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 .
I Spoke As A Child
Todd Snider Lyrics
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Like I'm having
Holding onto to anything that I can
To keep myself
From anything but laughing
Looking back as far as I can stand
Out my window, winter is almost over.
Looking back on where I was one year ago today, laughing at the shape I'm in now.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child.
But all I heard was how I should get ahead.
Now growing up, it ain't anything but all this indecision
With these debts and doubts and worries
Hanging over my head.
When I was a child,
I spoke as a child.
I wish I could remember what I said.
I'd like to find that old-time feeling
Somewhere in between what I've become
Somewhere down the line, it must have seemed appealing,
So I suppose that it must work for some.
But I wanna go back to going crazy,
Believing every word that I was told.
You know, sometimes, growing up, I think I'm getting wiser,
And then other times, I think I'm getting old.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child.
But all I heard was how I should get ahead.
Now growing up, it ain't anything but all this indecision
With these debts and doubts and worries
Hanging over my head.
When I was a child,
I spoke as a child.
I wish I could remember what I said.
When I was a child,
I spoke as a child.
God, I wish I could remember what I said.
The song "I Spoke As A Child" by Todd Snider reflects upon the confusion and nostalgia that comes with growing up. The lyrics are written from the perspective of someone who, in their youth, felt encouraged to dream big and pursue their passions, but now feels weighed down by responsibilities and the pressures to succeed. The opening lines depict the internal struggle of trying to maintain a positive outlook while feeling disconnected from oneself and life. The next verse speaks to the passing of time, and the realization that as we move forward, we're not always moving towards an ideal or the life we imagined. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, laments the loss of the energy and innocence of childhood and wishes to return to a time when life was less complicated.
The second verse speaks to the disappointment and disillusionment that many experience as they enter adulthood. The youthful hope and optimism fades, replaced by a state of indecision and worry. The repetition of the chorus becomes more poignant, as the singer longs for the clarity and drive of their youth.
The final verse embraces the idea of embracing the childlike qualities, the refusal to give up on what we once thought impossible, and the ability to believe in ourselves. The singer acknowledges the pendulum of growing up, how we oscillate from wise to old, and reminds the listeners of the importance of keeping the youthful drive in life.
Overall, the song captures the melancholic sentimentality and emotional nuances that come with the journey of growing up.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone has days
Like I'm having
Holding onto to anything that I can
To keep myself
From anything but laughing
Looking back as far as I can stand
I am having a tough day and trying to hold onto anything that makes me happy. I am reflecting on my past and trying to find a silver lining.
Out my window, winter is almost over.
I can almost see the sun behind the clouds
Looking back on where I was one year ago today, laughing at the shape I'm in now.
Winter is ending and I can see brighter days ahead. Reflecting on the past year, I am amused at how much I have changed.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child.
But all I heard was how I should get ahead.
Now growing up, it ain't anything but all this indecision
With these debts and doubts and worries
Hanging over my head.
When I was a child,
I spoke as a child.
I wish I could remember what I said.
As a child, I was only told to focus on the future and success. Now, adulthood is filled with uncertainty, anxiety and stress. I miss the simplicity of childhood and wish to remember the joy and innocence of my youth.
I'd like to find that old-time feeling
Somewhere in between what I've become
Somewhere down the line, it must have seemed appealing,
So I suppose that it must work for some.
I want to find a balance between who I have become and who I was as a child. Although adulthood has its difficulties, some people must find success in it.
But I wanna go back to going crazy,
Believing every word that I was told.
You know, sometimes, growing up, I think I'm getting wiser,
And then other times, I think I'm getting old.
I miss the wild, carefree nature of childhood and the ability to believe everything you hear. Sometimes I feel like I am growing wiser as an adult, but other times I just feel old and tired.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child.
But all I heard was how I should get ahead.
Now growing up, it ain't anything but all this indecision
With these debts and doubts and worries
Hanging over my head.
When I was a child,
I spoke as a child.
I wish I could remember what I said.
As a child, I was only told to focus on the future and success. Now, adulthood is filled with uncertainty, anxiety and stress. I miss the simplicity of childhood and wish to remember the joy and innocence of my youth.
When I was a child,
I spoke as a child.
God, I wish I could remember what I said.
I spoke with such innocence and purity as a child, and I long to remember what I said and how I thought before the world and its expectations got in the way.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TODD SNIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind