Victor is the loving husband and devoted father of four; the youngest sibling of the amazing Wooten brothers (Regi, Roy, Rudy and Joseph), and the bassist in their famed family band; the student in the martial art of Wing Chun and the nature survival skill of Tracking; the teacher of dozens of Bass players at his acclaimed annual Bass & Nature camp; and the master magician.
Victor Lemonte Wooten got to music early, growing up in a military family in which his older brothers all played and sang. By the time he was 3, Victor was being taught bass by his oldest brother Regi, and at age 5 he was performing professionally with the Wooten Brothers Band. He recalls, "My parents and brothers were the foundation. They prepared me for anything by teaching me to keep my mind open and learn to adapt.” Working their way east from Sacramento, the band played countless clubs and eventually opened concerts for Curtis Mayfield and War.
Victor was influenced by bass mentors, Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins, while learning about the music business at a wildly accelerated pace. By the early '80s, with the family settled in Newport News, Virginia, the brothers became mainstays at Busch Gardens theme park in nearby Williamsburg, making numerous connections with musicians in Nashville and New York.
In 1988 Victor moved to Nashville, where he worked with singer Jonell Mosser and met New Grass Revival banjo ace Bela Fleck. A year later, Fleck enlisted Vic, his brother Roy (a.k.a. Future Man) and harmonica-playing keyboardist Howard Levy to perform with him, and the Flecktones were born. After three highly successful albums, Levy departed in 1993, and the band's new trio format enabled Victor to develop and display a staggering array of fingerboard skills that turned him into a bass hero of Pastorian-proportions and helped earn the band a Grammy.
With the Flecktones in full flight, Victor set his sights on a solo career, first forming Bass Extremes with fellow low-end lord Steve Bailey (leading to an instructional book/CD and two CDs, to date), and finally releasing his critically-acclaimed solo debut, A Show of Hands, in 1996. Soon after, Vic took his solo show on the road with drummer J.D. Blair. Momentum and accolades built with successive tours and the release of What Did He Say? in 1997, the Grammy-nominated Yin-Yang in 1999 and the double CD, Live In America in 2001.
Wooten won two Nashville Music Awards for Bassist Of The Year and is the only three-time winner of Bass Player magazine's Bass Player Of The Year. With the honors came sideman calls, leading to recordings and performances with artists like Branford Marsalis, Mike Stern, Bruce Hornsby, Chick Corea, Dave Matthews, Prince, Gov't Mule, Susan Tedeschi, Vital Tech Tones (with Scott Henderson and Steve Smith), the Jaco Pastorius Word Of Mouth Big Band, and the soundtrack of the Disney film Country Bears, not to mention the stellar work with guitarist Greg Howe and Dennis Chambers with the group Howe Wooten and Chambers.
Fresh off sold-out tours with the Flecktones and Bass Extremes (with Bailey, Watson and Oteil Burbridge) in 2004, Victor is re-focusing on his solo side in 2005 thanks to a remarkable new CD, his Vanguard Records debut, Soul Circus. A three-ring affair, the disc boasts such guests as the Wooten brothers, Bootsy Collins, Arrested Development rapper/vocalist Speech, Howard Levy, Dennis Chambers, Saundra Williams, J.D. Blair, Derico Watson, Flecktone Jeff Coffin, and a who's-who of bassists, including Bailey, Burbridge, Will Lee, Rhonda Smith, Christian McBride, T.M. Stevens, Bill Dickens and Gary Grainger.
On Soul Circus, Victor performs his usual high-wire act on a bevy of basses, but the real ringmaster here is his collection of songs: The poignant "Prayer” and Prince-charged flipside "Natives” provide a thought-provoking look at our native Americans. The epic "Bass Tribute” pays homage to great thumpers past and present. "On and On” is an instant soul classic. "Cell Phone” makes a chuckle-filled, cutting-edge connection. "Higher Law” stands as a stadium-ready, rock-funk protest anthem in the best Sly Stone tradition. "Back to India” currys up simmering musical flavors. And the hip hop/jazz title track marks the sonic coming-out of the long-rumored eight-armed character seen on the CD's cover and in the liner notes: Yes, Virginia (and the rest of the world), there is a funktopus!
Victor Wooten has the rare ability to continuously raise the bar, always growing as an artist, and he's excited to have joined the Vanguard roster with the release of Soul Circus.
Think About That
Victor Wooten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something that's mind opening can appear scary.
I don't know, I just think we should all just sit down and think, even if we just think just
A little bit, um, the answers will probably all show up.
(Where would u lead them? Think about that. If the whole world decided to follow U.)
Yeah, absolutely. But before we can think about leading anybody, I think we should think about where we're leading ourselves. (Think about that.)
No, I know what u mean. It's not a job I would want, trying to lead anybody. I mean, I have trouble leading myself. (Where would u lead them?)
But if I had to lead anybody anywhere I think I would, I'd probably just try to lead them back to themselves.
Yeah, because, the self is not a place that u can lead anyone. Everybody would have to find their own way, and then the leading job would be over for me. I like that.
Yeah, but when we're first born, u know, we're our own person but soon after, u know, when we start to learn and we learn from our parents and we start to go to school, we really, quickly start to get away from ourselves.
I mean, u can't really go through any structured teaching, uh, learning establishment with your own ideas. U know, u're always taught to fit in. But what are we fitting into?
U know, don't color outside the lines. Who drew the lines in the first place. I don't know
(Think about that!)
