Although the Walkabouts started in Seattle, US their main base of popularity was Europe. Their blend of folk idioms and noisy experimental rock has won them lots of devoted fans; however, even with twelve studio albums and another 15 EPs, live albums and compilations released, they still remain below the radar of the public at large.
The band drew inspiration from folk and country music, particularly Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young and Johnny Cash, but also from other types of artists and musical styles such as Scott Walker, Leonard Cohen, French chanson and Jacques Brel. Their sound is typically rich, with string arrangements and keyboards in addition to the standard rock instruments. In reviews the band's music is often described as melancholic or mellow, while Eckman's lyrics, concerning such themes as human relations, loneliness and restlessness, are often emphasized as poetic.
The Walkabouts achieved commercial success and a strong fanbase in Europe, where they have done promotion and extensive touring since early 1990s. They have occasionally even made it high on the record charts in countries such as Greece and Norway.
Carla Torgerson and Chris Eckman met in 1983 when they were both working at an Alaskan fish cannery as a summer break from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. In 1984 they moved to Seattle, and the band was born when they joined forces with Chris' two younger brothers, drummer Grant and bassist Curt. The Eckman brothers had been playing in various punk rock and pop groups during their college years, and Carla came from a folk and street singing background. The band took their name from the cult Nicolas Roeg film, Walkabout. [1]
They released their first EP, 22 Disasters, in early 1985. Curt Eckman then left the band, to be replaced by Michael Wells. Their second EP, Linda Evans/Cyclone, was released in 1987. The following year they released their first album, See Beautiful Rattlesnake Gardens, on the PopLlama label, before being signed by Sub Pop as that label's first non-grunge band. Adding keyboard player and multi-instrumentalist Glenn Slater, they released three albums on Sub Pop over the next few years - Cataract (1989), Rag & Bone (1990), and Scavenger (1991). They also toured extensively, particularly in Europe. In 1992 they left Sub Pop Seattle, but remained with Sub Pop Europe who issued three more albums, New West Motel (1993), Satisfied Mind (1993), and Setting The Woods On Fire (1994). Drummer Terri Moeller replaced Grant Eckman in 1992, when he left to care for his new born son, Dakota Eckman.[1]
Satisfied Mind was their first of several albums largely or wholly comprising songs originally written and recorded by an eclectic variety of other artists, including Nick Cave, Charlie Rich, Johnny Rivers, Patti Smith, Mary Margaret O'Hara, and Gene Clark. Their 1996 collection of unreleased songs, Death Valley Days, also included songs by Neil Young, Nick Drake and Bob Dylan, and in 2000 they issued Train Leaves At Eight, which broadened the approach further by including songs by European artists including Mikis Theodorakis, Goran Bregović, Jacques Brel and Neu!.[1]
In 1995 the band signed with Virgin Records in Germany and released Devil's Road (1996) - recorded in part with the Warsaw Philharmonic - and Nighttown (1997), leading to new levels of success in Europe. Michael Wells left the band for several years in 1996, rejoining in 2003. In 1999 they moved to the German record label, Glitterhouse Records (the successor to Sub Pop Europe), and released Trail of Stars (1999), Train Leaves At Eight (2000), Ended Up A Stranger (2001), Slow Days With Nina (2003) - an EP tribute to Nina Simone - and Acetylene (2005).
Eckman and Torgerson have also released albums as side projects under the name Chris & Carla and as solo artists. Eckman has worked with Willard Grant Conspiracy in recent years, on the albums Regard The End and Let It Roll, as well as with The Bambi Molesters.
Terri Moeller has also formed The Transmissionary Six with Paul Austin, formerly of Willard Grant Conspiracy.
Drown
The Walkabouts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
another wicked tangle
still I believe that love is drawn
from the emptiest of wells
a shadow of a mystery
the way you can't forget me
still I believe that love is drawn
from the emptiest of wells
I wanna' drown again
I wanna' drown
till my thirst is full
my lips are cool
drown
nothin' is forgiven
nothin' reaches heaven
nothin' evens out
and nothin' crawls away
but I believe that lightning strikes
I believe that fate has pull
I believe that love is drawn
from the emptiest of wells
the water's clear
I hope you stay
The Walkabouts's song "Drown" speaks of a complicated and messy relationship that leaves the singer feeling lost and uncertain. Despite the chaos and uncertainty, the singer still believes in the power of love and its ability to draw from even the emptiest of wells. It seems as though the relationship is not a healthy one, with "nothin' is forgiven" and "nothin' reaches heaven," but the singer still has hope that lightning can strike and fate can pull this love together. The repeated desire to "drown again" could be interpreted as the singer's longing to be consumed by the intense emotions and feelings of love, even if it leads to their downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
somethin' of a shambles
Despite being in a disordered state, I continue to believe in love's ability to prevail
another wicked tangle
A recurring pattern of twisted events that have made me cynical, yet still hopeful for love's redemptive power
still I believe that love is drawn
from the emptiest of wells
Despite the chaos and confusion in my life, I maintain an unwavering faith in love's ability to arise from even the most barren places
a shadow of a mystery
Although elusive, the memory of our shared experiences continues to cast a shadow on my present reality
the way you can't forget me
You too must be haunted by the memories of our past and the mark they left on us
I wanna' drown again
I wanna' drown
till my thirst is full
my lips are cool
drown
I long to immerse myself in the cleansing waters of oblivion and be free of the pain of our past
nothin' is forgiven
nothin' reaches heaven
nothin' evens out
and nothin' crawls away
Despite our attempts to move on and be forgiven, the pain and hurt remain and there is no escape from their grasp
but I believe that lightning strikes
I believe that fate has pull
I believe that love is drawn
from the emptiest of wells
Even in the midst of darkness and despair, I hold onto the hope that fate and the universe bring about unexpected, redemptive moments of love
the water's clear
I hope you stay
As I plunge into the waters, I invite you to join me and take a step towards healing and reconciliation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS ECKMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iceman777
awww... this song always touched me to tears. Thank you so much for sharing, didn't know there was a video.
Robert HP Laversuch
+Iceman777
Cried the first time I say this, too. At a time where videos cost millions and have to be choc with visuals this is the consummate antidote and still better than 99 % of what is out today - and Carla T. is divine - sublime band - AWESOME
Dun Can
Haunting
Muazzez zezzauM
Goosebumps!
E R C A
cross the time, cross the ocean, I'm touched too.