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Son Volt — Medicine Hat
Album: Wide Swing Tremolo
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 702









Released: 1998
Length: 4:08
Plays (last 30 days): 0
There will be droughts and days inundated
Unveilings free from saturation
Departures raised with no masquerading

There will be teachers that die by their own hand
Pundits that push headlong for atonement
Friends and followers devoted to living

There will be watchers that ply for new confines
Those committed to society's circles
Unwary cogs with no cadence of virtue
There will be right
There will be wrong

Drop of the hat and it's already started
Just like that and the deed is done
What I'd give for that hat to be medicine
The time is now to be on the run

There will be machinations unforeseen
Sleepwalking sense from a bad dream
No promenade walk in the parkway

There will be catchwords filled with infection
Circulars to prop up occasion
No golden mean to guide the footsteps

There will be levels on high hills that appraise
There will be unchanging certainties
Barometers that follow the stampede
There will be right
There will be wrong

Drop of the hat and it's already started
Just like that and the deed is done
What I'd give for that hat to be medicine
The time is now to be on the run

There will be signposts of indication
Semaphore go signs and warnings
Hailstone halos and country-blues wailings

There will be strains that break out of straight time
To pave with grace different roads to the same place
No consequence to repay what's been given

There will be layers of means to an end
Drawn-out days before resolution
Dregs will rain down from all directions
There will be right
There will be wrong

Drop of the hat and it's already started
Just like that and the deed is done
What I'd give for that hat to be medicine
The time is now to be on the run
Comments (81)add comment
Lot's of Uncle Tupelo splinters this morning... that's a good thing.

This song has a lot of multisyllabic words.
 h8rhater wrote:

Clearly superior in talent to Tweedy, but far less successful post-Tupelo.


 

 
For some, life is a constant popularity contest. 

Here we have 2 great singer/songwriters who did great things together and have since done great things apart.  The fact that one wanted to take one road and the other another is gravy for everyone that loves both of the great bands that they formed. 


Well said.
When I lived in Florida, I saw fellow Hoosier John Mellencamp in concert. These guys opened up. In fact I think they were touring for this album. GREAT show by BOTH.
The two Jeffs! What a fine sound they had.
Wait till I tell my family in Medicine Hat (Alberta, Canada) there's a song about them!
 Proclivities wrote:


Yes it is a reference to a Twilight Zone episode: it means to banish it, or make it disappear.

quite a disturbing episode...never trusted anyone called Billy again...cannot remember what his name was in the episode, probably Billy

excellent tune off this album 
 truescorpio wrote:

Son Volt needs to go away. Way too twangy for my taste. Or my father's, or his father, and the father that went before everyone. 




If you don't like it, Zippy, hit the SKIP BUTTON & SHUT UP!!! Thank God we don't have to listen to YOUR playlist!
 truescorpio wrote:

Son Volt needs to go away. Way too twangy for my taste. Or my father's, or his father, and the father that went before everyone. 


You apparently haven't noticed that your taste doesn't dictate the RP playlist.  Nor does that of your ancestry.
 truescorpio wrote:

Son Volt needs to go away. Way too twangy for my taste. Or my father's, or his father, and the father that went before everyone. 


Just go to the "My Favorites" mix and you'll never have to hear someone you haven't preapproved and you don't have to waste your time making inane comments.
Son Volt needs to go away. Way too twangy for my taste. Or my father's, or his father, and the father that went before everyone. 
They're touring - hope to see them in October in San Francisco. 
Love Son Volt
This sparks joy. 
 stewliscious wrote:

What is this supposed to mean? What is the cornfield? What would a cornfield want with a song?
 

A reference to a classic Twilight Zone episode featuring Billy Mummy before Lost in Space. Boy, do I feel old remember that!

beagen wrote:Clearly superior in talent to Tweedy, but far less successful post-Tupelo.


 
lemmoth wrote:

Obviously not so clear to the public — or frankly to professional critics.  Perhaps clear to you.

 
For some, life is a constant popularity contest. 

Here we have 2 great singer/songwriters who did great things together and have since done great things apart.  The fact that one wanted to take one road and the other another is gravy for everyone that loves both of the great bands that they formed. 
it's a Twilight Zone reference...


 

stewliscious wrote:

What is this supposed to mean? What is the cornfield? What would a cornfield want with a song?

 

Some of the good folk dissing this song were not born in 1998. Great song from a highly influential band in the Americana scene. Thanks Bill.
Those cornfields are the ones in Southern Illinois...near Belleville, IL...the home town of Uncle Tupelo and this derivative band. 
 joelbb wrote:
No, Bill!  No!  No!  Send it to the cornfield, send it to the cornfield!!

