In a modest rent house in the small East Texas town of Elkhart, Texas, Cody Cannon and Cody Tate began to write music, only dreaming of the success that is sure to follow. They began to incorporate the talent and imagination of friend and guitarist John Jeffers. At that time, they called themselves Lucky Southern, though they had only three members. As time passed, with their inspiration mounting, they moved to Tyler, Texas. There they met up with Jeff Hogg, a mutual friend and drummer from Palestine, Texas, and Gary Brown, a bass guitarist who had grown up in Neches, Texas. They came together and came to be known as Whiskey Myers.
Soon, the group was playing private parties on flatbed trailers in small towns around East Texas. The sound they emitted was something more unique than anyone had expected. From their first show in Montalba, Texas, a young Whiskey Myers was hooked on performing, and the crowds were hooked on them. In the spring of 2007, they were given the opportunity to open for Roger Creager at Gatorโs Bar and Grill in Gun Barrel City, Texas. The club owner was so impressed by their performance and the crowd that had come to the stage that he asked them to come back the next weekend to open for The Eli Young Band. From then on, popularity for the band began to swell. They were heard on live stages all over East Texas, in interviews on local radio stations, and seen on television giving live interviews. Suddenly it seemed that the whole region knew who Whiskey Myers was, and everyone was becoming familiar with their high energy twin guitars, soulful vocals, and unstoppable rhythm.
Whiskey Myersโ musical style was forged from several different genres of music from several different eras. The most obvious of these are the blues rock jam bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, and Led Zeppelin. Whiskey Myers takes the blues rock genre and mixes it with modern day Texas Country such as Reckless Kelly, Randy Rogers, and Cross Canadian Ragweed to derive a new sound that is sure to take concert listeners on an atmospheric roller coaster. With a sound like no other and a stage presence that captivates anyone close enough to notice, a live concert performed by this young band is something that must be seen to be believed.
The Tyler area has been instrumental in the development of Whiskey Myers from a group of musicians to a band. As the group continues to expand its fan base, new listeners all over Texas are beginning to recognize their talent. They continue to engulf listeners with their sound, ensuring that the name Whiskey Myers is one that will be remembered for ages to come.
John Wayne
Whiskey Myers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he pawned it on a guitar when he got back from Saigon
Every now and then I think about him when I set down to play
Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Amazing Grace
So let the beat roll on
About to get in the zone
I been locked up all by myself but I'm known to grow my own
Like there ain't nothing wrong
I'm just out in the shade watching the world go up in flames
(Up in flames)
I was born from barbwire
I been stuck out in the fray
I'ma shed this mortal coil like a canebrake rattlesnake
I'm gonna feast among the righteous
Gonna see my friends again
Gonna dance outside the gates hoping like hell they let me in
So let the beat roll on
About to get in the zone
I been locked up all by myself but I'm known to grow my own
I Burn it 'til it's gone
Like there ain't nothing wrong
I'm just out in the shade watching the world go up in flames
(Up in flames)
(Oh, yeah)
(Oh, yeah)
(Oh, yeah)
California's burning
It's snowing in the pines
They say the world is ending well maybe it's about time
Have we forgot about the children?
Forgot about love?
Have we forgot about forgiveness from the good Lord up above?
So let the beat roll on
About to get in the zone
I been locked up all by myself but I'm known to grow my own
I Burn it 'til it's gone
Like there ain't nothing wrong
I'm just out in the shade watching the world go up in flames
(Up in flames)
Watching the world go up in flames
Watching the world go up in flames
(Oh, yeah)
(Oh, yeah)
(Oh, yeah)
(Gonna play)
The lyrics of Whiskey Myers's song "John Wayne" reflects on the realities and challenges of life. The opening lines draw attention to the effects of war on veterans and their families. The singer talks about his grandfather's rifle taken from a Vietnamese soldier which he pawned for a guitar upon his return from the war. The mention of the two songs "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Amazing Grace" suggests that the singer is using music as a form of honor and commemoration for his grandfather's experience.
The second verse of "John Wayne" shifts to the singer's present circumstances, using the metaphor of cultivating plants to describe his own growth and development as a person. The line "I'm just out in the shade watching the world go up in flames" suggests a sense of disillusionment or detachment from societal issues that may be distressing him. The bridge of the song transitions into a commentary on the state of the world - environmental disasters like wildfires and unusual weather patterns that could be interpreted as a sign of the apocalypse. However, the last line reminds us to focus on finding our way back to love, forgiveness and kindness - particularly in these days of political and social unrest.
Overall, "John Wayne" is a poignant illustration of the complexity of human emotions and experiences. It serves as both a tribute to an individual's family history and a call to action for the issues concerning humanity today.
Line by Line Meaning
My grandpa had a rifle that he took from a Vietcong
My grandfather possessed a rifle that he acquired from a Vietnamese soldier during the Vietnam War
But he pawned it on a guitar when he got back from Saigon
Upon his arrival home from the war, my grandfather exchanged his rifle for a guitar by pawning it
Every now and then I think about him when I set down to play
When I engage in playing music, I sometimes recollect thoughts of my grandfather
Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Amazing Grace
The tunes I'm most likely to play on the guitar are "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Amazing Grace"
So let the beat roll on
Allow the rhythm to continue without disruption
About to get in the zone
I'm about to enter a state of heightened focus and performance
I been locked up all by myself but I'm known to grow my own
I've been isolated, but well-known to cultivate my own marijuana plants
I Burn it 'til it's gone
I consume the marijuana until it's entirely used up
Like there ain't nothing wrong
I consume marijuana without any issues
I'm just out in the shade watching the world go up in flames
I'm calmly observing the world continue to deteriorate and become progressively worse
I was born from barbwire
I was born into difficult circumstances like being born in a barbwired enclosure
I been stuck out in the fray
I've been struggling in the midst of a fight or dispute
I'ma shed this mortal coil like a canebrake rattlesnake
I'll discard my physical form just like a rattlesnake that sheds its skin
I'm gonna feast among the righteous
I'll sit at a prosperous table in the presence of the virtuous
Gonna see my friends again
I'll be reunited with my friends
Gonna dance outside the gates hoping like hell they let me in
I'll dance outside the gate wishing fervently that I'll be allowed entry inside it
California's burning
California is on fire
It's snowing in the pines
In an odd contrast, it's snowing in the pine trees
They say the world is ending well maybe it's about time
There's a belief that the world is coming to an end and perhaps it's the right time
Have we forgot about the children?
Have we neglected or not paid attention to the welfare of the children?
Forgot about love?
Have we failed to remember the importance of love?
Have we forgot about forgiveness from the good Lord up above?
Have we forgotten to seek forgiveness from God?
Watching the world go up in flames
Witnessing the world collapse or burn down
(Gonna play)
I'm about to play music
Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cody Bryan Cannon, Jamey Gleaves, Tony Kent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dr. Nick Mullanix
I feel sorry for people that donโt have Whiskey Myers in their lives.๐ค
Darin Morgan
Seriously, me too
Jeremy Zapata
Was
Jeremy Zapata
Do ยน
Austin Beverage
I've said it once and by God I'll say it again and again, best band since Skynyrd
Youtubeblowsgoats
Said it so many times yup. These guys are legendary already
Bmo
@frazz nice! I agree they are the best live
frazz
@Bmo bbs best live band today. headin to tenn thursday for their brothers n sisters reunion at the shed. seein wm july here in fla.
Bmo
Whiskey Myers and blackberry smoke are both great. Blackberry smokes the whippoorwill album is legendary. Both awesome bands with great music. If I could see them both live doing a song together now that would be freaking crazy
frazz
@Georges amen!