South of Sanity
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!

South of Sanity
Texas Renegade Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somebody save me
From everything I've found
I will not say a thing
I will not make a sound

Cause you clipped my wings
You left me on the ground
And now I wear these broken dreams
Just like a crown

Chorus:
And I've been staring at the ceiling
All damn day
Just waiting for this feeling
To go away
Hearing voices in my head
That sound like everything she said
Well I got company, south of sanity

There's holes in my soles
And blood on my feet
And I get it in my mouth
Every time I speak

And it's a long way to innocence
From the back of my mind
But I'm gonna drown my sins
And anything else I find
In a bottle of wine

Chorus

Yes I know it's getting late
But I just couldn't sleep
I was lying here awake
Wondering what you think of me

It's these days when I'm slipping in between
My imagination my memories
My memories and dreams





Chorus

Overall Meaning

The song "South of Sanity" by Texas Renegade is a emotional ballad about someone who has been hurt and left broken. The opening line of "Somebody save me from everything I've found" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer is desperate for a way out of their pain. The lyrics "I will not say a thing, I will not make a sound" suggest that the person has been pushed to their limit and may feel powerless to change their situation.


The second stanza of the song delves deeper into the hurt that the person has experienced, with the line "Cause you clipped my wings, you left me on the ground." This suggests that someone they trusted or loved has betrayed them, leaving them feeling trapped and alone. The singer goes on to describe their broken dreams and the weight of that pain as "just like a crown."


The chorus of the song is where the singer really expresses their feelings of despair, as they have been "staring at the ceiling all damn day, just waiting for this feeling to go away." They hear "voices in their head that sound like everything she said," compounding their hurt and isolation. Yet, the singer is not completely alone in their struggle, as they say "well I got company, south of sanity." This line suggests that they are not the only one struggling with these emotions, but they are in a place where it is difficult to find help or understanding.


The final stanza of the song suggests that the singer is attempting to drown their sorrows and forget their pain by drinking a bottle of wine. Yet, even as they try to escape, they are plagued by their thoughts and memories. The line "It's these days when I'm slipping in between my imagination, my memories, my memories and dreams" implies that the person is caught in a cycle of pain and cannot find a way out.


Overall, "South of Sanity" is a poignant and relatable song that captures the depth of hurt and despair that can come from feeling betrayed by someone you trusted or loved.


Line by Line Meaning

Somebody save me
I need help, I feel lost and helpless


From everything I've found
Everything I have found has not helped me, I need something else


I will not say a thing
I won't talk to anyone about my struggles


I will not make a sound
I won't express my emotions or feelings out loud


Cause you clipped my wings
You held me back, prevented me from reaching my full potential


You left me on the ground
You abandoned me when I needed you most


And now I wear these broken dreams
I carry around shattered hopes and aspirations


Just like a crown
They consume me, define me, and weigh heavy on my mind


And I've been staring at the ceiling
I spend my days lost in thought, going nowhere


All damn day
For hours on end


Just waiting for this feeling
Hoping this emotion will go away soon


To go away
To disappear, end


Hearing voices in my head
I can't escape my thoughts


That sound like everything she said
I keep replaying what she said in my mind


Well I got company, south of sanity
I feel like I'm losing my mind, going crazy


There's holes in my soles
My shoes are worn out and I'm tired


And blood on my feet
I've been walking so much that my feet are sore and bleeding


And I get it in my mouth
I've been walking so much that I can taste the dirt and dust


Every time I speak
Whenever I try to say something


And it's a long way to innocence
It's hard to forget, to make things right


From the back of my mind
From my deepest thoughts and memories


But I'm gonna drown my sins
I'll drink to forget, to numb the pain and the memories


And anything else I find
I'll drink to forget everything else too


In a bottle of wine
I'll drink until I can't feel anymore


Yes I know it's getting late
I realize time is passing quickly


But I just couldn't sleep
I'm wide awake, restless and troubled


I was lying here awake
I couldn't close my eyes, I was wide-awake


Wondering what you think of me
I can't stop thinking about how I appear to you


It's these days when I'm slipping in between
I can't tell reality from my own imagination


My imagination my memories
Everything I wish was true and everything that has been true


My memories and dreams
I'm stuck in my own head, lost in my past and future




Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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