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!

Way I Am
Texas Renegade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

TV is making me crazy
Late night shows it's three am
My dreams are pushing up daisies
I'm wearing out memories to keep from giving in

But these days I feel a little bit lonely
These nights I feel a little bit scared
And sometimes I wish that you'd want me

Now and then I pray that you'd care

Chorus:
I'm gonna love you
Just as long as I can
And don't try to stop me
Baby it's the way that I am

Well I been waiting up all night
For the telephone to ring
I've been knowing it'll be alright
I've been praying that your all I need

But your so high above me
Where fate is thin in the air
That if you ever come back down
You wont believe that I'm still here

Chorus

You been walking around
Like a fool in the dark
And when you can't reach your stepping stone
You just use my broken heart

But what am I left to do
On this hot midsummer night
With this state of sin that you left me in
And the feeling that this aint right

Chorus x2

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Texas Renegade's song Way I Am express a sense of loneliness, desperation, and a yearning for love. The singer is disillusioned with the world and feels like he's losing his mind, given that he is struggling to sleep, his dreams are dying, and he's holding on to memories from the past. He longs for companionship and care, and wishes that the person he loves could reciprocate his feelings. The chorus emphasizes the singer's resolve to love his partner as long as he can, regardless of whether his love is reciprocated or not.

The second verse, however, hints at resentment towards the partner for treating him poorly, leaving him heartbroken, and walking away with disregard for his feelings. The singer admits to waiting for the person to return, but also expresses a sense of inferiority and an assumption that the partner is too far out of reach. He feels that the partner has taken advantage of his love, and uses his heartbreak as a stepping stone to get to something better. The lyrics convey a sense of emotional pain and conflict, where the singer is grappling with his feelings of love and the hurt caused by his partner's actions.

Line by Line Meaning

TV is making me crazy
The constant barrage of television is driving me insane.

Late night shows it's three am
I find myself up late, watching TV long past reasonable hours.

My dreams are pushing up daisies
My aspirations and dreams have withered and died.

I'm wearing out memories to keep from giving in
I'm clinging to happy memories to avoid succumbing to depression and hopelessness.

But these days I feel a little bit lonely
Despite my best efforts, I still feel isolated and alone.

These nights I feel a little bit scared
When the darkness falls, I'm filled with fear and anxiety.

And sometimes I wish that you'd want me
Occasionally, I yearn for the affection of someone I've lost.

Now and then I pray that you'd care
I hope that the person in question still thinks of me and feels a sense of caring.

Chorus: I'm gonna love you Just as long as I can And don't try to stop me Baby it's the way that I am
My love is strong and unrelenting, and I'll keep loving even in the face of adversity and rejection.

Well I been waiting up all night For the telephone to ring I've been knowing it'll be alright I've been praying that your all I need
I'm staying up all night, hoping for a call that will never come, knowing deep down that this person is not what I need.

But your so high above me Where fate is thin in the air That if you ever come back down You wont believe that I'm still here
The person I love is seemingly on another plane of existence, and if they ever did return to my level, they wouldn't even recognize me anymore.

You been walking around Like a fool in the dark And when you can't reach your stepping stone You just use my broken heart
The person I love is wandering aimlessly, using me as a crutch to climb higher, without any regard for how they're hurting me.

But what am I left to do On this hot midsummer night With this state of sin that you left me in And the feeling that this aint right
I'm left alone and lost, grappling with the aftermath of being used and abandoned in a state that feels morally wrong.

Chorus x2
Repeat of the earlier chorus, emphasizing the singer's determination to love and not give up, despite the pain they feel.

Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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