On The Floor of Heaven is considered by many of those who got to hear it upon its initial release in 1993 as one of the great, unheralded achievements of the alt-country movement. Out of print for more than 15 years, the roots rock masterpiece is now reissued as a two-disc Deluxe Edition via Bumstead Records on June 1.
Formed in Vancouver in the early 1990s, The Blue Shadows consisted of guitarist and singer Billy Cowsill – who began his career as leader of the legendary American bubblegum group The Cowsills (of "The Rain, The Park & Other Things" fame) – and Canadian roots rocker Jeffrey Hatcher – who enjoyed cult success in the 1980s fronting Jeffrey Hatcher & The Big Beat. Together with drummer J.B. Johnson and bassist Elmar Spanier (later replaced by Barry Muir), the quartet forged a style built on the rustic sounds of classic country fused with the pop sensibility of The Beatles and tight harmony vocals that have drawn flattering comparisons to the Everly Brothers.
From the opening fiddle-fueled blast of "Coming On Strong" to the haunting climax "Is Anybody Here," On The Floor of Heaven is a feast for fans of hardscrabble country and 60s pop, packed full of Hatcher and Cowsill's inventive songwriting and immaculately nuanced vocal harmonies, the quartet's muscular rhythmic punch and Hatcher's tasteful, twangful touches on lead guitar. Songs such as "When Will This Heartache End?" or the anthemic, mournful title track are both throwbacks to a classic era before country and rock and roll went their separate ways and timeless in the stories the songs tell and the emotions they evoke.
Despite releasing two albums, garnering critical raves and touring extensively around North America, The Blue Shadows never managed to reach beyond a wildly devoted cult following and they broke up in 1996. Cowsill passed away in Calgary in February 2006. One of his last wishes was for a reissue of On The Floor of Heaven so it could finally find a wider audience.
On The Floor of Heaven: Deluxe Edition includes:
- The classic 12-track album with remastered audio
- A full disc of outtakes and cover songs including tracks originally recorded by George Jones, Merle Haggard, Joni Mitchell and Michel Pagliaro.
- All new packaging
- Downloadable detailed history of the band and song-by-song notes written by Jeffrey Hatcher available at www.bumstead.com/theblueshadows
The time is right for The Blue Shadows to finally cast a giant shadow across music history.
A Thousand Times
The Blue Shadows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't try to make me change my mind
You see I'm happy where I am
And I don't need your cheating kind
I told my baby I'd be true
Twas on the day we said, I do
To hurt her once would be a crime
I've been a fool before
Now I don't fool around no more
'Cause when it comes to love
I learned my lesson well
Don't get me wrong, it's crossed my mind
I've just won't step across that line
She's someone I don't want to lose
True love is hard enough to find
Go give your heart to someone else
Then maybe you'll see for yourself
And understand the reason why
I told you no a thousand times
You see, I've been a fool before
Now I don't fool around no more
'Cause when it comes to love
I learned my lesson well
Go give your heart to someone else
Then maybe you'll see for yourself
And understand the reason why
I told you no a thousand times
You'll understand the reason why
I told you no a thousand times
The lyrics of "A Thousand Times" by The Blue Shadows feature a singer who has been approached by someone who is trying to convince him to cheat on his partner. The singer refuses the offer, telling the other person that he has told them "no" a thousand times before. He explains that he loves and is committed to his partner and would never do anything to hurt her or their relationship. He also reveals that he has been a fool in the past, but has learned his lesson about the consequences of unfaithfulness. The song ends with the singer reiterating his refusal and encouraging the other person to find love elsewhere.
The lyrics of this song convey a message of loyalty and commitment in a romantic relationship, and emphasize the importance of choosing integrity and honesty over temptation. The repetition of "I told you no a thousand times" emphasizes the singer's firm stance, and the lines about having learned his lesson suggest that the decision to remain faithful is not an easy one, but one that he is committed to. The reference to having been a fool in the past also suggests that the singer has been burned by unfaithfulness before and is determined not to make that mistake again.
Line by Line Meaning
I told you no a thousand times
I have already made it very clear to you that I am not interested in what you are suggesting, so please stop pressuring me.
Don't try to make me change my mind
Please respect my decision and don't continue to pressure me into changing my mind.
You see I'm happy where I am
I am content with my current situation and do not desire any changes that you may be suggesting.
And I don't need your cheating kind
I do not want to associate with someone who has a history of dishonesty or infidelity.
I told my baby I'd be true
I made a commitment to my significant other to be faithful and loyal to them.
Twas on the day we said, I do
This promise was made on the day that we got married and began our union.
To hurt her once would be a crime
Betraying my significant other would be not only morally wrong, but also a violation of my commitment to them.
I've been a fool before
I have made mistakes in the past and learned from them.
Now I don't fool around no more
I have learned from my past mistakes and no longer engage in unhealthy or unfaithful behaviors.
Cause when it comes to love
In matters of the heart and romantic relationships, I take things seriously and prioritize honesty and fidelity.
I learned my lesson well
My past mistakes have taught me valuable lessons that I do not want to repeat.
Don't get me wrong, it's crossed my mind
I have thought about the possibility you are suggesting, but ultimately have decided it is not what I want.
I've just won't step across that line
I have made the decision to avoid engaging in any behaviors that may be harmful to my relationship or commitment to my significant other.
She's someone I don't want to lose
My significant other is very important to me and I am committed to maintaining a healthy and faithful relationship with them.
True love is hard enough to find
I understand that true love is rare and valuable, and I do not want to jeopardize the relationship I have with my significant other.
Go give your heart to someone else
I encourage you to pursue romantic relationships that are suitable for you, but I am not interested in what you are suggesting.
Then maybe you'll see for yourself
Perhaps if you seek out a different romantic relationship, you will gain a better understanding of my perspective and decision.
And understand the reason why
Once you have more experience with new romantic relationships, you may gain insight into why I have made the choices that I have.
You'll understand the reason why
With time and experience, you may come to understand why I have made the choices that I have and respect my decisions in the future.
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.