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 .
D. B. Cooper
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
47 miles away from where he fell down to his fame
He told me that the hardest part
Wasn't really jumping out of that plane
It was spending the night
Watching those lights
Shine through the pouring rain
Like nothing I had ever seen
I was only eight years old at the time
Watching on the TV screen
They were saying he was never going to make it now
Now the daylight had set in
But later that night
They were shining lights
Down on the mountain again
Not far away from the City of Roses
They all watched those lights up through the rain
For D.B. Cooper
Well, the cops blocked off all the exit roads
And they turned out all of the hounds
They even dragged the river up a couple of times
To see if he had drowned
With all those men working overtime
They swore they would bring him down
But a parachute and a few hundred dollars
Was all that they ever found
Not far away from the City of Roses
They all watched those lights up through the rain
Now, some people say that he died up there
Somewhere in the rain in the wind
Other people say that he got away
But then his girlfriend did him in
The law men say if he is out there
Some day they're going to drag him in
But as for me, I hope they never see
D.B. Cooper again
Not far away from the City of Roses
Lights shine from a house out in the rain
It was D.B. Cooper
Drinking champagne
The song "D.B. Cooper" by Todd Snider tells the story of one of the most fascinating criminal mysteries in American history. D.B. Cooper was an unidentified man who hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 on November 24, 1971. He extorted $200,000 in ransom (equivalent to around $1.2 million today) before jumping from the plane with a parachute somewhere over the Pacific Northwest. The FBI conducted an intensive manhunt and investigation, but Cooper was never caught, and his true identity and whereabouts remain unknown to this day.
The lyrics of the song describe the events of the hijacking and its aftermath from the perspective of a young boy who witnessed the story unfold on television. The chorus, "Not far away from the City of Roses, they all watched those lights up through the rain, for D.B. Cooper," captures the eerie and captivating nature of the story. The line, "But a parachute and a few hundred dollars was all that they ever found," alludes to the FBI's inability to locate Cooper despite a massive search effort and intense media attention.
The lyrics also explore the various rumors and theories surrounding Cooper's fate. Some believe he perished in the wilderness, while others speculate that he managed to escape and live out the rest of his days undetected. The final verse suggests that Cooper may have even been betrayed by someone close to him.
Line by Line Meaning
D.B. Cooper was 43 when we first heard his name
D.B. Cooper was an unknown man who became famous at the age of 43.
47 miles away from where he fell down to his fame
D.B. Cooper fell from the sky and landed 47 miles away from where he became famous.
He told me that the hardest part
Wasn't really jumping out of that plane
It was spending the night
Watching those lights
Shine through the pouring rain
D.B. Cooper thought the hardest part of his feat was not the jump out of the plane, but rather the experience of hiding in the rain while watching search lights.
They had a manhunt that next morning
Like nothing I had ever seen
I was only eight years old at the time
Watching on the TV screen
They were saying he was never going to make it now
Now the daylight had set in
But later that night
They were shining lights
Down on the mountain again
D.B. Cooper's escape was so unbelievable that even an eight year old was stunned watching the manhunt on TV; the search initially seemed hopeless but the hunt continued long after daybreak.
Not far away from the City of Roses
They all watched those lights up through the rain
For D.B. Cooper
Close to Portland, OR locals waited watching lights through the pouring rain searching for D.B. Cooper.
Well, the cops blocked off all the exit roads
And they turned out all of the hounds
They even dragged the river up a couple of times
To see if he had drowned
With all those men working overtime
They swore they would bring him down
But a parachute and a few hundred dollars
Was all that they ever found
Law enforcement went above and beyond in searching for D.B. Cooper, but all they found was a parachute and stolen cash.
Not far away from the City of Roses
They all watched those lights up through the rain
People were still searching for D.B. Cooper close to Portland, OR through the rain.
Now, some people say that he died up there
Somewhere in the rain in the wind
Other people say that he got away
But then his girlfriend did him in
The law men say if he is out there
Some day they're going to drag him in
But as for me, I hope they never see
D.B. Cooper again
People have different theories about D.B Cooper's fate - some think he died during the escape, others that he lived and was betrayed by his partner; law enforcement hopes to solve the case, but the artist believes it's better for Cooper to remain a mystery.
Not far away from the City of Roses
Lights shine from a house out in the rain
It was D.B. Cooper
Drinking champagne
Near Portland, D.B. Cooper was spotted in a house, drinking champagne and seemingly enjoying the fame his heist brought him.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: TODD DANIEL SNIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@quickpick4
I always turn to Todd when the going gets rough. His music has pulled me through some really tough times and just some off days. Todd RULES!!
@mikeraines7268
Every song has been a pleasure to listen to and recomend to others but "missing you"............ says it all. My girl loves it also. Thank you Todd. Please keep doing what you do.
@pythagorashakespeare
Todd might consider making a concept album. He has the magic. Thank you for the real music.
@markdelgado8963
My personal thanks extended to the memory of Richard Floyd McCoy, for being an imaginative student of history.
@waynecash2002
Todd Snider is the shit!!!
@chriszaun8984
Great song,he didn't die up in the wind and the rain he survived
@ladyrebecca1839
Bountiful beautiful Blessings of gratitude and love always Todd ❤️ 💯☝️😎🌠super humble 🌟 star shine ✨️ sooo love you man
@cvick4200
40 views? Gangham Style has a billion?? I see a discrepancy.
@gmanbo
Nice
@Thatsmisteroldguytou
Right on!