Often humorous ("She's a witch! You were gonna MARRY that girl. She's probl'y been around for a thousand years." This quote is from a song NOT written by Colorblind James, but by Bernie Heveron, "The music stopped. And then it started again.") and parodic--and just as often laced with a profoundly questioning spirituality--their music blended elements of polka, country, circus rock, blues, rockabilly, rock & roll and other genres. The band's sound was to a large extent inspired by the "old, weird America" famously chased by Bob Dylan and The Band during their Basement Tapes period, but other prominent influences included Ray Charles, Randy Newman, and Van Morrison.
Their line-up changed repeatedly over the years, and their third album was released under the name of Colorblind James and the Death Valley Boys.
Talk To Me
The Colorblind James Experience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gave a sermon on love
When it was over they burned the room
They murdered my host
Thanked me with a rotten shovel
I think those people play a little too rough
I don't know, maybe I talk too much
I'd feel better if you'd talk to me
He couldn't produce
He couldn't produce
They tossed him over, they used him for bait
When he couldn't produce the papers that proved his little sister was a saint
So sad, such a disgrace
Love, like money burned a hole in his faith
I'd feel better if you'd talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me
Milk cartons for shoes
Milk cartons for shoes
I don't care if you've been naughty or nice
As long as you can find it in your heart to whisper to me once or twice
I don't care if you've been good or bad
Happy or sad or anything like that
I'd feel better if you'd talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me
Now, I have inhaled some venomous fumes
But nothing compares to some of these ruins
Don't be the victim of some misunderstanding
There's enough real hate to go around
Love is like a thing, counts to ten so many times
Disappears without a trace
Never can be found
I'd feel better if you'd talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me, talk to me
The Colorblind James Experience's "Talk to Me" is a lyrically melancholic, whimsical, and cryptic song. The singer tells various stories of people who have gone through painful experiences and how their lives have been transformed. In the first verse, the singer talks about how they gave a sermon on love, but their message was not well received, and instead, the people burned the room and murdered the host. The singer then speaks about how he feels that these people play a little too rough and how he is unsure if it's because he talks too much. Furthermore, the singer admits that he would feel better if someone talks to him, possibly indicating his need for human connection and understanding.
In the second verse, the singer shifts gears and talks about a man who was thrown over and used as bait because he couldn't produce papers that proved his little sister was a saint. The singer empathizes with this man and sings about how love, like money, burned a hole in his faith. The third verse talks about the singer's disregard for the societal standard of good vs. bad behavior and encourages people to talk to him regardless of their circumstances. The song ends with the singer talking about inhaling some venomous fumes but insists that nothing compares to the pain of some of these ruins. Despite this, the singer again expresses desire for human connection by saying that he would feel better if someone would talk to him.
Overall, the song seems to be an honest and vulnerable attempt to connect with others and convey empathy for those who have gone through painful experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I gave a sermon on love
I preached about unconditional love
When it was over they burned the room
Some people were angered by my sermon and destroyed the venue
They murdered my host
The person who invited me to speak was killed
Thanked me with a rotten shovel
The perpetrators showed their gratitude by burying me alive
I think those people play a little too rough
I believe those individuals went too far with their retaliation
I don't know, maybe I talk too much
Perhaps I spoke too freely and I'm partly responsible for the outcome
I'd feel better if you'd talk to me
I would be comforted if someone spoke to me about what happened
He couldn't produce
A man failed to provide some required documents
They tossed him over, they used him for bait
The man was thrown into a precarious situation and used as a lure
When he couldn't produce the papers that proved his little sister was a saint
When he fell short of evidence about his sister's purity
So sad, such a disgrace
It was a pitiable and shameful situation
Love, like money burned a hole in his faith
His belief in love and finances had been severely damaged
Milk cartons for shoes
Someone has no proper footwear
I don't care if you've been naughty or nice
I am not concerned about your behavior
As long as you can find it in your heart to whisper to me once or twice
As long as you can talk to me candidly
I don't care if you've been good or bad
I am not interested in your moral conduct
Happy or sad or anything like that
Whether you're elated or despondent or experiencing other emotions
Now, I have inhaled some venomous fumes
I have been poisoned and harmed by toxic substances
But nothing compares to some of these ruins
Nevertheless, nothing can measure up to some of the destruction I've seen
Don't be the victim of some misunderstanding
Don't let miscommunication lead to your harm
There's enough real hate to go around
There is already plenty of animosity in the world
Love is like a thing, counts to ten so many times
Love can feel elusive and fleeting
Disappears without a trace, never can be found
It can slip away without any clue, never to be retrieved
I'd feel better if you'd talk to me
I would experience more ease if someone spoke to me candidly
Contributed by Keira O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.