NEED YOU
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!

NEED YOU
Texas Renegade Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's dark in this room
And I don't know just what to do
Should I pour out my heart with a third "I love you"

Cause you never say nothing back
In fact, you never say too much at all
No, I never learned how to react
I know you never learned when to call

Which leads me to the question,
Why are you here tonight?
For one more dark confession,
Or maybe one more goodbye?

So lay me down, lay me down
Kiss me on the mouth
Give me one more chance to learn what love is all about
Stick around, stick around
Let your troubled heart pound
Out to the rhythm of the rain on the roof
And pretend that you need me
As much as I need you.

I need someone to talk to
Just need someone to walk through all of these fake smiles
And fickle trials that I've pasted to my wall
I need someone to cling to
Just want someone to scream to
When I swear I hear shadows against the sheet rock down the hall

So lay me down, lay me down
Kiss me on the mouth
Give me one more chance to learn what love is all about
Stick around, stick around
Let your troubled heart pound
Out to the rhythm of the rain on the roof
And pretend that you need me
As much as I need you.

You saved my life, you saved me twice
You set me free
But out on memory lane
The colors never change
They just bite, scratch and bleed

So lay me down, lay me down
Kiss me on the mouth
Give me one more chance to learn what love is all about
Stick around, stick around
Let your troubled heart pound
Out to the rhythm of the rain on the roof




And pretend that you need me
As much as I need you.

Overall Meaning

The song "Need You" by Texas Renegade is about the desperation and uncertainty of love. The singer is in a dark room with someone they love, though the other person is non-responsive and never says much. The singer is left questioning why the other person is there with them, unsure if it's to say one final goodbye or to express their love once more. Throughout the song, the singer begs for the other person's affection and attention, confessing that they need someone to talk to and to cling to.


The lyrics present a raw vulnerability, as the singer is open about their struggles with fake smiles and pasted trials. The chorus is a desperate plea for the other person to stay, to kiss them one more time, and to show them what love is all about. The rain on the roof serves as a comforting rhythm, a distraction from their fears and doubts. The final verse acknowledges the other person's impact on the singer's life, but also implies that their memories are painful and unending.


Overall, the song is a heart-wrenching portrayal of the complexities of love, and the ways in which it can simultaneously uplift and destroy us. It depicts the struggle of wanting someone who may not reciprocate our feelings, and the fear of losing them completely.


Line by Line Meaning

It's dark in this room
It's melancholic and depressing in this room


And I don't know just what to do
I'm lost and confused, and I don't know how to go on


Should I pour out my heart with a third "I love you"
Should I express my love for you for the third time tonight?


Cause you never say nothing back
You never respond or react to my confessions


In fact, you never say too much at all
You are always distant, and you don't seem to share your thoughts or feelings


No, I never learned how to react
I don't know how to act or behave around you


I know you never learned when to call
You don't know when to reach out or check upon me


Which leads me to the question,
This brings me to wonder,


Why are you here tonight?
What's the reason for you to be here with me tonight?


For one more dark confession,
Do you want to hear or make another sad disclosure?


Or maybe one more goodbye?
Or maybe you want to bid me farewell and leave for good?


So lay me down, lay me down
Let's lay down


Kiss me on the mouth
Touch me with your lips


Give me one more chance to learn what love is all about
Enable me to experience true love one more time


Stick around, stick around
Stay with me


Let your troubled heart pound
Let your heart beat despite your worries and anxieties


Out to the rhythm of the rain on the roof
To the sound of the falling raindrops outside


And pretend that you need me
Make-believe that you require me


As much as I need you.
As much as I do


I need someone to talk to
I require someone to confide in


Just need someone to walk through all of these fake smiles
Someone to go through all of the phony facial expressions with me


And fickle trials that I've pasted to my wall
And the whimsical challenges that I've held onto, displayed on my wall


I need someone to cling to
I just want someone to hold on to, to grab onto


Just want someone to scream to
I crave someone to shout out to


When I swear I hear shadows against the sheet rock down the hall
When I imagine hearing shadows creeping up outside the hall


You saved my life, you saved me twice
You rescued me multiple times and made my life better and meaningful


You set me free
You gave me liberation from all the negativity and pain


But out on memory lane
But from my past memories


The colors never change
The colors, the situations, stay the same, never change


They just bite, scratch and bleed
They hurt, torment, and cause anguish




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