But the board hit an oil patch and went flying, and the bassist found himself not just down, but possibly out. “I see him at the van and he’s got a bone about to pop out of his shoulder, and our tour manager is on the phone,” recalls drummer Travis Stearns.
So the band retreated to Austin, where an ER doc told James he had a shattered collarbone and would need surgery. In the meantime, they outfitted him with a sling. For a moment the band contemplated scratching its upcoming six-date run, because for a stand-up bassist, a collarbone tends to be necessary equipment. “Every time I lifted my arms to play the bass I could just feel the bones crunching on each other,” he says.
But he didn’t want to force his bandmates to cancel shows. Why don’t I play the electric bass instead, he wondered, while sitting in a chair? Wouldn’t that work? The band agreed, and they were off again. “That was a long bumpy drive with a broken collarbone,” James wryly recalls. “Didn’t even stop to get any medication on the way—that was a bad idea. “
But that’s the Dirty River Boys ethos. Playing upwards of 200 dates a year, giving heartfelt, unrestrained performances, and winning over a loyal audience show-by-show, it takes a lot more than a few broken bones to stop them.
Desert Wind
The Dirty River Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just can't seem, to get you off my mind
Lately... I've been dreaming
Underneath these blue familiar skies
Lovely lady... the way you are
Oh i hear you voice and, I feel your scars
Lovely lady... wont you take my hand
In this desert wind
Lady... what your thinking
Tell me do you feel the same as I
Ah cause lately. I've been drinkin
Well i just cant seem to leave it all behind
Lovely lady... the way you are
Oh i hear you voice and, I feel your scars
Lovely lady... wont you take my hand
I need you always, to help me stand
In this desert wind
This desert wind... where you came running back to me
In this desert wind... were dust clouds all that i can see
In this desert wind... where you cant ever feel free
In this desert wind... i lost all that was once me
In this desert wind...
I lost all...
I lost all that was once me in the desert wind
The Dirty River Boys' "Desert Wind" is a song about longing and desperation after a relationship has gone sour. The singer is reflecting on how he just can't seem to forget about his former lover, no matter how much time has passed. The lyrics express a need for this person to help him stand in the midst of emotional turmoil. The desert wind serves as a metaphor for his current state, as the singer is lost and wandering aimlessly, just as the desert wind blows aimlessly without purpose. He is pleading for the "lovely lady" to take his hand, to provide him with stability and to help him navigate the difficult terrain of his life.
The repetition of the phrase "lovely lady" adds to the depth of the song, as the singer acknowledges both the love and the pain that stems from his connection with this person. The lyrics, "I hear your voice and I feel your scars" highlight the complexity of their relationship, as the scars left behind from the love that was once shared still linger. The song ends on a somber note, as the singer reflects on how he has lost all that he once was in the midst of the desert wind, making it clear that he is in dire need of the wonderful lady's help.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately... I've been thinking
Recently, I have been reflecting on things in my mind
I just can't seem, to get you off my mind
I cannot stop thinking about you no matter how hard I try
Lately... I've been dreaming
Recently, I have been having thoughts and desires about you
Underneath these blue familiar skies
I'm thinking about you while observing the clear and familiar blue skies
Lovely lady... the way you are
You are a beautiful woman just the way you are
Oh i hear you voice and, I feel your scars
I understand the pain you feel because of what you have been through
Lovely lady... wont you take my hand
I'd like you to join me and take my hand
I need you always, to help me stand
I need you to be with me and support me in all aspects of life
In this desert wind
In this challenging situation
Lady... what your thinking
What's going through your mind, my lady?
Tell me do you feel the same as I
Do you share the same feelings as mine?
Ah cause lately. I've been drinkin
Lately, I've been using alcohol to cope with my thoughts and feelings
Well i just cant seem to leave it all behind
I'm unable to let go of everything from the past and move forward
This desert wind... where you came running back to me
This difficult situation is the same place where you returned to me
In this desert wind... were dust clouds all that i can see
I'm surrounded by dust clouds in this challenging environment
In this desert wind... where you cant ever feel free
In this tough situation, it seems impossible to gain any sense of freedom
In this desert wind... i lost all that was once me
In this harsh environment, I lost all of the aspects that made me who I was
I lost all...
I have nothing left
I lost all that was once me in the desert wind
I lost everything that defined me in this situation
Contributed by Mila K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.