Around 1985, Chesnutt moved to Athens and joined the band, The La-Di-Da's. After leaving that group he began performing solo on a regular basis at the 40 Watt Club; it was there that he was spotted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.; Stipe produced Chesnutt's first two albums, Little (1990) and West of Rome (1991).
In 1992 Chesnutt was the subject of a PBS documentary, Speed Racer. He also had a small role in the 1996 Billy Bob Thornton movie Sling Blade which he later described self-mockingly as a poor performance.
In 1996, Chesnutt was exposed to a wider audience with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, the proceeds from which went to the Sweet Relief Fund. The album consisted of Chesnutt covers by famous musicians including Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins (with Red Red Meat), Madonna, R.E.M. and Live.
He recorded several times with other groups and artists. Most notably he made two albums with fellow Athens, GA recording artist Widespread Panic, under the name of brute. Chesnutt's album The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was recorded with alt-country group Lambchop as the backing band. The album Merriment was a collaborative effort between Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, with Vic writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music. The 2005 album Ghetto Bells features famed guitarist Bill Frisell, whom Chesnutt met in 2004 at the renowned Century of Song concert series at the German festival RuhrTriennale. Chesnutt's wife, Tina Chesnutt, frequently plays bass on his albums. His niece, and fellow songwriter, Liz Durrett also appeared on the Ghetto Bells album.
Chesnutt's first four albums were released on the independent Texas Hotel label. He then recorded About to Choke (1996) for Capitol, which was his first and only major record label recording. The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was on PolyGram; Merriment (2000) was on the Backburner Records label; spinART was the label for the self performed and recorded Left to His Own Devices (2001). Vic then found a new home at the New West Records label, who have released two albums for him so far. In 2004 New West also re-released the early Texas Hotel recordings, including expanded liner notes and extra tracks.
In the winter of 2006, he recorded his newest album, North Star Deserter at the Hotel2Tango in Montreal. It was released on September 11, 2007 by Constellation Records. The record includes contributions from Constellation artists Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, as well as Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto. The album was produced by documentary filmmaker Jem Cohen. He also appeared as a guest musician on Cowboy Junkies' 2007 album Trinity Revisited, a 20th anniversary edition of their classic album The Trinity Session.
On Dec 25th 2009, Vic Chesnutt died after falling into a coma following a suicide attempt.
Official Website: Vic Chesnutt
Degenerate
Vic Chesnutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have a duty to do
I been tied to the table
But now I am frazzled and aloof
Degenerate, disintegrate the tight knots
Degenerate, rot away the nooses
Degenerate, out come those tangles
Oh degenerate, oh degenerate
Stand of sweet corn by the trickling creek
Winter dead that was buried 'neath the pole beans
Behold a sink-hole in the spring
Degenerate, washed by weather cycles
Degenerate, bleach the deadly night shades
Degenerate, prepare to take the profit
Oh degenerate, oh degenerate
Degenerate, disintegrate the tight knots
Degenerate, bleach the deadly night shades
Degenerate, out come those tangles
Oh degenerate, oh degenerate
In Vic Chesnutt's song "Degenerate," he uses the metaphor of a ball of twine to represent himself and his duty to do something. The tight knots and nooses that he mentions could be interpreted as the obstacles or challenges he has faced in trying to fulfill that duty. He expresses that he has been tied to a table, which could represent feeling trapped or constrained by whatever is holding him back from achieving his goal. However, he also states that he is now frazzled and aloof, which suggests that he has reached a point of exhaustion or detachment from the situation.
The second half of the song shifts to a description of natural elements, such as vegetables and a sink-hole. These lyrics could be seen as a comparison to his own life, where he feels like he is being washed by weather cycles and preparing to take the profit. The repetition of the phrase "oh degenerate" throughout the song emphasizes the feeling of decay or breaking down, which could symbolize both the obstacles he has faced and his own mental state.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a rough ball of twine
I am a complex and tangled mess
I have a duty to do
I have a responsibility to fulfill
I been tied to the table
I have been restricted and restrained
But now I am frazzled and aloof
But now I am exhausted and detached
Degenerate, disintegrate the tight knots
Loosen the tight knots and break them down
Degenerate, rot away the nooses
Decay and dissolve the restraints
Degenerate, out come those tangles
Untangle and unravel the mess
Oh degenerate, oh degenerate
Oh break down and dissolve these restraints
Acorn squash and a hearty rows of okra
A vegetable garden with squash and okra growing
Stand of sweet corn by the trickling creek
A stand of corn growing near a small stream
Winter dead that was buried 'neath the pole beans
Dead plants from winter buried under the bean plants
Behold a sink-hole in the spring
Notice a sinkhole in the ground during spring
Degenerate, washed by weather cycles
Break down and weathered over time
Degenerate, bleach the deadly night shades
Break down and remove the poisonous plants
Degenerate, prepare to take the profit
Break down and get ready to reap the benefits
Oh degenerate, oh degenerate
Oh break down and decay for the greater good
Degenerate, disintegrate the tight knots
Loosen the tight knots and break them down
Degenerate, bleach the deadly night shades
Break down and remove the poisonous plants
Degenerate, out come those tangles
Untangle and unravel the mess
Oh degenerate, oh degenerate
Oh break down and dissolve these restraints
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: VIC CHESNUTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryan Kerouac
as much alive today, without the vessel of course, but the songs are close by in the hearts of those who had the good fortune to listen
Jbonejacon
A masterful YouTube comment my friend.
squankboy
As far as I'm concerned, "See You Around" from ABOUT TO CHOKE is the best song ever written. I already miss you, Vic.
Jeff Jacques
Dude owned melancholy. So powerful. Loved Vic. RIP man.
pogospace
The sheer beauty of these words astounds me everytime. This song drew me to Vic's music and I'll miss him more than I can say
Pedro Cantusio
Good music never gets old
pogospace
Sheer beautiful poetry from a man who is sorely missed.
Mitar
Vic, you will never be forgotten.
TR TR
I had the pleasure of having a drink with the man, briefly, in NY in 1996. He was hilarious. Full of jokes, ready to go at will.
Tyler Alford
Pretty heavy to put that weight on a medical staff...ya know since he killed himself.