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 .
Greencastle Blues
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a time when I had money to burn
There was a time when where I landed
Was the least of my, the least of my concerns
But it hurts to lean back in these handcuffs
Like nine kinds of shame turned to rage
As a younger man, I might have put up a fight
Some of this trouble just finds me
No matter where I turn
So how do you know when it's too late
How do you know when it's too late
How do you know when it's too late to learn?
You know the number one symptom of heart disease
The number one symptom of heart disease is sudden death
It's like time stands still forever until
It starts shaking around on you
Shaking around like some crazy old hooker on meth
And you know me, I can't take no preachin'
Not on Sunday, and no other day
But I feel like I oughta be prayin' to something
And I have no idea what to say
Some of this trouble just finds me
Most of this trouble I earned
How do you know when it's too late
How do you know when it's too late
How do you know when it's too late to learn?
I've learned nothing out here on this highway
But I have been passed by and I have
Passed by more than my share of cars
And I do remember my younger days
When I was so certain that driving even faster
Was going to get me far
So there's nothing left for me to learn here
Just this half-full or half-empty cup
Less than ounce of possession, man
I could do that kind of time standing up
Most of this trouble just finds me
No matter where I turn
How do you know when it's too late
How do you know when it's too late
How do you know when it's too late to learn?
The lyrics of Todd Snider's "Greencastle Blues" tell a story of regret and realization. The singer sings about his past, when he was "handsome" and had "money to burn." He reminisces about a time when where he ended up was of little concern. However, now he finds himself in handcuffs and feels like a "fool at [his] age." He wonders if it's too late for him to learn from his mistakes and change his ways.
The song's melancholy mood is underscored by the singer's lamentations that trouble seems to find him no matter where he goes. He's evidently no stranger to difficulties and has learned nothing from his time on the road except that he's been passed by more cars than he's passed. He wonders aloud how he'll know when it's too late to learn and whether there's any point in praying to a higher power.
Todd Snider's "Greencastle Blues" is a somber and contemplative song, telling the story of a man grappling with his past mistakes and the uncertainty of his future. Through its introspective reflections, the song serves as a reminder that it's never too late to learn from one's mistakes, but sometimes life presents obstacles that can seem insurmountable.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a time when I was handsome
I used to be attractive
There was a time when I had money to burn
I used to have excess funds
There was a time when where I landed
The places I ended up were not a concern to me
Was the least of my, the least of my concerns
I did not worry about where I ended up
But it hurts to lean back in these handcuffs
Being restrained is painful
Like nine kinds of shame turned to rage
I am overwhelmed with negative emotions
As a younger man, I might have put up a fight
In the past, I would have resisted
But I feel like such a fool at my age
Now, I feel foolish for what I did
Some of this trouble just finds me
I encounter problems without seeking them out
No matter where I turn
I cannot avoid these issues
So how do you know when it's too late
How can one determine when it is too late?
How do you know when it's too late
How can one determine when it is too late?
How do you know when it's too late to learn?
How can one determine when it is too late?
You know the number one symptom of heart disease
The most common sign of heart disease is sudden death
The number one symptom of heart disease is sudden death
The most common sign of heart disease is sudden death
It's like time stands still forever until
Time appears to stop indefinitely
It starts shaking around on you
Then it becomes unstable
Shaking around like some crazy old hooker on meth
Moving erratically like someone on drugs
And you know me, I can't take no preachin'
I am not receptive to religious teachings
Not on Sunday, and no other day
Not only on Sunday but any day of the week
But I feel like I oughta be prayin' to something
I feel like I should be praying to someone
And I have no idea what to say
However, I do not know what to say
I've learned nothing out here on this highway
I have not gained any knowledge on this road
But I have been passed by and I have
But I have been overtaken and I, in turn
Passed by more than my share of cars
Have overtaken my fair share of vehicles
And I do remember my younger days
I recall my earlier years
When I was so certain that driving even faster
When I was confident that driving faster
Was going to get me far
Would take me to my destination more quickly
So there's nothing left for me to learn here
I have no lessons left to learn
Just this half-full or half-empty cup
Only this partially filled vessel
Less than ounce of possession, man
A small amount of belongings
I could do that kind of time standing up
I can handle this incarceration with ease
Most of this trouble just finds me
The majority of my difficulties locate me
No matter where I turn
Even when I switch directions
How do you know when it's too late
How can one determine when it is too late?
How do you know when it's too late
How can one determine when it is too late?
How do you know when it's too late to learn?
How can one determine when it is too late?
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Todd Daniel Snider
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind