"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."
Miller
The Lost Trailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the glass falling to the floor.
I thought I asked you to talk much clearer,
before they threw you through the cellar door.
Did you ever think you'd ever rest your head on a bed next to a jailhouse sink.
Tell me, Miller.
And Papa says that you could change the world,
Your little sister, she never missed you 'till you went away,
Then she cried your name.
Tell me did you change when you saw the rain outside would never touch your face?
Tell me, Miller.
Don't guess it ever mattered. I guess it never mattered.
I don't want to see a day where nothing's free,
And I don't want to hear that you have disappeared,
And I don't want to know what makes you think you'll show,
That there's a world worth bleeding for.
When you got out you headed for the hills,
With nothin' but the fear to keep you runnin',
Each time you hid, they would find you,
Each time you stood up, they would cut you down.
Tell me did you change when you saw the pain outside would never touch your face?
Tell me, Miller.
I don't want to see a day where nothing's free,
And I don't want to hear that you have disappeared,
And I don't want to know what makes you think you'll show,
That there's a world worth bleeding for.
The Lost Trailers's song "Miller" is a heart-wrenching story about a man, Miller, who has had a hard life and is now in trouble with the law. The lyrics describe how Miller has been mistreated, both by society and by those closest to him. The first verse talks about how Miller is being thrown into a cellar, and how he was not able to speak clearly enough to avoid it. The second verse then goes on to describe how Miller's family still sees him as a good person, despite his troubles. The chorus emphasizes how important it is to believe in a world worth fighting for, even in the face of adversity.
The third and final verse is perhaps the most poignant of all. It describes how Miller runs away from his problems, seeking refuge in the hills but never finding it. He is constantly pursued by those who would do him harm, and he is never able to find peace. The final lines of the song ask whether Miller ever truly realized that the pain he was running from could never be escaped. Throughout the song, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who has been beaten down by life, but who still clings to the hope that there is a better world out there somewhere.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw the shadow shooting from the mirror,
I witnessed a reflection in the mirror of someone rapidly moving away.
And the glass falling to the floor.
I saw the mirror shatter and the glass fall to the ground.
I thought I asked you to talk much clearer,
I recall telling you to communicate more effectively.
Before they threw you through the cellar door.
Before they forcefully threw you into a dark basement.
Did you ever think you'd ever rest your head on a bed next to a jailhouse sink.
Did you ever imagine sleeping in a jail cell next to a bathroom fixture?
Tell me, Miller.
Please fill me in, Miller.
Mama says that you're a good person anyway,
Your mother thinks you're a good person despite everything.
And Papa says that you could change the world,
Your father believes you have the potential to make a significant difference in the world.
Your little sister, she never missed you 'till you went away,
Your younger sister didn't realize how much she would miss you until you were gone.
Then she cried your name.
Then she shouted and wept for you.
Tell me did you change when you saw the rain outside would never touch your face?
Did your perspective on life shift when you realized you would never experience the simple pleasure of feeling raindrops on your face?
Tell me, Miller.
Please confide in me, Miller.
Don't guess it ever mattered. I guess it never mattered.
Maybe it wasn't important after all. Perhaps it never was.
I don't want to see a day where nothing's free,
I don't want to live in a world where everything has a price or cost associated with it.
And I don't want to hear that you have disappeared,
I don't want to learn that you have vanished or gone missing.
And I don't want to know what makes you think you'll show,
Nor do I want to know what motivates you to prove something to others.
That there's a world worth bleeding for.
That there's a world worth fighting for, even if it means sacrificing oneself.
When you got out you headed for the hills,
When you were released, you fled to the hills, seeking refuge.
With nothin' but the fear to keep you runnin',
With only fear as your driving force to keep moving forward.
Each time you hid, they would find you,
Every time you tried to hide, they discovered your location.
Each time you stood up, they would cut you down.
Each time you tried to fight back, they would stop you in your tracks.
Contributed by Alyssa P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.