The Gourds, an American alternative country band, formed in Austin, Texas i… Read Full Bio ↴The Gourds, an American alternative country band, formed in Austin, Texas in 1994.
Evolving, in part, from the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles, the Gourds original line-up consists of Kevin Russell (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Jimmy Smith (vocals, bass, guitar), Claude Bernard (accordion, guitar, vocals), and Charlie Llewellin (drums, percussion). Llewellin was replaced by current drummer Keith Langford shortly after the second album was recorded, and multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston officially joined after being invited to play on their third album. By the following album, Johnston had also become the band's third songwriter, though Russell and Smith have continued to share the bulk of those responsibilities.
Despite a sizable amount of original material, the Gourds are probably best known for a song they did not write, and for which they initially did not receive credit. A full twelve years after its live debut, fans can still be heard calling out for the band's cover version of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice", often before they have even taken the stage. This has led some to consider it an albatross, but the band continues to play the crowd pleaser, adding various impromptu covers to its mid-section as a way of expanding its appeal.

While the Gourds studio efforts have all been well received, their high-energy live performances and constant touring have earned them the reputation of a band that must be seen to be appreciated. As a result, they enjoy a dedicated fan base, that is happy to follow them from town to town, and have become a favorite among those who tape live music

Members

* Kevin Russell - vocals, mandolin, guitar
* Claude Bernard - accordion, organ, guitar
* Jimmy Smith - vocals, guitar, percussion, bass, water bowl
* Keith Langford - drums, harmonica, washboard, toy guitar
* Max Johnston (of Uncle Tupelo & Wilco) - banjo, fiddle, guitar, vocals

Discography

Studio albums
Dem's Good Beeble – 1997
Stadium Blitzer – 1998
Ghosts of Hallelujah – 1999
Bolsa de Agua – 2000
Cow Fish Fowl or Pig – 2002
Blood of the Ram – 2004
Heavy Ornamentals – 2006
Noble Creatures – 2007
Haymaker! – 2009

Studio covers and live originals
Gogitchyershinebox – 1998
Shinebox – 2001

Soundtracks
Growin' a Beard – 2003
Something's Brewin' in Shiner – 2004

Valentine
The Gourds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's just a little home to fill
With pretty pictures of you that will
And a broken clock
In empty pockets lonely hands are still
You can call it phantasy
You can dress it up to a t
But the words remain
All the same until ya let it b

In little ways that are only mine
I go to squeeze my Valentine
Time and time after time
I go to squeeze my Valentin
But the yearnin is only mine
My favorite record from the start
Always skips the well intentioned part
Thru the big and small
After all
Straight to the heart to heart
(Records go round)
Picks up and right back down
Yeah yeah Oh yeah

Low, flat, high hat
Hey-turn around!

Overall Meaning

In The Gourds’ song “Valentine,” the lyrics tell a story of a person’s solitary life and inner desires. The first verse is about someone creating a little home for themselves, a cozy space that they can fill with pictures of their loved one and a broken clock. The second verse talks about how others may view this as a fantasy or an unpleasant reality they are unwilling to face. But the singer of the song acknowledges that the words remain the same until they let it be. They find comfort in small ways that belong only to them, like squeezing their Valentine’s hand. However, the yearning they feel is strictly personal and not reciprocated.

Moving on to the chorus, it talks about a favorite record that always skips to the heart-to-heart part without going through the fluff. It’s a metaphor for the singer’s desire to skip to the most intimate moments without going through the superficial ones. The record that skips is also a way of saying that the singer’s life is moving too fast, and they want to slow it down, keep it on repeat. The end of the song talks about how the singer doesn’t want to be alone anymore and wants someone to turn around and notice them. They want someone to acknowledge their existence and for their internal yearning to be appreciated.

Line by Line Meaning

It's just a little home to fill
This place is small but it's where I can keep my loved ones' pictures

With pretty pictures of you that will
I'll hang pictures of my loved ones that bring me joy

And a broken clock
Even though the clock is broken, time passes anyway

In empty pockets lonely hands are still
When we have nothing, we can still hold our hands and find comfort

You can call it phantasy
Some might think this is unrealistic

You can dress it up to a t
We can fancy it up to make it more palatable to others

But the words remain
The sentiment still holds true

All the same until ya let it b
It'll stay the same until we accept it as it is

In little ways that are only mine
I find personal ways to express my love

I go to squeeze my Valentine
I hold my loved one close and show affection

Time and time after time
Repeatedly, over and over