 
What is this supposed to mean? What is the cornfield? What would a cornfield want with a song?
Mediocre hat. 
Love Jay and the band.  They are FANTASTIC LIVE too.
No, Bill!  No!  No!  Send it to the cornfield, send it to the cornfield!!
 Cynaera wrote:
Maybe it's the vodka, but I'm having a really hard time yanking myself away from RP tonight! I have to get up early and work (if the weather permits), but I'm still sitting here, listening and commenting. I'll leave soon - I promise!  Except that now "All Hell For A Basement" by Big Sugar is playing - and the only songs I've ever heard by them were because they were featured on "La Femme Nikita."

Okay - seriously shutting up now. (But I love Son Volt.)

 
Rock on Cynaera...
I thought this was REM for a minute. 
bad set (imo), now this one's the bottom, gonna listen to NPR for a bit, or maybe just open the window and hear the sound of traffic rather than this poop
Liking SV more and more w/ each listen here on RP.

7->8
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

If she says it sounds like TMBG to her then it sounds like TMBG to her.
 
I can hear it.

 
He does have a similar voice to that of John Linnell.

Thanks Bill.....always like a little Son Volt in the am.... {#Dancingbanana}
My wife usually makes me turn off Son Volt/Jay Farrar cuz she says they sound too depressing. So I sneak in some listening when I can. Love ya, RP.
 beagen wrote:
Clearly superior in talent to Tweedy, but far less successful post-Tupelo.
 
Obviously not so clear to the public — or frankly to professional critics.  Perhaps clear to you.

Great tune....love the original line-up of Son Volt 
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:
Call me extra weird.
 
Okay. You're extra weird.

Listening to Son Volt makes everything all better.
Maybe it's the vodka, but I'm having a really hard time yanking myself away from RP tonight! I have to get up early and work (if the weather permits), but I'm still sitting here, listening and commenting. I'll leave soon - I promise!  Except that now "All Hell For A Basement" by Big Sugar is playing - and the only songs I've ever heard by them were because they were featured on "La Femme Nikita."

Okay - seriously shutting up now. (But I love Son Volt.)
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

If she says it sounds like TMBG to her then it sounds like TMBG to her.
 
I can hear it.

 
Scott correctly points out that seem-statements are incorrigible.  This may not sound like Jeff Beck, but if someone says that it sounds like (seems like) Jeff Beck to them, there can be no argument (except in the rare case in which someone can be shown to be lying).  And yes, I hear the TMBG, too.

 onomasticator wrote:
No, not They Might be Giants. 
 
If she says it sounds like TMBG to her then it sounds like TMBG to her.
 
I can hear it.

Never heard a Son Volt song I can stand even as long as it takes to hurriedly change the channel.  

Yeah, I knew you would want to know.
No, not They Might be Giants.  Uncle Tupelo, more like - and epochal band if there was one.  If you are unfamiliar, go directly to the album, Anodyne, do not pass go, do not collect $200 - just listen to it.
this voice sounds familiar - like They Might Be Giants ??
Zevon-esque
 mettle wrote:
MORE Son Volt, The Jayhawks and Wilco please.
Please.
Please please please.
 


 mettle wrote:
Less Son Volt, The Jayhawks and Wilco please.
Please.
Please please please.
 
{#Fever} Hmmmm, I detect a wide swing in your tremolo. Prescription - take the medicine from under your hat and ingest it.
 mettle wrote:
Less Son Volt, The Jayhawks and Wilco please.
Please.
Please please please.
 
I hear ya.
 FrankMc wrote:
I wish you'd cull the pewking emoticons from your selection. I've only heard one song ever on RP that I wanted to be over immediately and even it certainly wouldn't qualify as hurl-inducing.

This song is damn fine. I shall have investigate Son Volt further.
 
                                                    {#Clap}  agree.

I wish you'd cull the pewking emoticons from your selection. I've only heard one song ever on RP that I wanted to be over immediately and even it certainly wouldn't qualify as hurl-inducing.

