In 1997, Lucca took to the internet with his independent debut, So Satisfied. Having sold 2000 copies within a year, he then followed that up with the 1999 release, Strong Words, Softly Spoken. With only the internet and constant touring, Lucca went on to sell a total of 10,000 records in just a few short years. After garnering the 2001 LA Music Award for best male singer/songwriter, Tony Lucca had created quite a buzz with industry insiders and managed to take to the road opening for recording mega stars like *NSync and Marc Anthony, sharing the stage with a diverse array of artists such as Macy Gray, Johnny Lang, and the late great Chris Whitley.
After several years of indy perseverance, Lucca released his first commercially distributed album in 2004. Shotgun, the consummate road trip record, takes the listener for a ride.
In 2005, Lucca released Anatomy of a Blackbird, a live concert dvd with a close-up, behind the scenes look at life on the road during his 2004 California tour. The documentary and 12 song set give an honest glimpse into the world of an artist hard at work and enjoying every minute of it.
August of 2006 ushered in the release of Lucca's 4th full length studio effort, Canyon Songs. This collection of songs was written and recorded entirely up in the canyons of Los Angeles. Canyon Songs is an homage to the thriving singer/songwriter spirit of the late 60's and early 70's that took Laurel Cayon out of it's mystical obscurity and placed it right dead smack in the middle of mainstream poular music. From the Joni Mitchell-laced "Songbird" to the Eagles-like "Darlin' I" Lucca reveals his earliest influences with the kind of maturity and respect that only comes with time. It's here that Lucca expresses his appreciation for song in a way that seems to be absent in so much of today's contemporary music.
The consummate live performer, Lucca has etched out an extensive national following. From the folk-friendly venues of the lower East side, to the hype-crazed clubs on the Sunset Strip, and with the help of a national street team of close to 1000 devoted listeners, Tony Lucca has made a rather impressive name for himself as an artist not to be missed
After All
Tony Lucca Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And each time a bed time story is told,
There's a good side and a bad and a happy after all
The boy falls asleep and it's not too clear to him at all
He becomes a cowboy on his horse
With a trail of broken laws
And heads to the highway
Says he'll finish what he started
Next time he's passin' through
There's a woman in each town with a child
The cowboy never knew
Still he comes to you
Says the moral of the story is it all remains the same
As a fool and a master, I'm the ace at every game
Just listen to me girl. I know the tales I tell are tall,
But I could be your cowboy and make you happy ever after,
After all
Now there's a little girl who dreams of a prince on his white horse
And never quite expects for him to come for her of course.
But it's nice to imagine all the flowers he might bring
Than staring at the bruises from a man who never brought her anything
No not a god damned thing
So, she becomes a woman who never loved a man.
The only man she knew gave her the backside his hand
And the scars don't heal so easy, gettin' wounded all the time.
No sense of self-assuredness, no sense of sanity in her mind.
At least not that she can find
So, listen to me girl, it doesn't matter black or blue
If that's the best he offers, it ain't good enough for you
No I ain't no prince charming but your backs against the wall
And you don't need that cowboy to make you happy ever after,
After all
At night the heavens open and the stars unfold
And each time a bed time story is told,
There are some who understand it
And some go on confused,
Some go on abusing
And the rest end up abused,
Convinced there ain't no happy ever after,
After all
After all
After all
After all
After all
The lyrics of Tony Lucca's "After All" touch upon the themes of dreams, abuse, and the search for a happy ending. The first verse describes a child's bedtime story, with a moral lesson that has a good and bad side, and a hopeful ending. However, the cowboy character in the story is flawed and incomplete, with broken laws and unfinished business on the open road. The chorus, sung to a woman, is an invitation to be the cowboy's happy ending, despite the warning that his stories are tall tales. The second verse introduces a little girl who dreams of a prince on a white horse but is trapped in an abusive situation. Despite her scars and lack of self-worth, the song encourages her to know that she deserves better and doesn't need a cowboy to make her happy. The song ends with a reflection on the different ways people respond to stories of happy endings, with some remaining in confusion or abuse.
