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
When I Get My Wings
Will Hoge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And this place just keeps on getting sadder ever since you went away
And I smell you on this pillow as I lie here in our old bed
With a bottle and a bible, I just pray i might get some rest
When I get my wings I'm a gonna
Fly back home to you
And go ahead and you can tell St. Peter
Open up, I'm coming through
And a photograph of two love drunk kids on the day that they said i do
57 years of memories fall like the rain comes down
And I could not help myself but cry as they laid you in the ground
When I get my wings I'm a gonna
Fly back home to you
Go ahead and you can tell St. Peter
Open up, I'm coming on through
And every Sunday I kneel down to pray that I won't be alone
And every night I lay down and hope I wake up back in your arms
When I get my wings I'm a gonna
Fly back home to you
And go ahead and you can tell St. Peter
Open up, I'm coming on through
And I don't think, don't think I can wait any longer
O Lord I'm counting down the days
I'm gonna come back, come back and hold you my love
Soon as I get my wings
O Lord
Just as soon as I get my wings
One more time Lord
Soon as I get my wings
The song "When I Get My Wings" by Will Hoge is a heartbreaking ballad about a man who has lost his wife and is desperately yearning to be reunited with her through death. He paints a picture of a mundane life where he can still feel her presence around him, but he can't seem to shake off the grief that has settled in his heart. The lyrics "And this place just keeps on getting sadder ever since you went away" reveals that he might be struggling with depression and that his home is no longer a sanctuary because his wife is no longer there. The bottle and the bible mentioned in the lyrics show that although he is seeking comfort through religion, he still finds solace in drinking. He is stuck in a limbo where he prays for the rest at night but still longs to join his wife in the afterlife.
The chorus "When I get my wings I'm gonna fly back home to you, And go ahead and tell St. Peter Open up, I'm coming through" is a powerful metaphor that shows the man's unwavering devotion to his wife. The idea that he will be given wings after death reveals his faith in an afterlife, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to be reunited with her. He envisions himself returning to her with gifts, such as her favorite dress and high heels and a photo of their wedding. However, the most touching part of the song comes from the lines "And every Sunday, I kneel down to pray that I won't be alone, And every night, I lay down and hope I wake up back in your arms." These lyrics resonate with anyone who has lost a loved one and understands how overwhelming the loneliness can be. This beautifully crafted song captures the essence of love, grief, faith, and hope in a poignant way.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you take me with you darling I don't want to stay
The singer pleads to his departed loved one to take him with her because he doesn't want to stay in the world without her.
And this place just keeps on getting sadder ever since you went away
The singer feels that the world has become a gloomier place after his loved one's departure.
And I smell you on this pillow as I lie here in our old bed
The singer can still smell the scent of his loved one on the pillow as he lies in their bed.
With a bottle and a bible, I just pray i might get some rest
The artist resorts to drinking and praying as he hopes to find some solace and rest amidst his grief.
When I get my wings I'm a gonna
Fly back home to you
And go ahead and you can tell St. Peter
Open up, I'm coming through
The artist longs to join his loved one in the afterlife and is hopeful that he will be welcomed through the gates of heaven.
And I put you in that blue dress and a new pair of high heel shoes
And a photograph of two love drunk kids on the day that they said i do
The singer reminisces on the happy memories with his loved one and imagines dressing her up in her favorite clothes and displaying a photo of their wedding day to honor her memory.
57 years of memories fall like the rain comes down
And I could not help myself but cry as they laid you in the ground
The singer mourns the loss of his loved one and cannot help but cry as he remembers their 57 years of memories together.
And every Sunday I kneel down to pray that I won't be alone
And every night I lay down and hope I wake up back in your arms
The artist prays every Sunday to not feel alone and hopes to be reunited with his loved one every night as he goes to bed.
And I don't think, don't think I can wait any longer
O Lord I'm counting down the days
I'm gonna come back, come back and hold you my love
Soon as I get my wings
O Lord
Just as soon as I get my wings
One more time Lord
Soon as I get my wings
The artist is impatient to join his loved one and prays to get his wings soon so that he can come back and hold her in his arms.
Writer(s): Will Hoge Copyright: BMG Platinum Songs, Will Hoge Music
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ryanlennon978
Such a powerful song. Brought me to tears thinking of my grandpa
@busterjones8495
I remember seeing this man at The Blue Stone in 2014 when Claire Dunn had opened for him. He performed this song as his encore and stood on a platform in the dead center of the old chapel turned concert hall. The whole crowd was silent as Will belted out this song and Jesse Isley played lead masterfully. One of the best shows I’ve been to.
@kellyhudson1529
I lost my husband today and he loved Will Hoge so much. I’ve never heard this song before but I know finding this was his way of connecting with me.
@Amethys12
I’m so very sorry
@kimberlybroadbent4242
I am so sorry for your loss . It's a great song for sure. Prayers for you and your family
@dougstringeroutdoors150
That's just an amazing song! This definitely needs to be shared.
@johntaylor1469
How the hell is this guy not crushing the country music scene? Guy has a million dollar voice! Reall? Someone missed the ball on this guy!
@johnfrombrm
Ashley Simpson got signed instead of him. Enough said.
@modestmaxwell1715
This video and song is absolute genius because it breaks even the most desensitized hearts.
@FlixMaker64
Whoever gave this song a thumbs down needs smacked in the head. Powerful song, reminds me of my dad. My mom passed away six years ago and he says he still feels her presence.