Right. That makes sense. Yeah, but I've spent my whole life trying to be in control of myself. But I dislike any one or any situation that tries to control me.
So, check this out. My trying to control myself just causes me to dislike myself. I'm finally understanding it.
I should just let me be. That's what I ask everybody else to do.
Right, yeah exactly, yeah, the act of trying to control something usually means that there's something wrong with it, and so that means we have to control it obviously.
To control something usually means taking its freedom away. So why would I spend a life fighting for freedom, just so I can take it away. Um, In the name of control.
(If the whole world decided today, to follow u. where would u lead them? Think about that)
Vibrations? Yeah, it's actually pretty simple. The thing is nothing ever stops vibrating.
Scientists know that, I mean they'll tell u that everything is a vibration. Right, yeah.
I mean, things vibrate faster they may appear as light, slower it may appear as something solid or something like that. But even thoughts are vibrations.
But the key here is that nothing ever stops vibrating, ever.
So check it out. Everything that ever vibrated is still vibrating. Everything that ever was still is. That's cool.
Yeah, me too. It's really makes me want to pay attention to the vibrations that I'm putting out there.
"Cause do they ever go away? (Think about that!)
(If the whole world decided to follow u…)
OK, Yeah, It's been fun.
(…Where would u lead them?)
I love u too, Bye Bye
The lyrics of Victor Wooten's song Think About That have a profound meaning that urges people to introspect and reconsider their lives. The conversation between two individuals in the lyrics suggests that people need to take a moment and think about their lives, their intentions, and their impact on the world. The song encourages individuals to find direction by leading themselves back to their true selves. The lyrics ask pertinent questions such as "Where would u [you] lead them?" and "What are we fitting into?" that provokes listeners to contemplate their actions and the idea of control over themselves and the world.
The song highlights the importance of being mindful of the vibrations that one puts out into the world because they never truly go away. The lyrics suggest that individuals should try to be true to themselves, avoid suppressing their individuality, and not let external forces control them. It emphasizes that one does not need to take control of anyone else's life and instead encourages leading others back to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, I mean, I know. It's a scary thought though. Well not really scary but sometimes
Something that's mind opening can appear scary.
I don't know, I just think we should all just sit down and think, even if we just think just
A little bit, um, the answers will probably all show up.
Take time to think, even if it's a little, the answers might become clearer.
(Where would u lead them? Think about that. If the whole world decided to follow U.)
Reflect on where you would lead others if you were to become a leader.
Yeah, absolutely. But before we can think about leading anybody, I think we should think about where we're leading ourselves. (Think about that.)
Before leading others, consider leading yourself in the right direction.
No, I know what u mean. It's not a job I would want, trying to lead anybody. I mean, I have trouble leading myself. (Where would u lead them?)
Leading others is not an easy job, and one should first consider their own direction before considering others.
But if I had to lead anybody anywhere I think I would, I'd probably just try to lead them back to themselves.
If leading is a must, consider leading others back to themselves.
Yeah, because, the self is not a place that u can lead anyone. Everybody would have to find their own way, and then the leading job would be over for me. I like that.
Everyone has to find their own way, leading oneself is enough.
Yeah, but when we're first born, u know, we're our own person but soon after, u know, when we start to learn and we learn from our parents and we start to go to school, we really, quickly start to get away from ourselves.
During learning and development, people start moving away from their original personality.
I mean, u can't really go through any structured teaching, uh, learning establishment with your own ideas. U know, u're always taught to fit in. But what are we fitting into?
U know, don't color outside the lines. Who drew the lines in the first place. I don't know
(Think about that!)
Structured learning may suppress individual ideas, and it's essential to question and rethink the boundaries laid down for us.
Right. That makes sense. Yeah, but I've spent my whole life trying to be in control of myself. But I dislike any one or any situation that tries to control me.
Controlling oneself is crucial, but being controlled is unpleasant.
So check this out. My trying to control myself just causes me to dislike myself. I'm finally understanding it.
I should just let me be. That's what I ask everybody else to do.
Trying to control oneself may lead to self-loathing, and it's essential to let oneself be, just like one would ask of others.
Right, yeah exactly, yeah, the act of trying to control something usually means that there's something wrong with it, and so that means we have to control it obviously.
To control something usually means taking its freedom away. So why would I spend a life fighting for freedom, just so I can take it away. Um, In the name of control.
Trying to control something indicates a problem, leading to oppression and taking away that which one has fought for.
Vibrations? Yeah, it's actually pretty simple. The thing is nothing ever stops vibrating.
Scientists know that, I mean they'll tell u that everything is a vibration. Right, yeah.
I mean, things vibrate faster they may appear as light, slower it may appear as something solid or something like that. But even thoughts are vibrations.
Vibrations never stop, scientists know everything has a vibration, and the appearance of things may vary due to their vibration frequency, even thoughts.
But the key here is that nothing ever stops vibrating, ever.
So check it out. Everything that ever vibrated is still vibrating. Everything that ever was still is. That's cool.
Nothing ever stops vibrating, and every vibration stays active, which is fascinating to consider.
Yeah, me too. It's really makes me want to pay attention to the vibrations that I'm putting out there.
"Cause do they ever go away? (Think about that!)
Being aware of the vibrations sent out by us is vital, as they remain active indefinitely.
OK, Yeah, It's been fun.
The conversation has been enjoyable.
(If the whole world decided to follow u…)
The question raises again, if people were to follow you.
I love u too, Bye Bye
End of the conversation
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.