The band, whose name is derived from the bumpy Oklahoma toll-roads and their hard lived folk singing heroes, are proof that isolation can be the mother of originality. Cutting their teeth in roadside dance halls and honky-tonks has made a serious impact on the band’s musical style, which walks the line between Woody Guthrie and Waylon Jennings. “Bossier City,” the band’s debut album, is testament to the small towns in which they were raised. It combines Folk, Country, Cajun, and Bluegrass with stories of longing, humor, tragedy, and general life in rural America.
Breaking down traditional barriers between the audience and the stage is something in which they excel. Fast, gritty, and often drenched in beer, the Troubadours perform to both their fans and new audience members with an genuine sincerity about them. They continually gather ground both literally and figuratively as they travel up, down, and across the Midwest.
Their follow-up album, “Diamonds & Gasoline”, was release 2010 with veteran producer and songwriter Mike McClure and legend Joe Hardy (ZZ-Top, Steve Earle). They relentlessly play shows in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Texas.
Evan Felker - Lead Vocals, Acoustic
R.C. Edwards - Bass, Backing Vocals
Kyle Nix - Fiddle, Backing Vocals
Ryan Engleman - Lead Guitar
Giovanni Carnuccio - Drums, Backing Vocals
Call A Spade a Spade
Turnpike Troubadours Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You’ve got a new last name
You got the same old eyes
They’re the same all the same
And you’ve got a heart
Big enough to kill us all
But when you fall
Well damn you fall
Well you’ve got a way
And you’ve got away with it before
And you’ve got a look
That could drop me dead here on the floor
And you’ve got a touch
It’s the sweetest one I know
I gotta go, yeah I gotta go
CHORUS
Oh and everything’s so easy up until its complicated
Until we wake with our heads shakin at the choices we have made
Well to call the whole thing stupid seems so sorely understated
Oh but can we dance a little longer, can we call a spade a spade
Well you gotta try
Awful hard to keep ahead
You got a man (I’ve got a man)
Oh and I’ve been actin like a kid
And you’ve got more
Than a tattoo up your sleeve
It’s time to leave (It’s time to leave)
It’s time to leave
CHORUS
Oh and everything’s so easy up until its complicated
Until we wake with our heads shakin at the choices we have made
Well to call the whole thing stupid seems so sorely understated
Oh but can we dance a little longer, can we call a spade a spade
Well I’ve gotta quit
Yeah darlin I guess do too
Well I’ll take a hint (Oh take a hint)
It’s our time we get a clue
And darlin please (Oh please)
Wells could you stop sayin love
Oh this ain’t love (No this ain’t love)
Good God above
CHORUS
Oh and everything’s so easy up until its complicated
Until we wake with our heads shakin at the choices we have made
Well to call the whole thing stupid seems so sorely understated
Oh but can we dance a little longer, can we call a spade a spade
Can we dance a little longer, can we call a spade a spade
In "Call a Spade a Spade," Turnpike Troubadours tell the story of a tumultuous relationship that seems to be nearing its end. The singer is addressing their partner, noting that although they have some positive qualities, they have a tendency to fall hard and bring everyone down with them. The first verse describes how the partner is still physically recognizable, but their actions have caused them to lose respect. The second verse highlights that the partner has a way of getting what they want, but the singer has had enough and needs to leave. The chorus emphasizes the complexity of the situation, but the singer wants to be honest with what's really happening. The final verse demonstrates that it's time to move on from the relationship, even if that means giving up on something they once thought was love.
The lyrics of this song depict a relatable situation in which one person in a relationship has exerted too much control and caused problems for both parties involved. The use of the metaphor "call a spade a spade" emphasizes the importance of honesty and transparency, which may be difficult when emotions are involved. The song also highlights the need to make tough choices in order to move on from a situation that is no longer healthy or fulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got a ring
You are married
You've got a new last name
You changed your last name after getting married
You got the same old eyes
Your eyes look the same as before
They’re the same all the same
Your eyes haven't changed
And you’ve got a heart
You have a good heart
Big enough to kill us all
You have a very kind and giving heart
But when you fall
But when you make a mistake
Well damn you fall
You fall hard
Well you’ve got a way
You have a certain charm
And you’ve got away with it before
You have gotten away with something before
And you’ve got a look
You have a certain way of looking at someone
That could drop me dead here on the floor
Your look is so intense that it could make someone faint
And you’ve got a touch
You have a gentle touch
It’s the sweetest one I know
Your touch is very comforting
I gotta go, yeah I gotta go
I need to leave
Oh and everything’s so easy up until its complicated
Things seem easy at first, but become complicated later
Until we wake with our heads shakin at the choices we have made
We regret the decisions we have made
Well to call the whole thing stupid seems so sorely understated
To say that the situation is stupid is an understatement
Oh but can we dance a little longer, can we call a spade a spade
Can we ignore the problems and continue to enjoy each other's company?
You gotta try
You need to put in effort
Awful hard to keep ahead
It's difficult to stay ahead of everything
You got a man (I’ve got a man)
You are in a relationship
Oh and I’ve been actin like a kid
I have been immature
And you’ve got more
You have other secrets
Than a tattoo up your sleeve
You have more hidden things than just a tattoo
It’s time to leave (It’s time to leave)
It's time to end things and move on
Yeah darlin I guess do too
Yes, I also need to leave
Well I’ll take a hint (Oh take a hint)
I will take a suggestion
It’s our time we get a clue
We need to learn from our mistakes
And darlin please (Oh please)
And please remember
Wells could you stop sayin love
Please stop using the word 'love'
Oh this ain’t love (No this ain’t love)
This isn't love
Good God above
Heaven help us
Can we dance a little longer, can we call a spade a spade
Can we ignore the problems and continue to enjoy each other's company?
Writer(s): Jamie Wilson, Evan Felker
Contributed by Mason N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stuart
on Down on Washington
The song is literally about the drunk narrator falling in love with a stripper/prostitute... No more depth than that. "Awkward occupation", "steal you... if the choice were up to me", "what's a poor boy to do?" The effort is appreciated though!