The Wagoneers' debut album, Stout and High, was released by Herb Alpert's A&M Records in 1988; a follow-up album, Good Fortune, was released in 1989. Although the band appeared on Austin City Limits and Nashville Now, their popularity never took off and they band broke up in 1990.
"There were a lot of reasons why the Wags didn't happen on a bigger scale," said Monte Warden in a 1995 interview, when he was pursuing a solo career. "Number one, we were on a pop label (A&M) that had never attempted to get in the country market before. Two, even though it was just four or five years ago, that was light years in regards to country's popularity and we were a different group, a bit unique at that time. That, and maybe country radio wasn't just ready for those songs. It doesn't matter what the success level was, for me; I was just pleased to get to make records."
The Wagoneers still have their fans; a MySpace page dedicated to the band contains audio clips from their two albums and the CMT blog dubbed them "best rockabilly band that ever was”
Atlanta
The Wagoneers Lyrics
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We sat on a hillside and talked about the South
We talked about its problems and if they'd all work out
We talked about how people never learn
We sat on a hillside and watched Atlanta burn
I feel so different since we started on this march
To strike a final blow into their Rebel hearts
It's so hard to watch all hope go up in flames
Right or wrong it'll never be the same
The people, the familes, the dreams and ideas
(Chorus 2)
We sat on a hillside and talked about the South
We talked about her problems and if they'd all work out
We talked about how people never learn
We sat on a hillside and watched Atlanta burn
We talked about how people never learn
We sat on a hillside and watched Atlanta burn
We sat on a hillside and watched Atlanta burn
The Wagoneers' song "Atlanta" is a heartfelt ballad that touches on the sensitive subject of the American Civil War. The lyrics describe a conversation between two people sitting on a hillside, discussing the state of the South and the war they are fighting. They talk about some of the issues in the South, including its problems and whether they will work out. The conversation eventually takes a somber turn as the two witnesses the city of Atlanta burning.
The singer reflects on how different things feel since they started marching towards the South to strike a final blow against the rebels. They recognize that the people they are fighting against are human beings, with families, faces, and ideas. They express a profound sadness as they watch all the hope and dreams of the South go up in flames. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the futility of war and the belief that people never learn from their mistakes.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by Monte Warden, the lead singer of the Wagoneers, who is originally from Texas, not the South. Despite this, Warden had a deep appreciation for Southern culture and had a great respect for the history of the region. The song was inspired by a newspaper article that Warden read about the burning of Atlanta during the Civil War.
Another interesting fact is that the song was received positively by critics but was not a commercial success. Nevertheless, it earned the Wagoneers a devoted following, especially among those who appreciated their unique blend of country and rockabilly music.
Line by Line Meaning
We sat on a hillside and talked about the South
We found a spot on the hill and conversed about the region.
We talked about its problems and if they'd all work out
We discussed the issues and whether they would be resolved.
We talked about how people never learn
We commented on how humans don't seem to pick up on lessons.
We sat on a hillside and watched Atlanta burn
We observed the city being destroyed from where we were sitting.
I feel so different since we started on this march
I have experienced a change in myself as we began this journey.
To strike a final blow into their Rebel hearts
To make a decisive attack on the mentality of the Rebels.
But they're people, with families, with faces and ideas
Nevertheless, the Rebels are human beings, with loved ones and opinions.
It's so hard to watch all hope go up in flames
It's incredibly difficult to witness all optimism burning away.
Right or wrong it'll never be the same
Regardless of whether it is justifiable, things will never be unchanged.
The people, the familes, the dreams and ideas
The individuals, loved ones, aspirations and thoughts they have.
We talked about her problems and if they'd all work out
We conversed about the concerns of the South and whether they would see a resolution.
We talked about how people never learn
We touched upon the recurring theme of humans failing to learn from previous events.
We sat on a hillside and watched Atlanta burn
We stayed atop a hill and observed the city going up in flames.
We sat on a hillside and watched Atlanta burn
We remained situated on the hill while Atlanta burned.
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.