After Hirsch and Taylor's early and noisy participation in Ex-ignota, the two (along with bassist Joe Rogers and others) found themselves in San Francisco, and formed the country-oriented group, taking cues from the classic sounds of the early country-rock era as well as incorporating more sonically progressive and multi-faceted compositions.
They soon released their debut, 1999's Ventura Whites, garnering substantial praise with the independent press. With pedal steel player Tom Heyman and vocalist Wendy Allen, as well as former The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers member Gene Parsons, guesting on 2001's Bless You, the group achieved cult acclaim.
The band returned in 2004 with their most acclaimed release to date, Witch Season which fully emcompassed their reach and was accompanied by a powerful EP - Dead Diamond River featuring contributions from Linda Thompson and M. Ward.
The Court & Spark officially disbanded in the summer of 2007.
High Life
The Court & Spark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's good to be free
It's the high life for me
I don't save my pay
I work every day
But I don't save my pay
But what I have got brings the high life to me
My friends are all here
It's been a very good year
It's the high life for me
So raise up your glass
The past is the past
And you can never go back
So it's the high life for me
It's good to be free
It's the high life for me
The Court & Spark's song, High Life, is a simple ode to the joys of daily existence, the small, yet significant pleasures that make life worth living. The lyrics are simple, yet the message is powerful. The singer speaks of their simple pleasures, their love for being free, and the importance of living in the moment. The song is a celebration of living a simple life without the burden of expectations, bitterness or regrets.
The chorus is the most telling part of the song. It repeats the phrase "It's the high life for me" three times, and each time it is more meaningful. The first time, it sounds like a statement of fact, the second time it is almost quizzical, and the third time, it is a triumphant declaration of joy.
The verse lyrics allude to the fact that the singer's life may not be perfect, but it is fulfilling. The singer works hard, but they do not save their pay, suggesting that they may have very little savings, but they are happy nonetheless. The singer's friends are all here, and it's been a good year, further reinforcing that they find happiness not in material objects, but in the people and experiences they encounter.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the high life for me
Living life to the fullest, enjoying the luxuries it offers
It's good to be free
Feeling independent and liberated from anything restraining
I don't save my pay
I don't put any money aside for saving, it's all for spending
I work every day
I put in hard work every day to earn my money
But I don't save my pay
Despite working hard every day, I don't choose to save any money
I don't have a lot
I don't possess a lot of materialistic things
But what I have got brings the high life to me
The things I do possess brings me happiness and fulfillment
My friends are all here
My close companions are with me
It's been a very good year
The year has been pleasant and memorable
So raise up your glass
Let's make a toast
The past is the past
The past no longer matters and should be forgotten
And you can never go back
It's impossible to relive or undo the past
So it's the high life for me
Once again, emphasizing how content and fulfilled the singer is
Contributed by John F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.