John Butler was born on April 1, 1975 in Torrance, California, to an Australian father and American mother. He moved to the small Western Australian town of Pinjarra in January 1986, when he was eleven. Butler began playing guitar at the age of sixteen, and by 1996 started his career as a busker in Fremantle, Western Australia. The John Butler Trio was formed in 1998 when Butler was joined by Gavin Shoesmith on bass and Jason McGann on drums, and by the end of that year had recorded their debut album John Butler.
They then released Three in 2001, Sunrise Over Sea in 2004 and Grand National in 2007, all of which were certified platinum.
In June 2009, a new line up of the ever evolving John Butler Trio emerged. Prominent Melbourne musician Nicky Bomba of Bomba fame and principal drummer on Sunrise Over Sea joined the band on drums and percussion, as did bass player Byron Luiters from Sydney outfit Ray Mann Three.
The latest album entitled April Uprising came from a journey John Butler undertook for the ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ TV series. He traces the Butler name through generations of hardship to a matriarch who sang for her survival and follows his Bulgarian ancestry to a forebear caught up in a violent revolt called the April Uprising. The recording process for the new album was shared with avid followers via a special studio sessions page on the band’s website.
John Butler comments on the forthcoming new album,
“The whole rehearsal and recording process so far has been a lot of fun and very gratifying. I feel the sounds and general spirit and energy of this album are best summed up in the words – free, melodic, funky, phat and rocking. There’s definitely a certain attitude that comes across on the album. Perhaps there’s a conviction, in a song writing and production sense, that I haven’t tapped into so much on earlier works that seems to be more prevalent on April Uprising. There’s chemistry and language that Nicky, Byron and I have found that really compliments these songs in all their different facets”.
Ragged Mile
The John Butler Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes I will roll,
I will climb your mountains high,
Through the valleys of deceit,
Through the cold winds of denial,
And though you fear the cold dark,
I'll be right here by your side, 'Cos until you know just who you are,
You'll never know I'm near not far,
I've caught your falls I've helped you rise,
I've damned these torrents from your eyes, I know.
From the bosom to bare bones,
Between the oceans and the sky,
Since before time began,
I have walked your ragged mile,
And I will call like the crow,
I'll be right there by your side,
I am the candle in your darkest night,
Whether you're wrong, whether you're right,
I'll be there in your finest hour,
I'll be there when it all turns sour,
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are.
And though at times you'll be at your knees,
It's better than just running blind,
I'll push you straight into the deep,
I'll challenge you boy every time,
And I won't fall and I won't waiver,
I'll be right there by your side,
'Cos until you be just who you are,
I'll never stop, I'll always call,
I've caught your falls, I've helped you rise,
I've damned these torrents from your eyes,
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you are .... home.
The John Butler Trio's song "Ragged Mile" speaks to the strong bond of friendship and support that can exist between two people. The lyrics speak of the singer's commitment to a friend and their willingness to help them through difficult times. The first part of the song emphasizes the physical efforts the singer is willing to undertake, climbing mountains and enduring cold winds to be by their friend's side. The lyrics also suggest that the friend may be going through an internal struggle, represented by the "valleys of deceit" and "cold dark" they fear. Despite this, the singer pledges to stay with their friend until they "know just who you are," suggesting that they are willing to provide support and love so that their friend can come to a deeper understanding of themselves.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift from physical to emotional commitment. The singer asserts that they have been on this journey with their friend "since before time began", suggesting a deep bond that has existed for a long time. They further pledge to be there in both good times and bad, whether their friend is right or wrong. This unconditional support is perhaps best exemplified by the repeated refrain - "I know you are, I know who you are" - which suggests that the singer sees their friend for who they truly are, beyond any surface-level flaws or mistakes. Finally, the song ends on a note of hope, as the singer pledges to help their friend grow and evolve, even if it means pushing them into the "deep" and challenging them every step of the way. The ultimate goal is for their friend to find a place of safety and belonging - "I know you are...home".
Overall, "Ragged Mile" is a song that speaks to the power of true friendship and the unconditional support that can exist between two people. The lyrics emphasize the importance of being there for each other through both good times and bad, and the idea that true friends see each other for who they truly are. The song suggests that this kind of support can help us find our way home - to a place of safety, belonging, and self-knowledge.
Line by Line Meaning
I will run,
I am determined to face any challenge that may come my way.
Yes I will roll,
I will adapt to any situation.
I will climb your mountains high,
I will overcome any obstacle, no matter how difficult.
Through the valleys of deceit,
I will navigate through difficult and deceitful situations.
Through the cold winds of denial,
I will face the harsh realities of denial and rejection.
And though you fear the cold dark,
Even during your darkest times, I will be there for you.
I'll be right here by your side,
I am a constant source of support and companionship for you.
'Cos until you know just who you are,
Until you truly understand and accept yourself, I will be here to help you.
You'll never know I'm near not far,
You may not always realize it, but I am always close by to help and guide you.
I've caught your falls I've helped you rise,
I have been there to catch you when you fall and to help you stand back up.
I've damned these torrents from your eyes, I know.
I have helped you through difficult and emotional times, and I understand your pain.
From the bosom to bare bones,
I have been with you through thick and thin, from your most intimate moments to your vulnerable times.
Between the oceans and the sky,
I have traveled with you through all manner of landscapes and environments.
Since before time began,
I have been with you for as long as you can remember, and even before that.
I have walked your ragged mile,
I have shared in your struggles and challenges, and been there to support you through them.
And I will call like the crow,
I will always be there to guide you, even when it may seem like you're alone.
I am the candle in your darkest night,
I am the light that will guide you through even the darkest of times.
Whether you're wrong, whether you're right,
I will stand by you no matter what decisions you make, whether they are good or bad.
I'll be there in your finest hour,
I will celebrate your successes with you and be there to support you in your moments of triumph.
I'll be there when it all turns sour,
I will be there to pick you up and support you through tough times and failures.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I understand you and I know you on a deep level.
And though at times you'll be at your knees,
Even during your weakest moments, I will be there to support you and lift you up.
It's better than just running blind,
It's better to face your challenges head-on and make mistakes than to blindly run away from them.
I'll push you straight into the deep,
I will challenge you to face your fears and push you to go further than you thought possible.
I'll challenge you boy every time,
I will push you to be better and grow as a person every time I am with you.
I won't fall and I won't waiver,
I will always be a strong and steady force in your life, even when things get tough.
I'll be right there by your side,
I will never leave your side and will always be there to support you.
'Cos until you be just who you are,
Until you fully embrace and accept yourself, I will always be there to help you and guide you.
I'll never stop, I'll always call,
I will never give up on you and will always be there, no matter what.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I understand your true self and will always be there to support you as you become who you truly are.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I know you on a deep, fundamental level.
I know you are, I know who you are.
I understand you and will always be there to support you as you become your truest self.
I know you are .... home.
Being with me and being true to yourself is where you truly belong and where you will find your true home.
Contributed by Xavier T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@NomadMixedCombat
This is my favorite JBT song!
@michaelyoungstrom9412
Probably the best song off the album