The power foursome then moved to commune, create and rehearse amongst the famed musical lore of Laurel Canyon. Within two weeks of rehearsals in early 2010, the group quickly began playing local shows and late night speakeasies. Led by timeless vocal tone and presence, small tweed amps, and a mission to move as many people as possible, the band quickly gained a reputation as a high energy and truly mesmerizing live act whose performances feel like down-home revivals with an uptown edge. Sticking to their roots of mid-century original soul music and recording techniques, the band used a lean three-day recording session with full takes and no-frills to turn out 12 new songs a mere two months into the project. With singles like "Gracefully", "Nancy Lee", "Still & Always Will" and "Blues Hand Me Down", the resulting sound brings you back to the days of vinyl records, sweaty juke joints, and the feel and essence of the original soul movement.
Blues Hand Me Down
Vintage Trouble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gave me the blues hand me down
An alligator shoes man
Gave me the blues hand me downs
Moonshine drinking
Do everything but thinking
Blues hand me downs
Chasing every skirt in town
Taking the long way
Waiting for the sun to come out
Wheeling and hustling
Dealing and shuffling
Blues hand me downs
Lord, have mercy on my soul
I didn’t know
You never know
A fighter. No lover.
No fucking around
And just like my big brother
He stood on shaky ground
His pride got the best of him
Smoking got the rest of him
Blues hand me downs
Lord, have mercy on your soul
I didn’t know
You never know
Hand me down blues
Hand me down blues
Hand me down blues
I come from vintage trouble
Look out if I’m the one you found
I’ll pop your bubble
With my live wire, straight shooting dirty mouth
Papa was a blues man
Please baby understand
I got the, got the, got the, got the
Blue hand me downs
Lord, have mercy on your soul
You didn’t know
They never know
Hand me down blues
Hand me down blues
Hand me down blues
The lyrics of the song "Blues Hand Me Down" by Vintage Trouble delve into the theme of inheritance of traits, habits, and tendencies from family members. The first verse of the song refers to the singer's father, who was a blues man that left him with the "blues hand me down," a metaphor for the emotions and experiences handed down from his father. The line "an alligator shoes man" can be interpreted as the fashionable side of the father, juxtaposing against the emotional contributions. The next part of the verse talks about moonshine drinking, suggesting a wild lifestyle, and doing everything except thinking with "blues hand me downs."
The second verse shows the singer's lifestyle, which is reckless and self-destructive. "Racing the wrong way," "chasing skirts in town," and waiting for the sun to come out, which refers to procrastination and wasted time. Wheeling, hustling, dealing, and shuffling refer to gambling and possibly drug use. The third and fourth stanzas show a more regretful tone, mentioning that the singer didn't recognize the consequences of his actions before it was too late, and how his brother is facing similar consequences. The chorus has the repeated words "hand me down blues," signifying that the singer can't escape his past.
Line by Line Meaning
Papa was a blues man
My father was a blues musician
Gave me the blues hand me down
He passed on his passion for blues to me
An alligator shoes man
He had a taste for fancy clothes and accessories
Gave me the blues hand me downs
But he also passed on his old clothes, which I still wear
Moonshine drinking
I drink homemade alcohol
Do everything but thinking
I live recklessly, without considering the consequences
Blues hand me downs
I inherited my father's love for blues music
Racing the wrong way
I take unnecessary risks
Chasing every skirt in town
I go after every girl I see
Taking the long way
I don't mind going the extra mile
Waiting for the sun to come out
I don't want the fun to end
Wheeling and hustling
I engage in shady activities to make money
Dealing and shuffling
I entertain myself with gambling
Lord, have mercy on my soul
I realize that my actions may have consequences
I didn't know
I didn't realize what I was getting myself into
You never know
Life is unpredictable
A fighter. No lover.
I am confrontational and not good at relationships
No fucking around
I don't waste time
And just like my big brother
My older sibling was similar to me
He stood on shaky ground
He was in trouble with the law
His pride got the best of him
His ego caused his downfall
Smoking got the rest of him
He died from smoking-related illness
Lord, have mercy on your soul
I hope you don't make the same mistakes as him
Hand me down blues
The legacy of blues music that my father left me
I come from vintage trouble
I was born into a family with a troubled history
Look out if I'm the one you found
Be careful if you associate with me
I'll pop your bubble
I'll expose your illusions
With my live wire, straight shooting dirty mouth
I speak my mind honestly and fearlessly
Please baby understand
I hope you appreciate where I come from
I got the, got the, got the, got the
I have a deep connection to blues music
Blue hand me downs
The heritage of blues music that I inherited from my father
Hand me down blues
The continuation of the blues music tradition, passed down from generation to generation
Hand me down blues
The influence of the blues music legacy on the present and future
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CARL ANDERS BJORN COLT, TYRONE TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chiaskid
Real music right here, thank you guys for sharing your talents with the world. Most definitely gonna buy your album(s)!
@marquinhus
What a incredible sound and perfomance, I've met your music days ago and I still impacted by it! Hope can see you somedays, guys! Keep on rockin' and shakin' in that way, with all that energy! Strong hugs from Brazil!
@HumanTriop
You guys remain to be my favourite blues band of today! You're amazing! You deserve all the support you get. Thanks for the music!
@TheGreaterSin2
I was fortunate enough to see you guys at Summer Sonic in Osaka, Japan! You were incredible, keep it up! See you next time you're in Toronto :D
@joseluizdasilvadentello2363
Não conhecia esse som, é muito bom espetacular, recomendado pra que gosta de um bom rock and roll...
@RedJupie
Great music. Great vintage wardrobe. Great stage action.
@TheRamtin
Just discovered this band from an interview with Jay Buchanan. I'll definitely be getting the albums. Incredibly groovy sound.
@brianandthemystics
These guys are good! Great energy! Love it!
@jeffweir8454
These guys kick ass! No weak links in this foursome. Rock like it should be, simple sweaty fun!
@mattcascio23
You guys are amazing. You are exactly what I've been wanting out of music lately. Soul, Blues, and of course Rock and Roll. Tremendous vocals, rockin drums, cruising bass, and some truly awesome guitar work. You just don't see groups like you guys nowadays, what a breath of fresh air.