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 .
Old Friend
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been coming to my rescue
And I'm always here to catch you
Every time you fall
After all that we have been through
Guess what it all comes down to
Is knowing I can call you
When my back's against the wall
Old friend
Old friend
You keep on believing
Some day we'll come out even
Even if we lose again
Old Friend
Old Friend
God knows where we're going
I guess half the fun's not knowing where we'll wind up in the end
We end up in trouble
Every time we get together
People say we should know better
But I hope we never do
We can't live forever
It's here and now or never
You know one way or another we will always make it through
Old friend
Old friend
You keep on believing
Some day we'll come out even
Even if we lose again
Old Friend
Old Friend
God knows where we're going
I guess half the fun's not knowing where we'll wind up in the end
Old Friend
God knows where we're going
I guess half the fun's not knowing where we'll wind up in the end
Old Friend
The lyrics to Todd Snider's song "Old Friend" are a tribute to a lifelong friendship that has withstood the test of time. The singer sings about his friend who has always been there to save him when he falls. The two have been through a lot together, and the singer knows that he can always count on his friend when he needs him. The song celebrates the enduring bond between the two friends, and their willingness to stick by each other even in their darkest moments.
The song reflects the idea that true friendship doesn't always make sense on the surface. Others may judge the friendship, claiming that the two should know better than to keep getting into trouble. But for the singer, he wouldn't have it any other way. He knows that the two of them will always find a way to make it through, no matter what life throws their way. The song's refrain, "Old friend, you keep on believing, some day we'll come out even," reinforces this sentiment. The two friends have each other's backs, and they'll never give up on one another.
In some ways, "Old Friend" is a testament to the human condition. It speaks to the profound need we all have for connection, and the beauty of forging lasting, meaningful relationships. Todd Snider's song reminds us of the power of friendship, and why it's worth holding on to, even when life gets tough.
Line by Line Meaning
For as long as I have known you
Ever since our friendship began, you have always been there for me.
You've been coming to my rescue
In times of need, you have always been there to help me out.
And I'm always here to catch you
I will always be there to support you when you fall.
Every time you fall
Whenever life knocks you down.
After all that we have been through
Despite all the experiences we have shared.
Guess what it all comes down to
The bottom line is that.
Is knowing I can call you
I take comfort in knowing I can reach out to you for help.
When my back's against the wall
In times of crisis or difficulty.
Old friend
Affectionate nickname for a long-time friend.
You keep on believing
You maintain hope and faith despite adversity.
Some day we'll come out even
Someday we'll emerge victorious or equal in the end.
Even if we lose again
Even if we face defeat or failure in the meantime.
God knows where we're going
Our path in life is unknown to us.
I guess half the fun's not knowing where we'll wind up in the end
Uncertainty is part of the excitement and adventure of life.
We end up in trouble
Our history shows that we have a tendency to find ourselves in difficult situations.
Every time we get together
Whenever we spend time in each other's company.
People say we should know better
Observers may criticize our decisions or actions.
But I hope we never do
But I hope we never lose our spontaneity or sense of fun.
We can't live forever
Our mortality is a fact of life.
It's here and now or never
We must seize the present moment or risk losing it forever.
You know one way or another we will always make it through
Regardless of the challenges we face, we have a history of overcoming them together.
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.