Authenticity and sincerity have been the cornerstones of Hancock's writing and music since the start of his career. His refusal to compromise his vision and sell
out his music has earned him a fiercely loyal underground following.
Hancock's vision, as he puts it, is "to bring people together and make them feel good about music. It's a spiritual thing and without spirituality, you've got nothin'. There ain't much on the radio that strikes me as being original or from the heart, most of it's from the pocketbook and it shows."
Wayne is proud of his rural roots and culture and has thoroughly absorbed the spirit of country music's forefathers such as Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers. Never a mere imitator, the cutting-edge style that emerges is every bit his own. He breathes youth and driving energy into traditional country forms and adds a dash of big band horns, boogie woogie piano, scorching rockabilly beats, heavenly Hawaiian steel licks and some wigged-out hillbilly jazz guitar.
Hancock figures he started writing songs around the age of twelve, and he did a lot of traveling around Texas, playing juke joints and belting out his originals for anyone who'd listen. At 18, he won the "Wrangler Country Showdown" but couldn't claim the prize because he'd already enrolled in the Marines. After a six-year hitch with Uncle Sam, he moved to Austin, where he reacquainted himself with music and won a role in the 1994 theatrical production of Chippy. He performed alongside Terry Allen, Butch Hancock, Joe Ely and Robert Earl Keen and Rolling Stone proclaimed, "The nasal honky-tonk of newcomer Wayne Hancock practically steals the show."
In 1995 Wayne debuted with "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs", a remarkable CD produced by steel guitar legend Lloyd Maines (Joe Ely, Wilco and Richard Buckner). The release was met with critical acclaim. Newsweek called it "the most promising debut of the season." Two-hundred-fifty dates throughout the country, including brilliant performances on Austin City Limits and NPR's Prairie Home Companion, led to well over 22,000 copies sold of his debut release on a tiny independent Texas label. In 1997, Wayne signed with ARK 21, an eclectic and well-anchored label owned by former Police manager Miles Copeland. Miles and his staff were impressed with Wayne's genuine ability for writing and performing and have dubbed him "arguably the hardest-working man in show business" for his willingness to tour solidly and his insistence on efficiency and
untainted live energy in the studio. "That's What Daddy Wants", Hancock's sophomore release, was recorded in a startling three days. A brilliant example of his Texas swing and juke joint rockabilly, the album was even a staple on the space shuttle Columbia, the bugle call of its title track used to wake the astronauts. After "That's What Daddy Wants" generated even more critical success than the first release, ARK 21 decided to reissue "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs" on their label.
The past several years have been a time of personal evolution and growth in Wayne's life. He was self-managed since the beginning of 1998 and later that year he lost his father to cancer. He has still been gigging solidly throughout the country and has been doing his own driving, tour managing and taking care of business in exactly his own way.
While various musicians drop in on Wayne's shows from time to time, his core band for touring is comprised of the phenomenal Eddie Biebel on lead guitar and the rhythm slappin' Jake Erwin on Standup Bass. Do yourself a favor - whenever this great trio is in or near your town, go to the show!
Sands of Time
Wayne Hancock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Arm in arm with another man
And its strange 'cause she used to me my darlin'
So long ago I think I understand
I no longer dream about you
Seldom the day you cross my mind
I've gone on to a better way of livin'
I hear that you're doin' well now
Everywhere I go I see your name
I used to wonder if somehow I wronged you
But now I know no body shares the blame
Goodbye my dear, the highway's callin'
The rhythm of the road has won my mind
The sun is out and darlin' and I'm so happy
The song "Sands of Time" by Wayne Hancock is a track that talks about moving on from a past love. The singer sees his former lover walking with another man and it doesn't bother him. He says that it's strange because she used to be his "darlin'" but it was long ago and he thinks he understands. The verse shows a sense of emotional detachment that comes with time and acceptance.
The chorus then reveals that the singer has moved on and no longer thinks about his former lover or dreams about her. He says he's gone on to a "better way of livin'" but his heart is still "drippin' with the sands of time". This phrase refers to the passage of time and how it erodes everything away. It's a metaphor for how memories of the past still linger, even in the face of moving on.
In the second verse, the singer says he's heard that his former lover is doing well and her name is everywhere he goes. He used to wonder if he wronged her, but now he knows "nobody shares the blame". This shows that the singer has fully accepted the end of the relationship and that he's no longer grappling with feelings of guilt or blame. The song ends with the singer saying goodbye to his former lover and hitting the highway, happy and content with his new life.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday I saw my baby walkin'
The singer saw his former love walking with another man.
Arm in arm with another man
The singer saw his former love and the other man holding each other's arms.
And its strange 'cause she used to be my darlin'
It seems odd to the singer that the woman with the other man used to be his beloved.
So long ago I think I understand
It has been a while since the artist and the woman were together, but he feels he understands the situation.
I no longer dream about you
The artist has stopped dreaming about his former love.
Seldom the day you cross my mind
He rarely thinks about her during the day.
I've gone on to a better way of livin'
The singer has moved on and is living a better life.
My heart is drippin' with the sands of time
His heart is filled with the memories of the past, represented by the sands of time.
I hear that you're doin' well now
The artist has heard that his former love is doing well.
Everywhere I go I see your name
He sees her name wherever he goes.
I used to wonder if somehow I wronged you
The singer used to wonder if he somehow did something wrong to the woman.
But now I know nobody shares the blame
He realizes that nobody is at fault for their relationship ending.
Goodbye my dear, the highway's callin'
The singer says goodbye to his former love because he feels the need to leave.
The rhythm of the road has won my mind
The singer is drawn to the freedom and adventure of the road.
The sun is out and darlin' and I'm so happy
The singer is happy to be on the road and enjoying the sunshine.
Contributed by Alexandra K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.