"Anyone who has ever seen us live is going to hear the first 15 seconds of "Holler Back" and say ‘There’s The Lost Trailers. Those are the guys I saw open for Chesney or open for Sugarland’," says Stokes, tagged on the band’s website as The Writer."
Music is important and has a lasting quality," adds lead vocalist Ryder, aka The Voice. "But music should be fun too, there needs to be a balance. "Holler Back" is a fun song that captures the element of our live show which is really important to us as well.
"Ryder and Stokes both gravitated towards music in high school, where they convinced another student, drummer Jeff Potter, to join them in a band named Ryder Stokes. Soon, Stokes’ younger brother Andrew came on as their bassist, a position now held by the fifth and last member to join the band, Manny Medina (Andrew moved over to keyboards).
The new band caught a break early, as their demo found its way to Willie Nelson, who invited them to perform on his annual Fourth of July picnic. By the time they got to Austin, they had changed the band’s name, thanks to some unfortunate incidents involving successive equipment trailers. The 15,000 fans there that afternoon witnessed the debut of The Lost Trailers, and the response was so enthused that Nelson ended up inviting them to open other dates for him.
"What we learned from that experience was that putting on a great show will build a fan base," remembers Stokes. "If you do it night after night, your fan base will grow. If you earn those fans early on, they will stay fans for life. Even after all these years, Willie puts on a great show every night, and he takes care of his fans, and we strive for that sort of connection with our fans."
The Lost Trailers hit the road, first crammed into an SUV, then a van and ultimately graduating to a bonafide bus, which was the place they called home 300 days a year for five years. "For five years, we were basically living in America," says Ryder. "That experience was the basis of this record. It was being a group of guys with unique personalities who learn to live as a family, who have been there, done that, and tell that story honestly. We learned a lot about ourselves from constant touring, and we were able to define our sound before we got signed.
"The Lost Trailers came to the major label table after SONY/BMG Nashville A&R head Renee Bell introduced them to label chairman Joe Galante, who immediately signed them, seeing in The Lost Trailers that same road-tested talent and passionate drive that Alabama brought to his label 25 years before. "Alabama has always been one of our biggest role models," says Stokes. "It turned out that the first songs Ryder and I ever performed in front of an audience were Alabama songs. It was such a thrill to be on the same label where they spent their career, and signed by the guy who broke them. It just felt like it was meant to be.
"Through 2006, The Lost Trailers maintained their permanent temporary bus residence, headlining clubs like they had always done, and opening dates in massive arenas for established stars like Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and another great teacher, Kenny Chesney.
"What we learned from Kenny was put out great songs, put out songs you believe in, and that your fans believe in," says Stokes. "Deliver to your fans. Give them what they want that’s the best of you. All the years of touring, we’ve learned what we do best. It was time to put that on a record.
"The band found the key to realizing that in producer Brett Beavers, who came into the picture with the same goal: capture the energy and excitement of The Lost Trailers’ live show and put it on a record. He produced several of the tracks, notably the album opener, "Holler Back," and the second cut, "How ‘Bout You Don’t". The wrenching ballad that does a complete emotional and musical 180 from the jacked-up title cut, and relies on Ryder’s resonate, soulful vocals to convey the desperation of a man about to lose everything, piercing the hearts of listeners who have been on either side of that door.
Ryder and Stokes not only share songwriting credits on several tunes, but also took the production reins in the studio on a couple of cuts, not unlike the way they used to do it before they were signed to a recording contract.
"We took six months off to make this record," says Ryder. "We haven’t taken that much time off the road in six years. We poured all of that energy that would have gone into performing live, and put it on this record. Everything we have done for the last seven years has led to this record."
