Following an unsuccessful spell in the mid-1990s as part of a band called Spoonful, in 1998 Hoge began touring the American south with guitarist Dan Baird (former of The Georgia Satellites). Hoge independently released his first CD, Live At The Exit/In, a live set recorded at the Nashville club. This drew some attention and that, and constant touring, led to the release Hodge's first studio album, Carousel. A record deal followed in early 2002 and his major label debut, Blackbird On A Lonely Wire, in 2003.
Hoge was involved in a scooter accident on August 20, 2008 after leaving a studio session for what would be his next album, "The Wreckage". Following numerous surgical procedures (mainly on his shattered femur/leg), Hoge made a full recovery.
His album "Number Seven" was released in 2011.
Hoge has made a career of writing and singing powerful songs about life’s cruel and dark turns. Not long ago, he fell victim to one such turn. As Hoge rode his scooter home from the studio, he was struck by an oncoming van that had veered into his lane. There were no skid marks. Launched off his bike, Hoge ended up bloodied, broken-boned, temporarily blinded, and near death. “[The accident] was like stopping a record as it spins,” says Hoge, who had been halfway through recording material for his new record before getting derailed. “It was like taking the needle and pushing it off the turntable.” For ten months, the accident sidelined Hoge. For ten months, it made him do something he hadn’t done in 18 years: stop the music. Larger matters dominated his life, like physical recovery and the well-being of his family. “People would say, ‘I bet you’re ready to get back to playing and writing.’ I’m thinking, ‘Playing or singing is not the issue right now. I’m ready to get back to walking.’”
His previous album, Draw the Curtains, had been a unanimous high-water mark in his career, a magnificent collection of rock, country, soul, blues, and folk. With a great band, good vibes, and clear skies overhead, Hoge felt like he was building something real as a career artist. Eight months after the incident he re-entered the studio in pursuit of that mission.. “Making The Wreckage opened me up in a different way,” says Hoge. “I felt a calmness, a purpose. Right now it feels like I’m getting to the core of what I want to do and why.”
The Wreckage listens like a record with a purpose. Having stared down his own mortality, Hoge has now rediscovered the simple joys of making good music. “It’s hard to explain, but I felt a certain serenity making this album,” he says. “It doesn’t come through in the songs, but the process has become easier, and I believe the songs flow with more confidence.”
When Hoge’s fans hear these songs, they’ll feel that resolve too. The Wreckage both curses life’s wrong turns and celebrates its triumphs. “I’ve always tried to make albums that have a good reason for every song, and for the sequence of those songs. On this album you get 40:18 of music, and hopefully you’ll want to hear the whole thing start to finish.”
The album was crafted with a depth of sound and musicality that breaks new ground for Hoge. Rugged, pulsating rock fuels “Just Like Me.” Spirited melody characterizes tunes like “Highway Wings” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” The gruff ghosts of the barroom return on Hoge’s “Hard to Love,” as does the searing country roots rock of “Long Gone.” Ballads like “What Could I Do” and “The Wreckage” are rife with the sort of brooding melancholy you’d expect from a guy who has been to the edge and back. “‘The Wreckage’ is one of the favorite songs I’ve ever sung,” Hoge admits. “I couldn’t have sung this physically before the accident, because my voice just wasn’t suited to how quiet it is.”
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” his paean to rock and roll as life’s true calling, is another tune Hoge admires. “The minute we started recording it, it was one of those songs that drove itself. Everyone in the room understood the sentiment. There was magic in that moment you don’t get very often.”
Even though half of The Wreckage was written and most of it recorded after the crash, images of the episode are only discreetly woven into the fabric of the album, like streaks of red on a dark surface. That’s because Hoge would rather leave those lines, words, and phrases to interpretation.
Released one year almost to the day of his accident, The Wreckage is not, song by song, a celebration of life. The sentiments are too dark, his lyrics too biting, his voice brimming with moodiness. Risen from the ashes of Hoge’s own “wreckage,” the recording is an incredible achievement, hands-down his best work to date. And that is as good a cause as any for real celebration.
www.willhoge.com
Baby Girl
Will Hoge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even when the rain does fall
And get back on your feet again
Every time you slip and fall
Keep your heart wide open
And always taking in
And even when it's broken
Be strong enough to fix it up again
Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
I wish I could hold your hand in this great big world
Oh little baby girl
And I hope your hands are steady
And never need to make a fist
And I hope that when you're ready
You get one never ending kiss
And I hope that deep inside of you
There's a sweet eternal song
And I hope the words are pretty
And that you'll always sing along
And I hope your friends are many
And your laughter's always loud
To help you when you're lonely
And pick you up when you're down
I hope your eyes shine bright love
And learn to see the light
Take the time to listen
Decide yourself what's wrong or right
Oh little baby girl
Sweet little baby girl
Be strong in this great big world
Oh little baby girl
The song Baby Girl by Will Hoge is a beautiful expression of a father's love and hopes for his daughter. The lyrics are filled with wisdom and heartfelt wishes for the little girl as she grows up in the world. The song is a reflection of the fears, dreams, and aspirations of every parent for their child.
The opening lines of the song express the desire for the little girl to experience both good and bad in life – to feel the warmth of the sun on her face even amidst the rain, and to learn to pick herself up again after every fall. The song goes on to communicate the hope that the baby girl will always keep her heart open, no matter how broken it becomes, and that she will have the strength and resilience to fix it up again. The chorus provides a touching moment for the father to express his wish to hold the little girl's hand as she navigates the challenges of the world.
In the second verse, the father expresses further hopes for the little girl, highlighting the importance of peace and love in her life. He hopes that her hands will never have to make a fist and that she will find true love in one never-ending kiss. He wishes that she carries a sweet eternal song inside her heart and sings it out for the world to hear. He also hopes that the little girl will have many friends, always find reasons to laugh and have fun and come out of the tough moments in life even stronger. Overall, the song is a heartfelt message of hope, love, and encouragement for the little girl who is loved deeply by her father.
Line by Line Meaning
May the sunlight find your face
I hope you always find light and positivity in your life.
Even when the rain does fall
Even in the face of difficult times or obstacles.
And get back on your feet again
To always have the strength to stand tall and keep going, no matter what.
Every time you slip and fall
To persevere and never give up, even after facing setbacks and failures.
Keep your heart wide open
To always be open to love, compassion, and kindness.
And always taking in
And to always be willing to accept new experiences and opportunities.
And even when it's broken
Even when things get tough or painful.
Be strong enough to fix it up again
To always have the strength to pick yourself back up and heal.
Oh little baby girl
A term of endearment for the listener, likely a young girl.
Sweet little baby girl
An additional term of endearment, emphasizing the artist's affection for the listener.
I wish I could hold your hand in this great big world
The singer wishes they could directly support and guide the listener through life's challenges.
And I hope your hands are steady
The artist hopes that the listener is confident and sure-handed in their actions and decisions.
And never need to make a fist
To never have to resort to violence or aggression to resolve conflict.
And I hope that when you're ready
The singer hopes that the listener will be able to navigate their own maturity and growth on their own terms and timeline.
You get one never ending kiss
Whether from a loving partner or from the universe as a whole, the singer hopes the listener experiences overwhelming love and affection.
And I hope that deep inside of you
The artist emphasizes the importance of internal qualities and self-awareness in the listener.
There's a sweet eternal song
To have a constant source of comfort or inspiration that can always be relied on.
And I hope the words are pretty
The singer hopes that the listener's inner truths and thoughts are beautiful and poetic.
And that you'll always sing along
To always be in harmony with oneself and one's values.
And I hope your friends are many
The importance of finding and maintaining meaningful connections with others, especially in hard times.
And your laughter's always loud
To always find reasons to be joyful and express that joy to the world.
To help you when you're lonely
To have support when one is feeling vulnerable or alone.
And pick you up when you're down
To help one recover from failure or adversity.
I hope your eyes shine bright love
To always see the best in people and the world around them, even in difficult times.
And learn to see the light
To develop a positive outlook and find hope even in challenging circumstances.
Take the time to listen
To be thoughtful and attentive to others, especially in disagreements or conflicts.
Decide yourself what's wrong or right
To be independent in one's values and beliefs, even in the face of disagreement from others.
Be strong in this great big world
An overall encouragement to have courage and resilience in the face of life's uncertainties and challenges.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILL HOGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind