Best known for his wry humor, Snider has been a fixture on the Americana, alt-country, and folk scene since his debut on MCA, entitled Songs for the Daily Planet, named for the bar where Snider used to play regularly in Memphis. On that album were the minor hits "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues", a folk song about the early '90's grunge scene, featuring a band that "refused to play", and "Alright Guy", which later became the title cut of Gary Allan's 2001 album.
He released two more albums for MCA, Step Right Up and Viva Satellite, the latter often sparking colorful debate amongst fans for its comparisons to Tom Petty. He moved to John Prine's Oh Boy Records where he made Happy to Be Here, New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, and East Nashville Skyline. That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994–1998 was released on the Hip-O label in August 2005.
Todd Snider's next studio album, The Devil You Know, was released in August 2006. It marked Snider's return to a major label, as he is now recording for New Door Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records.
The Devil You Know was named to several critics' year-end "best" lists, including a No. 33 ranking in Rolling Stone magazine's top 50 albums of the year, a No. 25 ranking by No Depression magazine, and No. 14 by Blender magazine.
Snider's songs "Late Last Night" and "I Believe You" have been recorded by the Oklahoma country-rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed. He co-wrote the song "Barbie Doll" with country star Jack Ingram.
Snider's new album, Peace Queer, is set to be released on October 14th, 2008, and will be available as a free download from Oct. 11 to Oct. 31 at http://www.toddsnider.net/store/product/1/Peace-Queer .
Brenda
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He could see what she had right on
Together they build up an empire so vast
That no one and nothin’ could stop them
He looked like a man of the people
She looked high as hell at the ball
Of course they made everybody so jealous
But no one could touch ‘em et all
What while the rabbles was restin’
They conquered the world and beyond
With each new insatiable ambition
They tested and strengthened their bond
He wasn’t nearly as driven
She wasn’t nearly as fun
But together they was quite a combination
When it come down to gettin’ it done
It was true love
True love
They amassed unspeakable fortunes and she still wasn’t satisfied
So he fell out to find what she wanted in her mind
What a hell of a ride
Bought private jet planes and castles
Took every pleasure that they could
Well good love comes with its troubles
Where things, things wouldn’t always be good
It was true love
There was a few times that she cheated
There was even some times when they split
But she upped and went and he got arrested
And she put up with it
It was drugs
Cause what mattered was keepin’ that feeling
What mattered was stayin’ on top
Some say what’s keepin’ them together so long
Is feelin’ they’ve already thought they could drop
It’s true love
True, true love
These days he’s callin’ her Brenda
That wasn’t always her name
That opened them to so many changes
As they weathered the pressures of change
Not long ago she almost lost him
Lesser man might’ve been dead
But just when she thought he might be giving up
He was back up in business instead
It was true love
Tonight I’m sure he’s in some tavern, smokin’, he’s drinkin’ it in
And I’m sure she’s holed up in that office, cruchin’ the numbers again
He’s livin’ it up while she’s workin’
I guess that’s just about right
Mick Jagger was born on a Monday morning
Keith Richards was born on a Saturday night
It was true love
It was true, it was true, it was true love
It was true, it was true love
The song Brenda by Todd Snider tells the story of two people who meet on a train and fall in love. Despite their differences, they build an empire together and become unstoppable. They push each other to new heights, testing and strengthening their bond. However, their success and wealth still do not satisfy Brenda, and she seeks more. This leads to rocky times in their relationship, including infidelity and separation. Despite this, they stay together, their bond too strong to break. The song ends with a description of their current lives, with him out partying while she works, but with the understanding that their love is still true.
The lyrics of the song demonstrate that true love is not always easy or perfect. The couple faces challenges and obstacles, but they stick together through it all. The song also touches on themes of ambition, desire, and the pursuit of success, suggesting that even when everything seems perfect on the surface, there are often underlying tensions and issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Met on a train goin’ somewhere fast
They met while traveling quickly to a destination
He could see what she had right on
He instantly knew that she had something special
Together they build up an empire so vast
Together they built an incredibly large and successful empire
That no one and nothin’ could stop them
Nothing could get in the way of their success
He looked like a man of the people
He appeared to be relatable to everyone
She looked high as hell at the ball
She appeared to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
Of course they made everybody so jealous
Their success made others envious
But no one could touch ‘em et all
No one could come close to their level of achievement
It was true love
Their love for each other was genuine
What while the rabbles was restin’
While the common people were sleeping/resting,
They conquered the world and beyond
They achieved global success and more
With each new insatiable ambition
Each new goal they pursued was always larger than the last
They tested and strengthened their bond
Working together towards each new goal made their relationship stronger
He wasn’t nearly as driven
He didn't have as much ambition as she did
She wasn’t nearly as fun
She didn't have as much fun as he did
But together they was quite a combination
Together, they were a powerful and effective team
When it come down to gettin’ it done
When it came time to achieve their goals
There was a few times that she cheated
She was unfaithful to him a few times
There was even some times when they split
They even separated a few times
But she upped and went and he got arrested
She left and he got arrested in her absence
And she put up with it
And she dealt with the difficult situation
It was drugs
The reason for the difficult situation was drug-related
Cause what mattered was keepin’ that feeling
What was important was maintaining the love they had for each other
What mattered was stayin’ on top
Their top priority was maintaining their success
Some say what’s keepin’ them together so long
Some people wonder what has kept them together for so many years
Is feelin’ they’ve already thought they could drop
Perhaps it's the feeling that they've already been through the worst and survived
Tonight I’m sure he’s in some tavern, smokin’, he’s drinkin’ it in
He's likely out indulging in smoking and alcohol
And I’m sure she’s holed up in that office, cruchin’ the numbers again
She's probably working hard in her office, analyzing data
He’s livin’ it up while she’s workin’
He's enjoying himself while she's still working hard
I guess that’s just about right
Perhaps this is just how their dynamic works
Mick Jagger was born on a Monday morning
A reference to the idea that fate plays a role in people's success and lifestyles
Keith Richards was born on a Saturday night
Another reference to fate and the idea that people's personalities and lifestyles are influenced by their birth date.
It was true, it was true love
Their love for each other was genuine and enduring
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind