Changing his name from Jeremy Thomas McRae Blackall to just Tom McRae - he released his first, self-titled album in 2001, during the height of the new acoustic movement, and gained Mercury Music Prize nomination. His second album, Just Like Blood, was released in February of 2003, which was produced by Ben Hillier, responsible for Elbow’s Asleep In The Back, with which McRae’s album shares a similar melancholy but uplifting atmosphere. In 2004, McRae moved to California where he wrote and recorded his next album, All Maps Welcome, which was released in May 2005. His fourth album, King of Cards was released on 14th May 2007. A talented live performer, he supported Tori Amos on the UK leg of her Original Sinsuality tour, Paul Weller, Dido, World Party, The Waterboys among others. He is recognised as an intelligent and talented performer, influenced by, among others, Nick Drake, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Jeff Buckley.
How The West Was Won
Tom McRae Lyrics
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I'll tell you a story
Of how the west was won
Flew over diamonds
East river shining
A city sinking in the mud
And in a second
I knew what we'd become
We use up people, use up time
Use up places, we say goodbye
Searching for the crowded hour
Now there's a buzzing in the wires
Look for lightning in your eyes
And I see it there
Hey hey Rockstar
Let's play happy
This could be our final hour
I'll take your picture
But who needs pictures?
They only strip you of your power
Don't lose your nerve now
Feel the curve of the earth now
Rising up to meet your feet
We use up people, use up time
Use up places, we say goodbye
Never find the crowded hour
It's time to move the saints again
Curse the sun to kill the rain
I wish I knew just how
We should have driven
Out to the ocean
Our hands tied to the wheel
Now something's broken
Don't know what's broken
Or if I want it healed
We use up people, use up time
Use up places, we say goodbye
Where the hell's the crowded hour
Scattered thoughts and promises
Let the wind take all that's left
There's nothing for you here
So take a card and put it back
Hide the faces cut the pack
The future's not that clear
Light me a smoke
I'll tell you a story
Of how the west was won
You wanted glory
Well here's your glory
Just look what we've become
The opening lines of Tom McRae’s "How The West Was Won" are about telling a story of how the west was won while smoking. The song starts with a reference to flying over diamonds and the East River shining in New York City. The city is described as sinking in the mud and highlights McRae's pessimism about the world he inhabits. In a second, a life-long second, he knows what we've become, indicating that McRae is looking back on his life with despair.
The song portrays the idea that the world constantly uses up people, time, and places, and then discards them. The lyrics mention the search for the crowded hour, indicating that people are always looking for excitement in life but always end up feeling empty. There is a reference to buzzing in the wires, which signifies a potential for danger or chaos in life. The song closes with McRae’s persona telling about how he will let the wind take his scattered thoughts and promises.
Line by Line Meaning
Light me a smoke
I need a cigarette to tell you a story about how things used to be in the West.
I'll tell you a story
I'll speak of the hardships and the glory of the old West.
Of how the west was won
This is a tale of the pioneers and their fight to conquer new territories.
Flew over diamonds
I took off and flew over the precious gems in the West.
East river shining
The scenic beauty of the East River was a sight to behold.
A city sinking in the mud
The chaos of a sinking town in the West is quite evident in the story.
And in a second
In a blink of an eye, it all changed.
A life-long second
Despite the brevity, it felt like a lifetime.
I knew what we'd become
The realization of who we are and what we've done hit me hard.
We use up people, use up time
We exhaust everyone and everything around us, consuming resources not considering the costs.
Use up places, we say goodbye
We leave behind things and places we've ruined.
Searching for the crowded hour
We spend our lives chasing moments and experiences we think are most valuable.
Now there's a buzzing in the wires
There's a strange vibration in the air, hinting at something ominous.
Look for lightning in your eyes
I see the sparks of defiance and rebellion in your eyes.
And I see it there
I recognize that same restlessness and uneasiness in myself.
Hey hey Rockstar
Hey, fellow individualist.
Let's play happy
Pretend that everything is fine and just enjoy the moment.
This could be our final hour
Maybe this will be the last time we get to be carefree and alive.
I'll take your picture
Let me capture this memory with a photograph.
But who needs pictures?
But why hold onto memories when they only serve to highlight the irrevocability of time?
They only strip you of your power
Reminders of the past highlight how powerless we are in the face of time.
Don't lose your nerve now
Stay prepared and keep your wits about you.
Feel the curve of the earth now
Take in the vastness of the world and all its wonders.
Rising up to meet your feet
Stand tall and face the world with courage and determination.
Never find the crowded hour
We run after life's highlights, but true joy and fulfillment come from the quieter times.
It's time to move the saints again
It's time to rouse the restless and forge ahead again.
Curse the sun to kill the rain
The struggle never ends, the constant fight against nature and circumstance.
I wish I knew just how
If only we knew how to overcome the challenges of our lives.
We should have driven
We should have taken control of our lives and guided them towards a better path.
Out to the ocean
Towards the endless possibilites and uncertainty of the vast open sea.
Our hands tied to the wheel
Despite our hopes and dreams, we are bound by the realities of our lives.
Now something's broken
Things have gone awry, and it's unclear what to do next.
Don't know what's broken
The pain and heartache is all-consuming, and it's unclear where it's stemming from.
Or if I want it healed
Healing the wounds might be necessary, but the cost of moving on and leaving the past behind is overwhelming.
Where the hell's the crowded hour
Again we reach for hectic social hours and rush, always seeking the next big event, not satisfied in our solitude.
Scattered thoughts and promises
There's chaos and confusion in our minds and in the promises we make and fail to keep.
Let the wind take all that's left
Letting everything go, and letting fate decide its course, giving in to an existential surrender.
There's nothing for you here
This particular moment is no solace, and perhaps there never will be one.
So take a card and put it back
Choose a new opportunity, shuffle the cards, but let go of the past.
Hide the faces cut the pack
Disassociate with the people and moments that have hurt you.
The future's not that clear
The future may be uncertain, but there is solace in knowing a new story will unfold.
You wanted glory
We all have our dreams of becoming something great.
Well here's your glory
Here it is: the world as it is.
Just look what we've become
Our grandiose dreams of the past translate into a messy, grey existence of the present.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MCRAE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind