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
Times Are Not Changing
Will Hoge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your hair long and curly trying to end the damn war?
When peace signs and marches syou to the core?
But here we are again and I don't see you no more.
For the times, they are not changing.
It's the same as it was once before.
You got yourself a little, turned your back on the middle,
And now you just don't care anymore.
Then the 70's came and you got a real job.
You bought a house in the suburbs on a half acre lot.
They started busing in children, and you quit smokin pot.
The prices went higher, and the whole world was shot.
And the times, they are not changing.
It's the same as it was once before.
You got yourself a little, turned your back on the middle,
And now you just don't care anymore.
Then the 80's swept in with a new set of rules.
And you sent your kids off to private, lily white schools.
Kept your hand-me-down money, and your millionaires jewels.
Gave em food stamps and welfare, don't complain you poor fools.
Cause the times, they are not changing.
It's the same as it was once before.
You got yourself a little, turned your back on the middle,
And now you just don't care anymore.
From the 90's til now, not a whole lot has changed.
The rich folks keep the winnings, and make the rules to the game.
And expect us somehow, just to feel lucky to play,
But we see it all get harder, and harder each day.
And the times, they are not changing.
It's the same as it was once before.
You got yourself a little, turned your back on the middle,
And now you just don't care anymore.
Now if this song hurts your feelings,
That don't mean it ain't true.
Just probably means we're singing about you.
The times, the are not changing.
Its the same as it was once before.
You got yourself a little, turned your back on the middle,
And now you just don't care anymore.
As soon as you got a little, you turned your back on the middle, and you just don't care anymore.
This song, titled "Times Are Not Changing" by Will Hoge, is an insightful commentary on the societal changes that have been occurring over time. The lyrics point out that there seems to be a pattern of people becoming more self-centered as they age, apparently forgetting their roots and what they once stood for earlier in their lives. The first verse of the song addresses the 1960s, a decade known for its socially transformative qualities. The scene described by the lyrics is one where peace signs and marches the likes of which would move anyone to the core were prevalent, but now, even as an older person, these memories are all but forgotten.
The second verse of the song moves on to the 1970s, where the individual bought into the suburban dream to the point of ignoring the world outside his or her borders. Despite the outside world crumbling due to various factors, including rising costs and decreasing quality of life, it continued to be drowned out by the support provided by the isolated suburban lifestyle. The third verse focuses on the 1980s and what can be seen as a weaponization of the individual’s wealth. The individual still enjoys the rewards of their labor, distancing themselves from the daily woes of life and others who find it hard to keep up with the ever-changing rules of the game.
The final verse hence brings forth the idea that change has not been forthcoming in the 1990s through present day, and that the rich continue to rule the roost. The rich, as per the lyrics, hold all the cards, and expect everyone else to be lucky enough to play along. The song ends as a clear call-out to the individuals described in the lyrics, asking them to introspect and delve deep in order to acknowledge just how much they’ve lost themselves.
In summary, “Times Are Not Changing” is a powerful social commentary on the human condition, and how it seems prone to repeated cycles of change, apathy, and lack of empathy for others. The lyrics implore one and all to be more in tune with the world around them, and to make a meaningful effort to understand and empathize with all.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, old man. Remember 1964?
Do you remember back in 1964 when you were young and full of ideals and hope for the future?
With your hair long and curly trying to end the damn war?
You had long hair and were passionate about ending the war that was going on at that time.
When peace signs and marches stirred you to the core?
The sight of peace signs and marches inspired you deeply.
But here we are again and I don't see you no more.
But now things have changed, and I no longer see that same passion in you.
For the times, they are not changing.
Even though time has passed, things have not really changed.
It's the same as it was once before.
Things are just like they were in the past, even though time has moved on.
You got yourself a little, turned your back on the middle,
You got a little bit of wealth and security, and as a result, you distanced yourself from the struggle of the average person.
And now you just don't care anymore.
Now you seem to be indifferent to the problems and struggles of others.
Then the 70's came and you got a real job.
In the 70s, you got a stable job and started to focus more on building a comfortable life for yourself.
You bought a house in the suburbs on a half acre lot.
You acquired enough wealth to buy a house in the suburbs on a spacious half acre lot.
They started busing in children, and you quit smoking pot.
As society changed and began busing children to promote integration, you had to give up some of your recreational habits.
The prices went higher, and the whole world was shot.
As the cost of living increased and the state of the world became more troubled, the future started to look bleak.
Then the 80's swept in with a new set of rules.
The 80s brought a new era with new challenges and expectations.
And you sent your kids off to private, lily white schools.
You sent your children to exclusive private schools that were predominantly white.
Kept your hand-me-down money, and your millionaire's jewels.
You held onto your inherited wealth and luxurious possessions.
Gave them food stamps and welfare, don't complain you poor fools.
You were okay with giving some aid to those in need, but you didn't want to hear any complaints from the people who were receiving it.
From the 90's til now, not a whole lot has changed.
Despite the passage of time, not much has actually changed in the grand scheme of things.
The rich folks keep the winnings, and make the rules to the game.
The wealthy individuals and corporations continue to benefit and hold power over society.
And expect us somehow, just to feel lucky to play,
They expect the rest of us to be satisfied and grateful just for being able to participate, even if we're not winning.
But we see it all get harder, and harder each day.
But the reality is that things are getting more and more difficult for those who are not wealthy.
Now if this song hurts your feelings,
If this song makes you feel uncomfortable or offended,
That don't mean it ain't true.
It doesn't mean that what the song is saying isn't accurate.
Just probably means we're singing about you.
It probably just means that you are one of the people who has turned their back on the struggle of the average person.
As soon as you got a little, you turned your back on the middle,
As soon as you achieved a certain level of comfort and security, you distanced yourself from the struggles of the average person.
And now you just don't care anymore.
Now you seem to be indifferent to the problems and struggles of others.
Contributed by Kaelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.