Rooted in the Orange County community of Huntington Beach, California, founding band members Jared Watson and guitarist / vocalist Dustin Bushnell met in 1996 while in high school, embarking on a friendship based on music, as well as their shared passion for surfing, skating and the endless party of the laid-back SoCal lifestyle.
Early on, they spent many late nights jamming in Bushnell’s soundproof garage with a four-track recorder, writing unique acoustic hip-hop songs that featured reggae inflections. Inspired by the rock and reggae sounds of Bob Marley, Sublime, 311 and The Beastie Boys, the band’s music evolved into their distinct Dirty Heads style.
To complete the Dirty Heads’ sound, the duo added percussionist Jon Olazabal and drummer Matt Ochoa, both talented, experienced musicians. With a set of solid material, the Dirty Heads were further motivated to take their craft to the next level, and they began building a loyal fan base throughout the west coast, while performing acoustically at local bars and small music venues. As they started playing in neighboring Los Angeles, the band found it necessary to charter party buses so their fans could make the 30-mile trek to their shows.
Connecting with sought-after producers Steve Fox and Stan Frazier (Sugar Ray / Ashlee Simpson) the band worked long hours to polish their material and further develop their style. The Dirty Heads also recruited mixing engineer Mario Caldato Jr., best known for his work with the Beastie Boys, to add the finishing touches and create just the right blend.
The band’s highly-anticipated first full-length album is entitled, Any Port in the Storm (Released on EMG through Fontana, a division of Universal Music Group Distribution - September 2008). This debut features 14 tracks that are reminiscent of the upbeat, sun-soaked Southern California party energy. The first single is the optimistic, “Stand Tall.”
Any Port in the Storm also features one of the final recordings of the late music industry icon Billy Preston. Frequently referred to as “The Fifth Beatle,” Preston played on three tracks, including “Stand Tall,” “Chelsea,” and “Driftin.’ ” Other special guests on the album are drummer Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Sting, The Vandals), and veteran session percussionist Alex Acuna, whose A-list musician resume includes Peter Gabriel, Johnny Clegg, and Jackson Browne, to name only a few.
Recently, the band’s music has been attracting attention throughout the world of entertainment. Their songs have been featured in the movie and soundtrack for Surf’s Up (Sony 2007); and the television drama, Shark staring James Woods (CBS 2007. Actor Matthew McConaughey selected the band’s music to be in his upcoming film, Surfer Dude. In addition, the Dirty Heads can be heard in Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam video game (Activision 2007), and several other music compilations and surf/skate videos. On the marketing side, the Dirty Heads have also been included in campaigns for Etnies Jeans and Vestal Watches.
Dirty Heads vocalist Jared Watson sums up their fun, uncomplicated style, “We want to be positive and entertain,” he says. “We just want to make you feel good.”
And who can’t dig that?
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Lay Me Down Ft. Rome
The Dirty Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the run, from the one That they called Sheriff Spark
Six guns by their side and bullets around their waist
Two shots to the sky
Signal sound for the chase
The safe was nearly empty and They were nearly free
But were seen by the Good eye of the mean Billy Green
And he screamed at the top of his lungs They're on the run
I said I wish that
We could stay here,
But I fear our time has come
We could ride out in the darkness
Chasing the rising sun
We gotta pack our bags this instant,
We're heading south-bound to the next town
And if we all arrive there so safely,
Baby you can
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Well it's the story of the two
Always on the move
They got nothing left to lose
'Cept their guns and their wounds
Now they're crossing borders
Sheriffs posse on their tail
They'd rather die together
Than be stuck up in a cell
They drank up all the whiskey and They partied every night
Like it could be the last The bounty said shoot on sight
So they chased the endless summer Though it came with the pride
They wouldn't stop running till They found a paradise
But the sheriff finally found them with his eyes seeing red
So the lovers had to shoot him down and fill him full of lead
They were finally free To find a place to lay their head
And when they finally did he looked at her and then he said
I said I think that we can stay here,
'Cause I feel our time has come
And we can walk down to the ocean,
And sit with the rising sun
So unpack your bags this instant,
No more running from town to town
And now that we've arrived so safely,
Baby you can
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Well you're my green-eyed girl And I've been running around with you
It's the afternoon and we got nothing left to do
So wipe the dirt off, or Take your shirt off,
And we should go hit the cantina, We got work off
I said it's hot outside Let me go swimming in your eyes
We've been running for a while
Why don't you lay down and make smile
I could never ask for nothing better than this
It's just tequila and the beach, that's why its salty when we kiss
I said I think that we can stay here,
'Cause I feel our time has come
And we can walk down to the ocean,
And sit with the rising sun
So unpack your bags this instant,
No more running from town to town
And now that we've arrived so safely,
Baby you can
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
Lay me down
The Dirty Heads' hit "Lay Me Down", featuring Rome Ramirez, tells a story of two lovers on the run. The song starts with them in the dark being chased by Sheriff Spark. The two have guns by their side and bullets around their waist. They shoot two times to signal sound for the chase, but they soon get caught by Sheriff Spark's men. The lovers manage to escape, but they're now on the move. The second verse details their journey through different towns, where they drank up all the whiskey, partied every night and chased the endless summer. They were being chased by the law and had nothing left to lose except their guns and their wounds. They didn't want to die in a cell, but rather die together. Finally, they manage to find a place to call home and lay their heads.
The chorus of "Lay Me Down" states how the two are tired of running and wish to settle down in a place where they don't have to be on the move all the time. They wish to pack their bags and head south-bound to the next town, where they can safely arrive and lay down their heads. The third verse of the song switches to Rome Ramirez, where he's seen hanging out with his lover and the two have nothing to do. He sings about how beautiful she is and how he's been running around with her. They decide to go to the cantina to have some tequila and enjoy the beach.
Line by Line Meaning
Well this is how it starts Two lovers in the dark
The story begins with two people who are in love and in hiding in the darkness.
On the run, from the one That they called Sheriff Spark
The couple is running away from law enforcement, specifically a sheriff known as Spark.
Six guns by their side and bullets around their waist
The couple is armed with six guns and bullets for protection.
Two shots to the sky Signal sound for the chase
They fire two shots into the sky as a signal to begin the pursuit of them.
The safe was nearly empty and They were nearly free But were seen by the Good eye of the mean Billy Green
The couple had almost escaped but were spotted by a perceptive man named Billy Green.
And he screamed at the top of his lungs They're on the run It's the two outsiders Grab your horses and your guns
Green loudly alerts others that the couple is on the run and to pursue them with horses and guns.
I said I wish that We could stay here, But I fear our time has come We could ride out in the darkness Chasing the rising sun
One of the lovers wishes that they could stay in their current location, but they know they must continue to run until they can safely escape into the sunrise.
We gotta pack our bags this instant, We're heading south-bound to the next town And if we all arrive there so safely, Baby you can
The couple decides to pack and leave immediately, heading to the next town in the south. If they make it there safely, they plan to celebrate.
Lay me down Lay me down Lay me down Lay me down
The couple is looking forward to finally being able to lay down and relax after their long journey.
Well it's the story of the two Always on the move They got nothing left to lose 'Cept their guns and their wounds
The couple's story is one of constant movement and living dangerously with only their weapons and injuries as possessions.
Now they're crossing borders Sheriffs posse on their tail They'd rather die together Than be stuck up in a cell
The couple is crossing borders and being pursued by police. They would rather die together than be captured and imprisoned.
They drank up all the whiskey and They partied every night Like it could be the last The bounty said shoot on sight
The couple enjoys themselves by drinking and partying since they know their lives are in danger and could end at any moment due to a bounty on their heads.
So they chased the endless summer Though it came with the pride They wouldn't stop running till They found a paradise
The couple continues running towards a never-ending summer with the hope of finding their own personal paradise.
But the sheriff finally found them with his eyes seeing red So the lovers had to shoot him down and fill him full of lead
The sheriff finally catches up with them and intends to harm them, but the couple shoots and kills him instead.
They were finally free To find a place to lay their head And when they finally did he looked at her and then he said
With the sheriff gone, the couple is finally free to find somewhere to rest. One of the lovers expresses love for the other.
Well you're my green-eyed girl And I've been running around with you It's the afternoon and we got nothing left to do
One of the lovers expresses their love for the other as they spend time together in the afternoon with nothing to do.
So wipe the dirt off, or Take your shirt off, And we should go hit the cantina, We got work off
The same lover invites their partner to go to a bar and relax, suggesting they remove their dirty clothes or even their shirt.
I said it's hot outside Let me go swimming in your eyes We've been running for a while Why don't you lay down and make smile
The lover points out the heat and flirts with their partner, jokingly asking to swim in their eyes. They encourage their partner to rest and make them smile.
I could never ask for nothing better than this It's just tequila and the beach, that's why its salty when we kiss
The lover feels content with the current moment, enjoying tequila and the beach with their partner. The saltiness of their kiss is due to the ocean water and tequila.
The entire chorus is repeated again, expressing the couple's desire to lay down and rest after their journey.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUSTIN BUSHNELL, JARED WATSON, ROMAN RENE RAMIREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheLetsche121192
Who is listening to this godly song in 2024?
@humbol808
Only the real one know how great this song is man
@FantasticExplorers
I started listening to this song in early 2019, and not 4 months go by without me being like OK I need to Wear this song out over the next few weeks again!
@i-PuNk
Right Fckn Here Bro
@broke_dongle
The country version is Robert Earl Keen " Road goes on forever".
@shanemarr2076
Upstate ny here
@sheilaspaulding8812
Rome was a baby here!! So cute! Now he’s on his 3rd beautiful child! Love this song so much!
@evasmojang
3? Wow! Congrats to him.
@phresh6199
These guys were super chill to meet, I met them when I was bartending.
@ethynnmorimoto4767
Rome too?