This song is damn fine. I shall have investigate Son Volt further.
Dear Lord.  Wilco, and then Son Volt 5 songs later?  Ugh. It's a double-team of suck.  {#Puke}
10 TEN 10 TEN 10! If you ever saw this song performed live, you'd understand. It THROBS, the entire place swells and contracts to it. Sheer Magic!
Rickvee wrote:
Great song from a very underrated album. TRACE gets all the attention, and no question it is an awesome album, but WIDE SWING TREMELO is seriously good as well.
Agreed. TRACE gets much attention (deserved) but anyone who enjoys Trace absolutely MUST check out Straightaways and WST.
mettle wrote:
Less Son Volt, The Jayhawks and Wilco please. Please. Please please please.
More Son Volt, Jayhawks, and Wilco please. Please. please please please
Great song from a very underrated album. TRACE gets all the attention, and no question it is an awesome album, but WIDE SWING TREMELO is seriously good as well.
When you see Jay live, this is a song you ache for him to play. Not sure you can set a 10 criteria based on that, but it works for me.
I like what Jay is doing with Son Volt, even though I pine for the good ol Uncle Tupelo daze!
Agreed. I've heard just about everything that both Farrar and Tweedy have done separately and while I think SV's "Trace" is right up there, I still miss UT. "No Depression" remains one of my very favorite albums.
Clearly superior in talent to Tweedy, but far less successful post-Tupelo.
fandad wrote:
"I am trying to break your heart" is about the clash between Jay Bennet and Tweedy--about ten years after the breakdown between Farrar and Tweedy.
I stand corrected, I was thinking of "The Man in the Sand" the doc about the making of Mermaid Ave which shows a lot of the tension surrounding these two band mates.
go_ski_mully wrote:
...check out the documentary "I am trying to break you heart" to see the demise of the Tweedy/Farrar team as it goes down!
"I am trying to break your heart" is about the clash between Jay Bennet and Tweedy--about ten years after the breakdown between Farrar and Tweedy.
Jay is a talent no doubt and has remained a little more rooted in Americana than the rest of his buddies from Uncle Tupelo ...seems as though Jeff Tweedy and Jay were too strong a personalities to be in the same band together and eventually had to separate, or that Jeff needed to go in a different direction creatively and did not want Jay along for the ride ...check out the documentary "I am trying to break you heart" to see the demise of the Tweedy/Farrar team as it goes down! I like what Jay is doing with Son Volt, even though I pine for the good ol Uncle Tupelo daze!
Outstanding song, superb album. I gotta admit that RP is hitting all the hit buttons tonight, playing Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, and now Son Volt. Awesome!
Love this. The album Wide Swing Tremolo is just about perfect, one of those that never gets old.
I'm hearing Warren Zevon.
I see below that I am not the only one who thought "Tom Petty" when hearing this. :-)
Love the lyrics on this one.
karen wrote:
Ha! I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me... Funny, isn't it? If you don't like the mainstream pablum being force-fed to the masses your musical taste is often labeled as "weird."
Call me extra weird.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
...I said "It's Son Volt. They're good. I'd much rather see them than John Cougar." She said "You always did like weird music."...
Ha! I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said that to me... Funny, isn't it? If you don't like the mainstream pablum being force-fed to the masses your musical taste is often labeled as "weird."
Saw them about 4 weeks ago and they blew the roof off the place. Great to see Jay Farrar back!
sergeant_x wrote:
I remember seeing his old band in KCMO back in 89. Played to about fifteen of us and just tore up the room. Played several Hank Williams song with a vengeance.
I got to see them at KCUV studios in Denver a couple months ago because I work across the hall. There were maybe 5 of us there tops, it was like my own personal Son Volt concert. There's nothing like Jay Farrar walking in the door and giving you a head nod while you work.
Less Son Volt, The Jayhawks and Wilco please. Please. Please please please.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
My chance to see Son Volt evaporated -- the local radio station was giving away tix to see John Mellencamp in Billings, in their big concrete arena. Son Volt was opening and the station owner offered me the tickets to "John Mellencamp and some other band" I said "It's Son Volt. They're good. I'd much rather see them than John Cougar." She said "You always did like weird music." "F*uck You," I joked. "I'll see if someone who likes John Mellencamp wants to go instead," she said, not joking. Rats.
I saw that concert pairing at Red Rocks Amphitheater. It was pretty good, but Son Volt's part was uninspired and nobody knew who they were so they were pretty much ignored. Sound was turned down really low as well. Farrar looked like he needed to work on his bigger venue audience reaching skills.
namesbenny wrote:
That's too bad, but in my experience, people don't like to be told to f*ck off, even in jest. Next time, try "blow me". Never fails.
Noted.;)
I remember seeing his old band in KCMO back in 89. Played to about fifteen of us and just tore up the room. Played several Hank Williams song with a vengeance.
COME ON , IT'S GORGEOUS DAY IN NEW YORK,,,, WHAT'S WITH THE SLEEPY TUNES??
Good Times...Oh yeah...
< Rats.
*GASP* Yeah, station owners are a tempermental lot.
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
She said "You always did like weird music." "F*uck You," I joked. "I'll see if someone who likes John Mellencamp wants to go instead," she said, not joking. Rats.
That's too bad, but in my experience, people don't like to be told to f*ck off, even in jest. Next time, try "blow me". Never fails.
Jay Farrar. You can always tell its him, his baritone is beautiful. Finally he is singing songs about something else than whiskey and poverty. I would love to know what he thinks about his old bandmate from Uncle Tupelo now; Jeff Tweedy has changed so much. Son Volt is a cool name and this is a cool song.
My chance to see Son Volt evaporated -- the local radio station was giving away tix to see John Mellencamp in Billings, in their big concrete arena. Son Volt was opening and the station owner offered me the tickets to "John Mellencamp and some other band" I said "It's Son Volt. They're good. I'd much rather see them than John Cougar." She said "You always did like weird music." "F*uck You," I joked. "I'll see if someone who likes John Mellencamp wants to go instead," she said, not joking. