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 .
Rose City
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We wrote our names in the tunnel back when
Coos Bay was as far away as we'd ever been
Pine trees climbing up winding hills
Fishing boats and paper mills.
Multnomah County's where I come from
Rain clouds hangin' down low and grey
God knows I wish it would have rained today.
Tonight I've got those old Rose City blues
Tonight I've got those old Rose City blues.
Tonight I'm drivin' through some other town
Radio on with the windows down
Old song comes on from a long time ago
How on earth did that DJ know ?
Tonight I've got those old Rose City blues
Tonight I've got those old Rose City blues.
Rain rain rain
Pouring rain doesn't bother me.
We wrote our names in the tunnel back then
And last night we went down and did it again
One sip too many from that old loving cup
Rose City people never do grow up.
Tonight I've got those old Rose City blues
Tonight I've got those old Rose City blues.
In Todd Snider's song "Rose City," he discusses his hometown of Multnomah County, Oregon, and the memories he has of growing up there. He reminisces about the times when he and his friends wrote their names in a tunnel in Coos Bay, a place that once seemed so far away to them. He paints a picture of the natural beauty of the area, describing the winding hills and pine trees, as well as the fishing boats and paper mills. Snider also references the local legends of Bigfoot and the Burnside bums, further grounding the song in the place and its culture.
As he drives through another town with the radio on and windows down, a song comes on from "a long time ago," prompting him to wonder how the DJ knew to play it. This may symbolize how memories of his hometown can arise unexpectedly and transport him back to a bygone time. Snider continues to mention the rainy weather that is typical of the Pacific Northwest, saying that he wishes it would rain today, perhaps indicating a longing to return to his roots. In the chorus, he sings about having "old Rose City blues" and repeats the line "Rain rain rain, pouring rain doesn't bother me," suggesting that even though he has left his hometown, its influence is still a part of him, and he can handle the more difficult aspects of it.
In the end, Snider reflects on returning to the tunnel where he and his friends wrote their names, doing it again after years have passed. He admits they may have had "one sip too many from that old loving cup," implying that the memories of their youth are bittersweet. The final line, "Rose City people never do grow up," speaks to the idea that no matter how much time passes, one's roots and the experiences of their youth remain a part of who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
We wrote our names in the tunnel back when
In the past, we wrote our names in a tunnel, reminiscing about our past experiences
Coos Bay was as far away as we'd ever been
Our perception of our travel experiences was limited to Coos Bay, as that was the farthest we had traveled
Pine trees climbing up winding hills
The landscape around us consisted of hills that were covered with pine trees
Fishing boats and paper mills.
The area was home to both fishing boats and paper mills
Multnomah County's where I come from
I come from Multnomah County
Hometown to Bigfoot and the Burnside bums
This is the hometown of the legendary Bigfoot as well as the homeless population that reside on Burnside Avenue
Rain clouds hangin' down low and grey
The sky is filled with grey rain clouds that are hanging low
God knows I wish it would have rained today.
I wish there was rain today
Tonight I've got those old Rose City blues
I am experiencing a feeling of nostalgia or melancholy that is associated with Portland, often referred to as the Rose City
Tonight I'm drivin' through some other town
I am traveling through a different town tonight
Radio on with the windows down
I am listening to the radio with the windows of my car rolled down
Old song comes on from a long time ago
I hear an old song on the radio that I haven't heard in a long time
How on earth did that DJ know ?
I am curious as to how the DJ knew to play that particular song at that moment
Rain rain rain
It is raining heavily
Pouring rain doesn't bother me.
The heavy rain does not bother me
And last night we went down and did it again
Last night, we revisited the tunnel and wrote our names again
One sip too many from that old loving cup
I had one sip too many from an old, beloved drinking vessel
Rose City people never do grow up.
People from Portland, the Rose City, never really grow up
Contributed by Matthew A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.