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 (Acousti
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics

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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

There was a time

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 lyrics of Uncle Tupelo's "Looking for a Way Out" addresses the challenges of feeling stuck in one place and wanting more out of life. It starts with the realization that trying to fit in like everyone else won't work, and there is a need to search for a different path. The song is about the struggle between staying in one's comfort zone or stepping out into the unknown to find the life we long for. Being torn between the desire to leave for something better and the fear of leaving the known is a common theme.

The lyrics describe the singer's life in a small town where nothing much has ever happened. He is at a crossroads, feeling trapped in his current situation while longing for a different life. He acknowledges that staying in the same place will not bring the change he wants, and he dreams of making it out before it's too late. The song tells the story of someone searching for purpose and a way out of the mundane.

Overall, "Looking For a Way Out" is an existential song that captures the feeling of wanting more out of life. It is a constant reminder that life is about taking risks and stepping outside our comfort zones to find our purpose and happiness. The lyrics urge the listener to keep moving forward and that life is about making the most of the time we have.

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
When you realize that you don't fit in with others and can't conform to societal norms, you won't have to search for validation from other people.

Torn between the unknown And the place that you call home And the life you want but have never known
Feeling conflicted between leaving your comfort zone for the unknown, staying in the familiar place you call home, and pursuing an unfamiliar life that you've always wanted.

What has a life of fifty years In this town done for you Except to earn your name and place on a barstool
After fifty years of living in this town, you realize that all you've done is establish a reputation at a local bar and accomplished nothing significant.

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
Despite spending your entire life in one place and never exploring the outside world, you still have hope of escaping 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 period in your life where you could forget about your problems and move on, but that time has passed.

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
Before, you didn't have to worry about the future or past, there was always something meaningful to focus on. Now, you feel trapped and lost, but you know that the only solution is to keep moving forward and find a way out.

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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