The Apache Relay takes more long car rides than most bands. But only a portion of their car time is dedicated to their touring schedule — the rest is something like driving in the middle of the night from Nashville to Alabama and back, just to listen to a new record 12 consecutive times. Despite their wagon’s sketchy brakes, this happens a lot. It’s where the indie-roots band discovered a shared love for the timelessness of Motown records, the weight of Springsteen’s Nebraska, the textures of modern rock bands, as well as the intensity of really skilled acoustic players.
It’s also where they cemented their bond, spontaneously forming the band after just one gig at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Now, just over two years later, The Apache Relay is releasing their second album, American Nomad, a modern and young roots-rock collection produced by Nielson Hubbard. Their debut 1988, was released in 2009, produced by Doug Williams best known for his authentically raw approach with the Avett Brothers. The record cracked the door to reveal the band’s capabilities, and Paste Magazine named it an “Auspicious Debut” and highlighted the band as “Best of What’s Next.”
Since then, they’ve continued solid and non-stop touring, securing a fervent fanbase for their jumping-up-and-down energetic shows. “Power Hungry Animals” is one song culled from that energy and growth as musicians. “The lyrics are a bit harsh in that it’s a response to my first trials with music industry politics and coming to terms with the idea that control is just an illusion,” says Michael Ford Jr. “But there is an element of freedom and joy in that awareness and the music reflects that.”
Indeed, the song’s refrain “souls cannot be fooled,” is driven at first by separate layers, then swelling together into a flood of sound with Kellen Wenrich’s fiddle almost indistinguishable from Mike Harris’ (insert electric guitar name here) and Brett Moore’s keys. It’s the essence of Apache Relay’s own wall of sound — culled from different instruments, voices and approaches.
Ford Jr. found his bandmates by chance in a dorm in Nashville, where he was becoming known for his songwriting. His first introduction was to guitarist Mike Harris, who circumvented the music school’s practice hour rules pretty much any time he wanted. Harris would roll his amp into Ford Jr.’s room to jam on Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn tunes into the night. Later, when Ford Jr. started disliking performing his songs alone, he heard about Harris’ new band, The Apache Relay (named for the underdog race in Ben Stiller’s Heavyweights). And though Ford Jr. had never heard or met the trio with Moore and Wenrich — he hired them to back him at a show, and all four musicians knew they had started something special.
There was something about the talent and chemistry that everyone brought to the table that just worked right off the bat. Mixed in is a Bad Brains bumper sticker, a bit of Suzuki training, jazz lessons, a lot of Beatles listening, knowledge of traditional mountain music, a worship of Phil Spector and the love for the complex but accessible layers of bands like the Arcade Fire.
As a lyricist, Michael Ford Jr. has an unvarnished way of presenting the joy of infatuation or the sadness of loss. It’s youthful in a way, in that it grasps of deeper emotions before time starts making them more complex and overwrought. But the songs are transformed by his bandmates, as with the title track, a pop-influenced melding of the electric and acoustic into an infectious momentum. “The song was originally written as ballad, but when I played it for the guys and they gave it a new life by speeding up the tempo and it quickly became the backbone and a favorite at our shows.”
“Home Is Not Places” is another highlight and perhaps a companion song, brimming over with space-filling sounds, tempo changes and a robust chorus of 15 friends in the studio. “It’s a song that that battles the feelings of isolation and homesickness while touring. It’s the idea home can be found in a community not a physical place.”
The one song he didn’t pen for American Nomad is Springsteen’s “State Trooper,” a song that became a linchpin for the band. “We all were influenced by Nebraska, and we played the song out of necessity in the very beginning because we didn’t have enough material to fill the set,” says Ford Jr.
Katie Queen Of Tennessee
The Apache Relay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm unworthy
What shall be my destiny?
To find true love, a tragedy
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
And if you hear the silence
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
If only she would notice me
What can I do to make her see?
I would swim the ocean wide
From New Orleans, to Galilee
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the silence
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
My Katie Queen of Tennessee
My Katie Queen of Tennessee
Tell me who I have to be
To be the one beside you dear
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the silence
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the silence
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the silence
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
The Apache Relay's "Katie Queen Of Tennessee" is a song that speaks of the singer's deep love and admiration for a woman named Katie who resides in Tennessee. The singer is so in love with Katie that he declares himself unworthy of her love, and he wonders if his destiny is to find true love or to suffer a tragic end. He expresses his willingness to do anything to win Katie's love, even if it means swimming across the ocean from New Orleans to Galilee. The chorus of the song repeats multiple times, with the singer confidently and passionately declaring his love for Katie and begging her to notice him.
The song's lyrics suggest that the singer has been in love with Katie for a long time, but she has not yet reciprocated his feelings. He is willing to go to any lengths to make her see how much he loves her, but he also acknowledges that his love for her may result in a tragic outcome. Despite this, he remains determined to win her love and be the one who stands beside her. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer expressing his willingness to wait for Katie no matter what.
Overall, "Katie Queen Of Tennessee" is a heartfelt and sincere declaration of love that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Katie Queen Of Tennessee, I'm on my knees
I am in awe of Katie, and I am willing to humble myself for her
I'm unworthy
I feel inadequate in the presence of Katie
What shall be my destiny?
I am unsure of what fate has in store for me
To find true love, a tragedy
The search for love is accompanied by heartbreak and sorrow
If you see me runnin'
I am desperate and in pursuit of love
Through the streets and callin'
I am making my love known to the world
Into love I'm fallin'
I am completely enamored with Katie
Katie be my darlin'
I am asking Katie to be my beloved
And if you hear the silence
In the absence of my voice, I hope you can understand my love
I hope you find it charmin'
I hope my actions and intentions are endearing to you
I'll be out in the mornin'
I'll persist in my pursuit of love
My Katie Queen of Tennessee
Katie is the reigning queen of my heart
Tell me who I have to be
I am willing to change for Katie if necessary
To be the one beside you dear
I yearn to be with Katie and make her happy
Contributed by Amelia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Iheanyi Obike
Katie Queen Of Tennessee, I'm on my knees
I'm unworthy
What shall be my destiny?
To find true love, a tragedy
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the silence
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
If only she would notice me
What can I do to make her see?
I would swim the ocean wide
From New Orleans, to Galilee
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the sirens
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
My Katie Queen of Tennessee
My Katie Queen of Tennessee
Tell me who I have to be
To be the one beside you dear
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the sirens
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the sirens
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
If you see me runnin'
Through the streets and callin'
Into love I'm fallin'
Katie be my darlin'
And if you hear the sirens
I hope you find it charmin'
I'll be out in the mornin'
Katie be my darlin'
Georgia Kimberly
Thank you Buzzfeed. This is like my favorite song now.
Teidyn Gage
Same!
Samantha Harper
omg same
Afsah Afsar
Omg sameee
Gauri Shukla
Haha same! <3
Francesca Cain
Same!!
Hiya Dutta
This songs feels like a winter breeze on a summer morning. In love with it. 💙
Tasnim Hyder
wooo u expressed my feelings 😍
Hiya Dutta
+TASNIM HYDER glad i did :))
annesha pal
I love how you describe it hahaha