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
Independence Day
Vic Chesnutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forefathers where are you now?
Your dust is settling on my furniture
Oh independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Oh independence day.
Well I stepped out of a cloud and the ditch it is close
Hemingway did yourself justice
So here's to you you articulate dead fisherman
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Independence day.
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
Independence day.
What if I said I loved you
And I needed your guidance to help me through the obstacles?
Would you say I am too wordy and then, then would you laugh?
What if I said I'm under glass untouchable as the document itself?
Would you say ok,
And that you never even considered me?
Oh independence day, yes Independence,
Independence day, independence,
Independence day, day,
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
The song Independence Day by Vic Chesnutt reflects a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past while also exploring the complexities of personal independence. Chesnutt begins by acknowledging that his present state, created by the future, has resulted in a new world order and an empire which was once his field. He then questions his forefathers, wondering where they are now as their dust is settling on his furniture. He seems to be grappling with a sense of disconnect with his past and the changing world around him. This theme is further explored with Chesnutt's reference to Hemingway, a symbol of the past whose legacy has remained, and who he pays tribute to in this song.
Line by Line Meaning
Well future stepped into my field and turned it into an empire
The future has taken over my life and turned it into something bigger than I imagined.
Forefathers where are you now?
Where are the leaders and founders who came before me and paved the way?
Your dust is settling on my furniture
Your legacy lives on, but it's slowly fading away with time.
Oh independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
I never realized how important the idea of independence and freedom truly is.
Well I stepped out of a cloud and the ditch it is close
I have come out of the fog and am facing difficult situations.
I mean the ditch it is closing in.
The situation is getting worse and the obstacles are becoming harder to overcome.
Hemingway did yourself justice
You lived up to your potential and left behind a notable legacy.
So here's to you you articulate dead fisherman
Cheers to the eloquent fisherman who is no longer with us.
What if I said I loved you
What would you think of me if I told you I loved you?
And I needed your guidance to help me through the obstacles?
I need your help to navigate through the challenges I am facing.
Would you say I am too wordy and then, then would you laugh?
Would you ridicule me if I expressed my emotions and thoughts in a verbose way?
What if I said I'm under glass untouchable as the document itself?
What if I told you I feel trapped and unapproachable as if I were preserved in glass?
Would you say ok, And that you never even considered me?
Would you dismiss me and act as though I never mattered to you?
Oh independence day, yes Independence,
Independence day represents the idea of freedom and liberation.
Independence day, independence,
It stands for the fundamental right of self-governance and autonomy.
Independence day, day,
A day to commemorate the sacrifices made to achieve liberty and sovereignty.
Independence day, I never knew it would be so symbolic.
The significance and symbolism of Independence day is greater than I ever realized.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VIC CHESNUTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Schenectadont
Oh, man. Thank you, Vic. America does not know what it has lost.
Wendy
We miss you Vic. You live on through your songs. Thankfully ❤
eve bekker
Best song for this useless holiday. Glad to have known him. Godspeed Vic.
Caronfountainhead
@Msbookie: I'd like to update the cause of death unofficially as "tired of fuckin' with life". I have the upmost respect for Vic and his fans, he is a testament for how much feeling an artist should put forth in their work. This video makes me sad, but the work as a whole shows his humanity and a path in life that is largely unselfish,. I wish more people could put them selves out there the way he has.
Kent Strock
wow...I hadn't heard him play this live...lucky guys to be there.
BilisNegra
Beautiful!!! Song. Artist. Place. Twilight. Everything!!!
Peter Türk
vic, such a beautiful person, vic, such a human - wonder....
金子与强奸犯
好美，好听
air-istotle
I will remember you Vic.
bootlegapples
Vic playing on a rooftop in Vienna,above it all, during twilight...nice.