State of Mind
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!

State of Mind
Texas Renegade Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The morning sun shines so bright in my eyes
Cause I stayed up late again last night
No I wasn't drinking, smoking or carrying on
I was just playing my guitar singing sad and lonely songs

Well I played the fool again
As long as I'm led by my heart I guess I'll never win
But I know it'll be alright
I just don't know if I can take another lonely night

Chorus:
And all my friends they're worried
Cause they say I'm acting strange
They all say there must be some screws loose
Deep inside my brain
But I know I'll be alright
Cause all I need is time
And I aint going crazy
It's just my state of mind

That union pacific
Sounds off as it rolls on through town
And from where I sit in the dark
It's a cold and lonesome sound

It's cold and grey
I been here all day
I've spent way to much time in this place
And the pictures on the wall
They don't say too much at all
They keep the same sad looks on their face

Chorus

And I don't know why
Things turned out like this
My heart struggles with my brain
It makes no sense, it makes no sense





Chorus

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Texas Renegade's "State of Mind" depict the struggles that the singer is facing. He begins the song by stating that he stayed up late playing his guitar and singing sad and lonely songs, indicating that he might be going through some emotional turmoil. The singer then admits that he is led by his heart and plays the fool, which leads to his friends being worried about him acting strangely. However, he believes that he will be alright and that he just needs time to get through this difficult period of his life.


The second verse further emphasizes the darkness that the singer is experiencing. He is sitting in the dark, listening to the passing train, which only adds to his feelings of loneliness. He mentions that he has spent too much time in this place, indicating that he might be feeling stuck in a particular situation or place. The pictures on the wall do not provide any comfort or solace, adding to the bleakness of the situation.


Overall, "State of Mind" is a song that explores the complexities of the human experience, particularly the struggles that come with loneliness and heartbreak. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's emotional state, using imagery and metaphors to convey the depth of his pain.


Line by Line Meaning

The morning sun shines so bright in my eyes
I'm tired and suffering the consequences of staying up late playing guitar


Cause I stayed up late again last night
I have a habit of losing track of time while playing my guitar


No I wasn't drinking, smoking or carrying on
I was simply lost in music, not indulging in any harmful activities


I was just playing my guitar singing sad and lonely songs
Playing the guitar is my escape from the sadness and loneliness I feel


Well I played the fool again
My emotions got the better of me and I made a mistake


As long as I'm led by my heart I guess I'll never win
I struggle to make logical decisions as my heart always guides me


But I know it'll be alright
I believe things will work themselves out in the end


I just don't know if I can take another lonely night
Continuing to feel lonely and isolated may be too much for me to bear


And all my friends they're worried
My loved ones are concerned about my behavior


Cause they say I'm acting strange
My actions aren't typical of my usual behavior


They all say there must be some screws loose
My friends speculate that something is mentally wrong with me


Deep inside my brain
They believe my issues are internal and complex


But I know I'll be alright
I am confident that I will get through this tough time


Cause all I need is time
I just need some space and time to sort through my emotions


And I aint going crazy
I am not losing my mind, contrary to what others may believe


It's just my state of mind
My current mental state is just a reflection of how I am feeling


That union pacific
The sound of a train passing by


Sounds off as it rolls on through town
As the train passes nearby, it creates a loud and disruptive noise


And from where I sit in the dark
I am sitting alone in the darkness, contemplating my thoughts


It's a cold and lonesome sound
The train passing by only adds to the feeling of loneliness


It's cold and grey
The atmosphere and environment around me feel dreary


I been here all day
I have been in this place for an extended period of time


I've spent way to much time in this place
I feel stuck and trapped in this place


And the pictures on the wall
The decorations on the walls of this place


They don't say too much at all
The decorations do not add much to the ambiance or mood of the surroundings


They keep the same sad looks on their face
The environment around me reflects and reinforces the sadness I feel


And I don't know why
I am unsure why I am feeling this way


Things turned out like this
I never expected my life to take this unexpected turn


My heart struggles with my brain
My emotions are battling with my ability to think logically


It makes no sense, it makes no sense
I cannot comprehend or make sense of the situation I am in




Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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