Fire on the Pontchartrain
The Lost Trailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Found in the bottom of our baby's crib
I've never asked for what you have given
And I can't take it for another day
And if you say I've become a stranger
In this house that I built for you
Then I would ask you to reconsider
Your rendezvous out on Lake Pontchartrain
Chorus:
I have been wronged and I have been mad
I have planned violence in the face of love
I tore the wires, and left them tattered
I swear the both of you won't make it back, Hey, Hey
I never knew why men would turn to violence
Then I met you and it came all too clear
The whiskey, whining, and constant lying
And the cheating in our very own bed
Chorus
So cheating men and cheating women
Don't deserve half of what they tore away
Just a brief float in my old johnboat
And blow them up upon the Pontchartrain
Chorus
Fire on the Pontchartrain (Fire on the Pontchartrain
I'll watch the rising flame, and make a toast
then I'll buy myself a brand new boat
Fire on the Pontchartrain (Fire on the Pontchartrain)
Fire on the Pontchartrain (Fire on the Pontchartrain)
Fire on the Pontchartrain (Fire on the Pontchartrain)
Fire on the Pontchartrain
Such a beautiful light, such a beautiful light
Such a beautiful life, such a beautiful life
Such a beautiful life
That night on the Pontchartrain
I saw you leaving in the pouring rain
Turned my head and I count to ten
Now I want you back again, Such a beautiful life
That night on the Pontchartrain
I saw you leaving in the pouring rain
I turned my head and I count to ten
But I want you back again
It's a beautiful light...for such a beautiful lie
It was a beautiful light, such a beautiful lie
Such a beautiful life
The Lost Trailer's song "Fire on the Pontchartrain" tells a story of a man who has discovered his partner's betrayal. The revelation comes in the form of finding a cocaine bag and their lover's numbers in the bottom of their baby's crib. He admits that he never asked for what was given to him and that he cannot take it for another day. In the chorus, he admits to having been wronged and angry and that he planned violence in the face of love. He's torn the wires and left them tattered, vowing that neither of them will make it back.
The second verse discusses how he never knew why men turned to violence until he met his partner and witnessed the constant lying, cheating, and whiskey. The bridge points out that cheating men and women don't deserve half of what they've torn away and that the singer will blow them up on the Pontchartrain.
Overall, the song explores themes of betrayal, anger, and revenge in response to infidelity. The lyrics suggest that he's tried to make it work for the baby's sake, but he's at his breaking point. Rather than directly confronting the issue or seeking counseling, he appears to have decided on a plan of action that would result in the death of both his partner and their lover.
Line by Line Meaning
The cocaine bag, and your lovers numbers
I found drugs and phone numbers of your lover at the bottom of the crib where our baby sleeps.
I've never asked for what you have given
I never wanted the lies and deceit that you have thrown my way.
And I can't take it for another day
I can't bear it anymore. Your cheating ways are too much to handle.
And if you say I've become a stranger
If you claim I have become unrecognizable to you,
In this house that I built for you
In this home that I worked hard to create for us,
Then I would ask you to reconsider
Then I ask you to rethink your choices
Your rendezvous out on Lake Pontchartrain
The secret meetings you have on Lake Pontchartrain need to stop.
I have been wronged and I have been mad
I am hurt and angry about everything you have done.
I have planned violence in the face of love
I have considered taking action in response to your cheating ways.
I tore the wires, and left them tattered
I destroyed the evidence of your deception and left it in pieces.
I swear the both of you won't make it back, Hey, Hey
I promise that neither you nor your lover will return home safely.
I never knew why men would turn to violence
I never understood why men would become violent.
Then I met you and it came all too clear
But after being with you, I now understand why.
The whiskey, whining, and constant lying
Your alcohol abuse, complaining and constant lies are unbearable.
And the cheating in our very own bed
And worst of all, you have cheated on me in our own bed.
So cheating men and cheating women
Both men and women who cheat
Don't deserve half of what they tore away
Don't deserve to keep any of what they have taken away.
Just a brief float in my old johnboat
A quick ride in my old boat,
And blow them up upon the Pontchartrain
And I'll blow them up in the middle of the Pontchartrain.
Fire on the Pontchartrain (Fire on the Pontchartrain)
Setting fire to their meeting place on the Pontchartrain.
I'll watch the rising flame, and make a toast
I'll watch the fire grow and celebrate its destruction.
then I'll buy myself a brand new boat
Afterwards, I'll reward myself by purchasing a new boat.
Such a beautiful light, such a beautiful light
The fire is such a beautiful sight.
Such a beautiful life, such a beautiful life
That life with you was beautiful, but it was all a lie.
That night on the Pontchartrain
That night when I saw you and your lover on the Pontchartrain,
I saw you leaving in the pouring rain
I saw you walk away in the heavy rain.
Turned my head and I count to ten
I looked away and counted to ten to prevent myself from taking action.
Now I want you back again, Such a beautiful life
But now, after everything, I still want you back. Our life together seemed so perfect, but it was just a beautiful lie.
Contributed by Colton T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.