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
Flirted With You All My Life
Vic Chesnutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everywhere I go, you're always right there with me.
I flirted with you all my life
Even kissed you once or twice
To this day I swear it was nice.
But clearly, I was not ready.
But I found out with time,
That really, i was not ready.
No, No
Oh death, oh death, oh death.
Really, I'm not ready.
Of death you hinder me.
Death makes those dear to me.
Tease me with your sweet relief.
You're cool, and you are constant.
When my mom was cancer sick,
She fought but then succumb to it.
But you made her beg for it,
Lord Jesus, please, I'm ready.
Oh death, oh death, oh death.
Really I'm not ready.
No no.
Oh death, oh death, oh death.
Clearly I'm not ready.
The lyrics of Vic Chesnutt's song "Flirted With You All My Life" are deeply introspective and address the complex emotions surrounding death and the fear of its inevitability. Chesnutt speaks in the first person as a man who is self-aware and constantly aware of death's presence in his life. The chorus of the song references the idea that death is constantly flirting with him, and he has spent much of his life avoiding it.
Chesnutt admits that he has flirted with death throughout his life and even kissed it a few times. Despite these interactions, he acknowledges that he was not ready for death. He then references a friend who has died and how this experience made him feel overwhelmed with the thought of death. He knows that death is constantly present, but he still feels that he is not ready to face it.
The second part of the song focuses on the more personal experience of death. Chesnutt speaks about his mother's cancer and how she bravely fought it but eventually succumbed. He then accuses death of making her beg for it and implies that he was not ready to let her go.
Overall, "Flirted With You All My Life" is a poignant and honest exploration of the complex emotions surrounding death and the fear of mortality. Chesnutt's lyrics touch on the idea that death is always present in our lives, and while we may face it bravely, we may feel that we are never truly ready.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a man. I am self aware.
I am conscious of my existence as a human male.
Everywhere I go, you're always right there with me.
The concept of death accompanies me wherever I go.
I flirted with you all my life
I have always had a fascination with death.
Even kissed you once or twice
I have had close encounters with death.
To this day I swear it was nice.
The thought of dying seemed comforting at the time.
But clearly, I was not ready.
I was not prepared for the reality of death.
When you touched a friend of mine, I thought I would lose my mind.
The death of a close friend put me on the edge.
But I found out with time, That really, I was not ready.
I came to the realization that I was not emotionally equipped to handle death.
Oh death, oh death, oh death. Really I'm not ready.
I am not mentally prepared to accept death.
Of death you hinder me.
The thought of death holds me back from truly living.
Death makes those dear to me.
Death takes away the people I care about.
Tease me with your sweet relief.
The promise of release from pain and suffering that comes with death entices me.
You're cool, and you are constant.
Death is permanent and always present.
When my mom was cancer sick, She fought but then succumb to it.
My mother battled cancer, but ultimately lost the fight.
But you made her beg for it, Lord Jesus, please, I'm ready.
My mother was so worn down by the pain that she longed for death as a release.
Oh death, oh death, oh death. Really I'm not ready. No no.
Repeated manifestation of the idea that I am not prepared for death.
Clearly I'm not ready.
I still have a lot of work to do towards being ready for the inevitability of death.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Vic Chesnutt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeff Rogers
I've been doing a once a week radio show for 30 some odd years. On Christmas Eve 2009, I knew through the network that Vic was closing in on the end of his life and was about to die. I was on the air that night and finished my show with "See You Around." On Christmas morning I received the news that his life was over. There's that 'thing' about music and art and poetry when one can, through the words of others, fly close to that bright and frightening source of all that is...the beauty and horror of life on earth. In a quiet way, I think Vic showed us how to fly closer to the light and not melt our wings.
I'm very grateful for what he gave us!
Jeff Rogers
@Sarah Mobius A pleasure Sarah! Thank you!
Jeff Rogers
@Paul Houston Thanks Paul. I wrote that in a momentary spasm of emotional inspiration! Cheers!
Paul Houston
Just randomly read your lovely words and get the same feeling every time I listen to Vic
Sarah Mobius
Thank you for sharing this so eloquently. Made me tear up. RIP VC.
Terry Quesenberry
Merriment
TJ Donaldson
Wow once in a life time performance. So tragic that he is passed. He kind of reminds me Daniel Johnston...the every man...the guy next door singer song writer. I love you Vic thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your music and story helped me when 2 of my bro-in laws each suffered traumatic brain injuries months apart. One from a car wreck, the second from multiple brainstem strokes. They are not as mobile or independent as Vic in this video but they are fighting!
Thank you Vic for giving me hope. RIP God Bless You
Vic Chesnutt
Devin Miller
One the greatest songs written in the last 20 years.
PlatypusJonesy
Criminally underrated.
Robert Mucci
Total agree.