Line by Line Meaning
At night the heavens open and the stars unfold
The beauty of the night sky brings a sense of wonder and possibility.
And each time a bed time story is told,
Stories can have lasting impact on how we view the world and ourselves.
There's a good side and a bad and a happy after all
Life is complex and has both positive and negative aspects, but there is still hope for happiness.
The boy falls asleep and it's not too clear to him at all
As we dream, we are often at the mercy of our unconscious mind and things can feel uncertain and confusing.
He becomes a cowboy on his horse
The child's imagination can transport him to different worlds and identities.
With a trail of broken laws
The cowboy character is not perfect and has made mistakes.
And heads to the highway
The cowboy is restless and seeking adventure and new experiences.
Every time the highway calls
The cowboy is compelled to leave and seek new experiences.
Says he'll finish what he started
The cowboy is committed to completing his goals and not giving up.
Next time he's passin' through
The cowboy is always looking forward and planning his next move.
There's a woman in each town with a child
The cowboy has a pattern of romantic relationships that result in children, but he never stays in one place for long.
The cowboy never knew
The cowboy is not around to see the consequences of his actions.
Still he comes to you
The cowboy is still looking for new experiences and people to connect with.
Says the moral of the story is it all remains the same
The cowboy recognizes that life has both good and bad elements and that patterns often repeat.
As a fool and a master, I'm the ace at every game
The cowboy is both foolish and wise, and is experienced in navigating life's challenges.
Just listen to me girl. I know the tales I tell are tall,
The cowboy is aware that he may exaggerate or glamorize his stories, but wants to be heard and understood.
But I could be your cowboy and make you happy ever after,
The cowboy is offering himself as a potential romantic partner who can provide happiness and adventure.
After all
Despite life's complications and challenges, there is still hope for happiness and connection.
Now there's a little girl who dreams of a prince on his white horse
The little girl has internalized cultural ideas of romantic love and idealized relationships.
And never quite expects for him to come for her of course.
Despite her dreams, the girl knows that reality may not live up to her expectations.
But it's nice to imagine all the flowers he might bring
Even if her actual experiences are disappointing, the girl can take solace in her imagination.
Than staring at the bruises from a man who never brought her anything
The girl's current reality is one of physical abuse and emotional neglect.
No not a god damned thing
The man in the girl's life has never provided her with love or support.
So, she becomes a woman who never loved a man.
As a result of her negative experiences, the girl grows up to be a woman who struggles to form healthy romantic relationships.
The only man she knew gave her the backside his hand
The only man in the woman's life treated her with violence and cruelty.
And the scars don't heal so easy, gettin' wounded all the time.
The emotional wounds of abuse can linger and affect a person long after the abuse has ended.
No sense of self-assuredness, no sense of sanity in her mind.
The woman struggles with self-worth and mental health issues as a result of her past trauma.
At least not that she can find
Despite her struggles, the woman is still searching for healing and meaning in her life.
So, listen to me girl, it doesn't matter black or blue
The cowboy is speaking directly to the woman, telling her that she deserves better than abuse no matter how it is presented.
If that's the best he offers, it ain't good enough for you
The cowboy is encouraging the woman to demand more from her partners and relationships.
No I ain't no prince charming but your backs against the wall
The cowboy acknowledges that he is not perfect, but wants to be there for the woman during a difficult time.
And you don't need that cowboy to make you happy ever after,
The cowboy is not trying to be a savior or a fixer, but rather a supportive partner who can offer companionship and love.
After all
Despite past traumas and difficulties, there is still hope for a happy future.
There are some who understand it
Not everyone is able to see or imagine a future beyond their current struggles.
And some go on confused,
For many people, life remains confusing and uncertain no matter how hard they try to make sense of it.
Some go on abusing
Some individuals continue to perpetuate cycles of abuse and harm, often without even realizing it.
And the rest end up abused,
Others become victims of abuse and harm, often through no fault of their own.
Convinced there ain't no happy ever after,
Those who have experienced trauma and difficulties may struggle to believe in the possibility of happiness and fulfillment.
After all
Despite the challenges of life, there is still hope and possibility for happiness.
Contributed by Adam D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.