Uncle Tupelo was an alternative country music group from Belleville, Illino… Read Full Bio ↴Uncle Tupelo was an alternative country music group from Belleville, Illinois, active between 1987 and 1994. Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, and Mike Heidorn formed the band after the lead singer of their previous band, The Primitives, left to attend college. The trio recorded three albums for Rockville Records, before signing with Sire Records and expanding to a five-piece. Shortly after the release of the band's major label debut album Anodyne, Farrar announced his decision to leave the band due to a soured relationship with his co-songwriter Tweedy. Uncle Tupelo split on May 1, 1994, after completing a farewell tour. Following the breakup, Farrar formed Son Volt with Heidorn, while the remaining members continued as Wilco.

Although Uncle Tupelo broke up before it achieved commercial success, the band is renowned for its impact on the alternative country music scene. The group's first album, No Depression, became a byword for the genre and was widely influential. Uncle Tupelo's sound was unlike popular country music of the time, drawing inspiration from styles as diverse as the hardcore punk of The Minutemen and the country instrumentation and harmony of the Carter Family and Hank Williams. Farrar and Tweedy lyrics frequently referenced Middle America and the working class of Belleville.

Looking For A Way Out
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics

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You could put it out of your mind
Leave it all behind
There was a time
That time is gone

What has a life of fifty years
In this town done for you
Except to earn your name and place on a barstool
You spent your whole life in this county
You've never been out of state
You say you're gonna make it out before it's too late

There was a time
You could put it out of your mind
Leave it all behind
There was a time
That time is gone

There was a time when nothing seemed to make much sense that's turned more intense
And all the crutches you've kept around
Now are nowhere to be found

Remember when you didn't have
To look ahead or behind you
There was always something right there to do
But now it's life in some kind of trap looking for a way out
Well, you keep moving on that's what it's all about

There was a time
You could put it out of your mind
Leave it all behind

There was a time
That time is gone

Overall Meaning

The song "Looking For A Way Out" by Uncle Tupelo talks about feeling stuck in life and the desire to escape one's current situation. The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of the monotony of their life and their surroundings. They feel that they are unable to fit in or keep up with the expectations of the people around them. The singer is torn between the comfort of familiarity and the unknown that lies outside of their comfort zone. They long to find a way out of this trap they feel they are in, but they also acknowledge that there was a time when they could just forget about it all and ignore their struggles.

The song uses vivid imagery to create a sense of despair and helplessness. The reference to earning a place on a barstool and the suggestion that one's accomplishments are limited to their name and reputation within a certain community implies a sense of bleakness and unfulfillment. The lyrics suggest that the things that used to offer comfort and support are no longer available, leaving the singer feeling lost and alone.

Line by Line Meaning

When you find you can't somehow Make it like all the rest You won't need to scrounge around for someone else Torn between the unknown And the place that you call home And the life you want but have never known
When you realize that you don't fit in with everyone else you don't need to search for acceptance from others You are caught between exploring the unknown and holding on to what you know as home while yearning for a different kind of life

What has a life of fifty years In this town done for you Except to earn your name and place on a barstool You spent your whole life in this county You've never been out of state You say you're gonna make it out before it's too late
What have you gained from fifty years of living in this small town? All you have to show for it is a reputation at a local hangout. You've never left this area, but you want to make a change before it's too late.

There was a time You could put it out of your mind Leave it all behind There was a time That time is gone
There was a point in time when you could forget your worries and let them go but that time has passed and you are feeling trapped.

Remember when you didn't have To look ahead or behind you There was always something right there to do But now it's life in some kind of trap looking for a way out Well, you keep moving on that's what it's all about
Do you remember when you didn't have to worry about what the future holds? There was always something to do right in front of you. But now you feel stuck in a cycle and you're searching for a way out. The only thing you can do now is keep moving forward.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JAY FARRAR, JEFF TWEEDY, MICHAEL HEIDORN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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