He also mentions that he did not stay out late but is still unable to function as normal. The chorus is a reflection of his deepest desires not to wake up to an empty bed and instead stay in his dream with the thoughts of his loved one.


In the bridge, the man is acknowledging how he feels incomplete without his partner and how his heart feels like it's breaking. He confesses that he still loves her and prays every night that she will come back to him, but he knows deep inside that she won't. He then transitions back to the chorus, stating that his dream is the only place where he can spend his days with her and that it's all he wants to do. The song ends with a glimmer of hope that maybe she'll come back to him even though he knows it's unlikely.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't change my ways
I am unable to alter my behavior


My stubborn ways of loving you
I persist in my unyielding manner of loving you


I've tried everything I know
Despite my limitations, I attempted all the feasible options


Now there's nothing left to do
Now, no more solutions are available


I'm always late to work
Consistently, I arrive late for work


Cause I am sleeping in
That happens because I snooze longer


But I aint been staying out late
I never linger outside till late hours


The problem lies herein
My issue originates from something else


Well I don't wanna wake up
I wish to remain asleep


To an empty bed
I do not want to find myself alone when I wake up


I wanna stay right here
I prefer to stay here


With thoughts of you running through my head
Occupied with thoughts of you constantly


And I don't wanna wake up
I do not want to open my eyes


To see the truth
I refuse to accept what is real


No I wanna stay right here in this dream with you
Rather, I choose to stay in this imagined reality with you


Now baby when you left
When you departed, my dear


You took a part of me
You took a portion of my inner self


And now it seems my heart
It appears as if my heart


Is coming apart at the seams
Is falling apart or breaking down


And every night I pray
Each night, I offer a prayer


That you'll come back to me
In hopes that you would return


But you said you'd never change your mind
However, you had vowed to never change your decision


So I'll just drift off to sleep
Consequently, I will whisk myself off to slumber


Now once she's gone she won't come back
A mutual friend told me that she won't come back after leaving


A good friend told me the other day
Someone close informed me recently


But I sure hope he's wrong this time
Nevertheless, I aspire for him to be mistaken this time


Cause it's too late to change my ways
Given the present scenario, it is pointless to change my behavior


And here in my dreams
In my subconscious thoughts


I'm spending my days with you
I am spending my days with you in my imagination


Wrapped up in your love
Encompassed by your affection


Holding you close to me
Embracing you tightly


Well there's nothing that I'd rather do
There's nothing else that gives me more pleasure than being with you


Chorus




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