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.
Think On It
The Blue Shadows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes they just hide themselves
So much work to say I'm sorry
When it feels like I'm talking to myself
She said her love for me was dying
Before it's gone I feel
I should be gone too
Ahh but not tonight
Pass another won't you
Keep me thinking I'm alright
Search is on for the darkness
Or the night that has no end
I never hoped with this loneliness
To find a true and everlasting friend
Cuz when I feel that something matters
Then I know that I'm not far enough gone
And I'll think on it
Ahh but not tonight
Pass another won't you
Keep me thinking I'm alright
Now when I feel that something matters
Then I know I'm not far enough gone
And I'll think on it
Ahh but not tonight
Pass another won't you
Keep me thinking I'm alright
So I'll think on it
Ahh but not tonight
Pass another won't you
Keep me thinking I'm alright
Whoa and I'll think on it oooawww
The Blue Shadows' song "Think On It" is a poignant and introspective track that delves into the challenges of love, loss, and loneliness. The lyrics speak to the difficulty of expressing oneself honestly and vulnerably, particularly when faced with the prospect of losing love. The opening lines "so much work are some stories, sometimes they just hide themselves" suggest the complexity and difficulty of being honest with oneself and others about one's emotions and experiences. The singer then reflects on how difficult it can be to apologize when it feels like "I'm talking to myself," underscoring the isolation and loneliness that can come with struggling to communicate in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
So much work are some stories*
Some stories require a great deal of effort and time to tell and understand.
Sometimes they just hide themselves
At times, the true meaning or message of a story can be difficult to uncover.
So much work to say I'm sorry
Apologizing can be a difficult and arduous task, requiring much effort and humility.
When it feels like I'm talking to myself
Apologizing can be a lonely and isolating experience, feeling like no one is listening or understanding.
She said her love for me was dying
The person the singer loves has expressed that their feelings for him are fading away.
Before it's gone I feel
The singer senses that the love is slipping away and wants to take action before it's too late.
I should be gone too
The singer feels that leaving is the best course of action if the love is truly gone.
And I'll think on it
The singer will reflect on the situation and decide what action to take.
Ahh but not tonight
The singer is not ready to make a decision just yet.
Pass another won't you
The singer asks for another drink to distract from the current situation and emotions.
Keep me thinking I'm alright
The singer hopes that the alcohol will help him feel better and distract him from his troubles.
Search is on for the darkness
The singer is seeking out darker or more melancholy aspects of life or emotions.
Or the night that has no end
The singer is searching for an escape from his feelings or situation that seems never-ending.
I never hoped with this loneliness
The singer did not expect or want to feel lonely or isolated.
To find a true and everlasting friend
The singer hopes to find someone who can be a constant, supportive companion throughout life's ups and downs.
Cuz when I feel that something matters
When the singer feels a sense of purpose or meaning, he knows that he's not completely lost.
Then I know that I'm not far enough gone
As long as the singer can feel a sense of purpose or meaning, he knows that he still has hope for the future.
Now when I feel that something matters
The singer has found something that gives him a sense of purpose or meaning.
So I'll think on it
The singer will reflect on what is important to him and what he wants in life.
Whoa and I'll think on it oooawww
The singer will continue to reflect and contemplate his situation and emotions.
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Will
Wow, I totally forgot about these guys, I grew up listening to them and wondered why they stopped recording! The harmonies are second to none, and I cant believe I forgot about the amazing music they made!
Max Brand
It's been awhile since I wanted to find a song the Blue Shadows done and the two albums they did were examples on how to make great music even if you want to retro the sound folks grew up listening in the 60's and 70's. they very much nailed it and got a lot of praise but the industry simply didn't think it would sell so they sold their soul to Shania and The Shadows were done but one thing they left upon their brief musical surge they simply brought real country music back and it hasn't come close to it since.
Debra Dunn
Billy Cowsill and the rest of his family were so good. Everyone that was a Cowsill was so wonderful and could sing anything plus play any instruments and write their own songs
Debra Dunn
Paul does a great job singing Billy’s songs as he’s his brother
Christopher Kerr
The harmonies... bliss
jcva1899
My goodness, the melancholy is palpable on this song. Incredible. RIP Billy Cowsill.
Jacob Larkin
Outstanding!!! Simply outstanding.
Bobby Clement
Love this band..lovely music..being years since i hear them..
Max Brand
I used to see this band whenever they came to Toronto and they always put on a amazing show. They only made two albums but the talent they displayed you don't see much in music they gave Blue Rodeo a run for their money.
Clint Tauber
Thanks so much for posting this, I remember hearing it when I was a kid!