Dave Alvin, the group's primary songwriter, left the band in 1986 for a critically-acclaimed solo career. He was initially replaced on guitar by Hollywood Fats (birth name: Michael L. Mann) who appeared with them at Farm Aid. Phil Alvin has led various incarnations of The Blasters intermittently since then, including a few reunion tours and live albums of the original lineup. Personnel as of 2008 was Phil Alvin together with John Bazz, Keith Wyatt, and Bill Bateman.
The Blasters stink of rockabilly. A unique part of the Los Angeles punk scene of the 1980s, they project the essence of small streets of post-war neighborhoods, car culture and the sun-bleached concrete of Downey, California. They are lead by Phil Alvin's soulful bellowing about causing chaos, chasing women and the loss of the citrus groves. Influenced by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and many others who came and went during the 1950's, The Blasters play the songs of the working man's curse and rock and roll romance. Founding members Phil Alvin and John Bazz, with the addition of Keith Wyatt on lead guitar and Jerry Angel on drums, are carrying on their hard-won legacy of one of the most credible and recognizable bands in Americana music.
The Blasters first started playing in the late 70's, hammering out burning rhythm & blues and roots-influenced rock and roll in biker bars in their hometown of Downey, California. It wasn't long before word about the band's searing live sets spread to Los Angeles, and the band carved out a name for itself in the city's burgeoning club scene. Along with X and Los Lobos, the Blasters became an LA favorite. They enjoyed a punk rock following to their bluesy straightforward rock, playing to the fans of the newfangled American punk rock movement that was just at its beginning. Their debut recording on the small but feisty Rollin' Rock label has since become a coveted collector's item.
Soon thereafter, they began attracting the attention of other record companies. The band was on the crest of the wave during the resurgence of American roots rock, a genre they helped define with their debut album "American Music." Many have tried to imitate The Blasters' sound but no one has been able to harness the passion and perseverance with which they play. With a tradition of producing timeless and meaningful songs, touring extensively, and collaborating with some of the most respected roots rock artists, like John Cougar Mellencamp and Lee Allen.
The Blasters have continually stayed true to their original vision: to play songs built on America's greatest musical traditions. Upon Dave Alvin's departure to pursue a solo career in August of 1986, the band was as strong as ever and riding high on their success. After rigorously touring, The Blasters took some time off the road to reflect and work on new material. At that time, a number of major films hit theaters featuring The Blasters tunes including Bull Durham ("So Long Baby, Goodbye) and Some One To Watch Over Me ("Marie, Marie").
The Blasters spent the next few years attempting to find a guitar player suitable to measure up to the impeccable standards by which The Blasters play. The band met veteran guitar maestro, Keith Wyatt. 4-11-44 is The Blasters' fifth studio album. It is fourteen tracks of their signature rock and blues. Phil Alvin's vocals are as powerful and true as they ever were and the band follows through with steady, raucous riffs and rhythms. Their music continues to be used frequently in dark, pulp films and television shows such as From Dusk to Dawn, Streets of Fire, and Six Feet Under. Originally released in the UK in 2004, 4-11-44 was released on Rainman Records in August of 2005.
Dark Night
The Blasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From a white oak tree
People sitting on porches
Thinking how things used to be
Dark night
Dark night
The neighborhood was changing
A new boy fell for a local girl
When she made eyes at him
She was young and pretty
No stranger to other men
But doors were being locked at night
Old lines were drawn again
[Chorus]
I thought things like that
Didn't matter anymore
I thought all the blood
Had been shed long ago
Dark night
Dark night
He took her to the outskirts
And pledged his love to her
They thought it was their secret
But someone knew where they were
He held her so close
He asked about her dreams
There was a shot from a passing car
And the young girl screamed
The Blasters's song "Dark Night" is a haunting and evocative tale of a neighborhood in upheaval. The opening lines set the tone with vivid imagery, as "hot air hangs like a dead man from a white oak tree." The scene is a small town, where the people sitting on porches are ruminating on the changes that have come to their once-familiar neighborhood. There is a sense of unease and nostalgia, as they recall "how things used to be." The refrain of "dark night" sets a foreboding mood, as if something ominous is about to happen.
As the song progresses, we learn that the neighborhood is indeed changing, with strangers moving in and old lines being drawn again. A young girl catches the eye of a new boy in town, and they fall for each other. However, she is not "a stranger to other men" and the old guard is not pleased. Doors are locked at night and tensions rise. The chorus underscores the song's central theme of violence and its enduring legacy, as the singer confesses his belief that "all the blood had been shed long ago."
In the song's final verse, the young couple meets in secret on the outskirts of town, where they share their dreams and their love. However, the moment is short-lived. A shot rings out from a passing car, disrupting their idyll and leaving the girl screaming in terror. The song ends on a haunting note, with the refrain of "dark night" echoing in the background, a reminder of the violence that always lurks just beneath the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot air hangs like a dead man
The still, oppressive atmosphere is suffocating, just like the lifeless body hanging from the nearby tree
From a white oak tree
The tree mentioned is evocative of the lynchings that happened in the area
People sitting on porches
The locals, reminiscent of bygone days, engage in leisurely activities on their front porches
Thinking how things used to be
Wistfully remembering the time when the community was more homogeneous
The neighborhood was changing
The formerly close-knit community is experiencing disquieting transformations
Strangers moving in
Newcomers who are not part of the original community are relocating to the area
A new boy fell for a local girl
The young man fell in love with a girl from the same community
When she made eyes at him
When the girl reciprocated his feelings by glancing at him
She was young and pretty
The girl was youthful and attractive
No stranger to other men
She had been involved romantically with other men
But doors were being locked at night
The increasing tension in the community was making people more fearful, so they began locking their doors at night
Old lines were drawn again
The barriers between different groups in the community, previously extinct, were being etched again
He took her to the outskirts
The new couple went to the outskirts of the neighborhood for privacy
And pledged his love to her
He professed his love for her
They thought it was their secret
The couple believed that nobody knew where they were
But someone knew where they were
Despite the couple's belief in their seclusion, someone else was aware of their whereabouts
He held her so close
The young man embraced the girl tightly
He asked about her dreams
He inquired about her aspirations for the future
There was a shot from a passing car
Suddenly, the couple was under attack from someone driving past
And the young girl screamed
The girl let out a cry of terror
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVE ALVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@omco
One of the best songs ever
@davidsimic5870
Realno
@philipjoseph5099
I agree
@maziqbal4818
A masterpiece from The Blasters but few understand the meaning of the opening two lines.
@mangodzeri6613
Оооо види га и боске Омчо што зна шта ваља, тотално неочекивано
@mangodzeri6613
@@maziqbal4818please enlighten us
@dexterlee569
Too bad George Clooney never played a role like this again. He was a true badass.
@dexterlee569
@@hisaceinthehole3426 Which movie?
@MrGiggles-xf4nd
He did.....BATMAN!!!😂😂💀💀
@imagination43
@@hisaceinthehole3426 We just gona ignore his True Detective role like he wasn't badass?