Steven Higginbotham - Vocals, Violin, Keyboard,… Read Full Bio ↴THE WHEEL WORKERS:
Steven Higginbotham - Vocals, Violin, Keyboard, Guitar
Jason Williams - Bass Guitar
Craig Wilkins – Guitar, Keyboard
Allison Wilkins McPhail – Keyboard, Vocals, Theremin
Jason Carmona – Drums
Reemerging in early 2011 after a hiatus from recording with the album Unite, The Wheel Workers deliver a diverse sound and instrumentation involving violins, keyboards, trumpets, clarinet, and banjo along with more traditional rock instruments. Andrew Dansby of the Houston Chronicle calls Unite a “lush and radiant pop album.”
Described by Jeremy Hart of Space City Rock as “pretty freaking great” the opening track, “The MOP,” sounds “like a quirky protest-ragtime band that’d be right at home marching on Wall Street, tubas and clarinets a-blazing, gathering people behind them as they danced their way in to tear down the financial giants.” Hart describes the next track, “Stereomad,” diving headlong into drifting, shimmery, yet still driving Britpop that makes me think of New Order more than anything else... There’s a hell of a lot promise here ... and Higginbotham proves he definitely can hit the mark…"
According to Paul Viscontini of The Loop Scoop, “if not careful, you’ll find yourself slipping away into your own daydreams. Perhaps that’s the reason that Unite is written. The lyrics are full of “everyman” struggles of day-to-day life and love. As much as Unite is a personal introspection for Higginbotham via songwriting, it inspires one in the listener...The Wheel Workers might not pull off an indie upset like Arcade Fire winning best new album, but Unite is a record that will demand an audience from a hungry Houston music scene."
Recorded at his home studio over the course of a year, Higginbotham mixed the album with Matt Presley and Kelly Donnelly in Austin at Studioplush. Early reviews have been positive, with KPFT DJ Laura Slavin playing the album regularly and saying on-air that the album is “quite good.” Local Sugar Hill owner Dan Workman, producer of indie rock artists The Ton Tons and Roky Moon and BOLT! described Unite as a “wonderful piece of art” that is “such a cool direction for (and I hate to say this, but mean it in a totally positive way) a Houston band!” Much like The Clash, The Wheel Workers feel that rock music can be a powerful force for social commentary.
Somebody Else
The Wheel Workers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The last breath leaves from me, likely be nothing more, my body for worms to feed.
But who knows maybe not? Perhaps we get recycled like other energy.
Wonder who I'll be when I am somebody else?... Somebody else
()
I watched so many die, for an insane collection of ancient fantasies.
I will not believe, nor will I demand mindless zombie obedience.
So easy to judge, when it is somebody else… Somebody else
()
I am quite confused, and you are too, even if you don't believe it.
But I'm pretty sure, certainty on uncertainties can be dangerous.
So please why don't you, go bother somebody else?... Somebody else
The Wheel Workers's song "Somebody Else" is a contemplation of life's mysteries and uncertainties. The opening verse contrasts the singer's grandiose ambitions with the finite nature of life. The singer illuminates the sky figuratively with his/her actions, but like the sun, he/she will eventually burn out. The following lines express the inevitability of death and its cruelty--the body will become food for worms. However, the singer raises the possibility of something else beyond death, where one's energy may be recycled. The chorus wonders who the singer might become in the next life, emphasizing the unknowable nature of the universe.
The second verse tackles the idea of faith and belief. The singer has seen many people perish for the sake of religious beliefs, which he/she none too kindly describes as "ancient fantasies." The singer declares that he/she will not follow such beliefs blindly, nor will he/she demand blind obedience from others. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the idea of identity transformation.
The final verse is a nod to the complexity of existence. The singer admits confusion about life's meaning and urges the listener to recognize their own confusion. Certainty about the uncertainties in life can be dangerous, so the singer advises the listener to find another person to bother. The song concludes by repeating the chorus twice, underscoring the central idea of transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
I light up all the sky, I don't know how I'm gonna burn when the sun's setting.
I am powerful and influential, but I fear that my own downfall may come without warning or preparation.
The last breath leaves from me, likely be nothing more, my body for worms to feed.
Death is inevitable and my body will return to the earth, providing nourishment for other forms of life.
But who knows maybe not? Perhaps we get recycled like other energy.
While death seems absolute, there is a chance that our energy or consciousness may be reborn in some way.
Wonder who I'll be when I am somebody else?... Somebody else
The concept of reincarnation or transformation after death leaves me curious about what my future self may be like.
I watched so many die, for an insane collection of ancient fantasies.
Many have died due to belief in outdated, irrational ideas and dogmas.
I will not believe, nor will I demand mindless zombie obedience.
Blind faith and servitude to authority goes against my values and sense of reasoning.
No one knows for sure, anyone who says different is a fool or a thief.
Absolute truth is difficult to ascertain, and those who claim to possess it may be either dishonest or delusional.
So easy to judge, when it is somebody else… Somebody else
It is easy to criticize and condemn others from a distance, but true understanding and compassion requires empathy and self-reflection.
I am quite confused, and you are too, even if you don't believe it.
Uncertainty is a constant presence in our lives, and even those who claim to be certain may be masking their confusion.
But I'm pretty sure, certainty on uncertainties can be dangerous.
Attempting to impose a false sense of certainty onto situations that are inherently uncertain can lead to negative consequences.
So please why don't you, go bother somebody else?... Somebody else
I ask that you direct your attention and energy elsewhere, as I am not interested in engaging with negativity or conflict.
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.