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
It's a Shame
Will Hoge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe then my love everything would turn out right
I wish that this were easy, but you know that it never is
It seems like hearts get broken during things like this
And if you see her walking down along these streets
Her body softly swaying to her heart's broken beats
And if you see her tell her that I'm doing fine
And I can't fight it anymore
I can't stop it once it starts
Well it's a shame babe
Well it's a shame babe
Well it's a shame babe
The way we've torn it all apart
And if you see her let her know I wish her well
And if things will get much better tell her only time will tell
Cause if she's lonely well I'm alright
Cause you know
When it falls down I'll be there to pick it up one more time
The first verse of Will Hoge's "It's a Shame" presents a sense of regret and disappointment after a broken relationship. The singer is reflecting on what could have been If he was alone tonight, the implication being that he could have avoided the heartbreak that came along with the relationship. He wishes that things were easy, but acknowledges that relationships are complicated, and hearts often get broken. The emotional turmoil that he is experiencing due to the relationship is making him realize that love is not always enough to sustain a relationship.
The second verse of the song depicts a poignant image of the woman walking down the street, feeling the weight of the heartbreak. The singer urges the listener that if they ever see her, to tell her that he is doing fine, and if she feels like talking, she should call him. The chorus of the song, "Well it's a shame babe, the way we've torn it all apart." is a bittersweet lament, expressing the regret of a love lost, but also acknowledging the destructive nature of the relationship. Despite the pain, the singer is still hoping for a chance to pick up the pieces and start over again.
Overall, "It's a Shame" is a deeply reflective and emotive song about the pain of a broken relationship. Hoge's lyrics are relatable and heartfelt, with a message that conveys a sense of hope despite the sadness. The song's mournful melody adds to the melancholic tone, making it a beautiful ballad of lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
How would this be if I was alone tonight
I wonder how things would turn out if I didn't have you here tonight
Maybe then my love everything would turn out right
Perhaps without your presence, everything would be better
I wish that this were easy, but you know that it never is
I want things to be simple but I realize they rarely are
It seems like hearts get broken during things like this
It appears that relationships often result in heartbreak
And if you see her walking down along these streets
If you happen to see her walking around town
Her body softly swaying to her heart's broken beats
She may be moving slowly, in subconscious tune with her broken heart
And if you see her tell her that I'm doing fine
If you happen to run into her, let her know that I'm okay
And tell her if she feels like talking, she should call me sometime
Inform her that she can reach out to me if she wants to talk
And I can't fight it anymore
I have lost the strength to resist my emotions
I can't stop it once it starts
Once my feelings take over, I can't control it
Well it's a shame babe
Unfortunately, it's very regrettable
Well it's a shame babe
Unfortunately, it's very regrettable
Well it's a shame babe
Unfortunately, it's very regrettable
The way we've torn it all apart
We have completely destroyed our relationship
And if you see her let her know I wish her well
If you happen to cross paths with her, tell her I hope she's doing well
And if things will get much better tell her only time will tell
If she's hoping for things to improve between us, she'll just have to wait and see
Cause if she's lonely well I'm alright
Even if she is struggling, I am okay with being alone
Cause you know
Because you should already understand
When it falls down I'll be there to pick it up one more time
If everything comes crashing down again, I'll be there to try and fix it, once more.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILL HOGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind