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 .
Good News Blues
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know, my old gal left me and I'm glad she took the kids
Now I've got less mouths to feed and more room to sleep in my bed
I got the good news blues, I'm smiling on a rainy day
I got the good news blues, I sung all my troubles away
Ain't got no achin' bones, Ain't got no bills to pay
You know it's here one day and then it's right out that other ear
You know they promise us whiskey and won't even give us a beer
I got the good news blues, I'm smiling on a rainy day
I got the good news blues, I sung all my troubles away
Ain't got no achin' bones, Ain't got no bills to pay
The lyrics to Todd Snider's "Good News Blues" is an ode to finding the silver lining in a difficult situation. The narrative tells of a man whose woman has left him, taking their children with her. However, instead of wallowing in sorrow, the singer sees this as a good thing. He now has fewer mouths to feed and more space in his bed. The upbeat tune and cheerful tone emphasize the singer's happiness despite the initial negative experience. The chorus of "good news blues" serves as a declaration of the singer's positive outlook on the situation.
The second stanza moves away from the personal and focuses on the political climate of the time. The singer critiques politicians who say what they think people want to hear, without delivering on any promises. In contrast to this political rhetoric, the singer emphasizes his simple pleasures - he does not have any physical aches or financial woes. The chorus is reiterated twice, emphasizing the happiness and relief the singer feels.
"Good News Blues" is a commentary on the idea of finding joy in the mundane and positivity in difficult situations. It emphasizes a sense of resilience and demonstrates that sometimes a change in perspective is necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, my woman left me and I'm so glad she did
My partner left me and surprisingly, I'm feeling pretty good about it.
You know, my old gal left me and I'm glad she took the kids
Although unconventional, I'm happy that my ex-partner took the kids because now I have less responsibility.
Now I've got less mouths to feed and more room to sleep in my bed
With fewer mouths to feed, I have more resources and space for myself.
You see these politicians just tell you what they think we want to hear
Politicians often manipulate their words to say what they think their audience wants to hear in order to gain support.
You know it's here one day and then it's right out that other ear
People tend to forget or disregard what politicians say shortly after they say it.
You know they promise us whiskey and won't even give us a beer
Politicians often make grand promises they can't keep, leaving us ultimately disappointed.
I got the good news blues, I'm smiling on a rainy day
Despite my circumstances, I'm feeling pretty happy and positive.
I got the good news blues, I sung all my troubles away
By singing about my troubles, I'm feeling relieved and optimistic.
Ain't got no achin' bones, Ain't got no bills to pay
My physical health is good and I don't have any financial concerns.
Contributed by Sophia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.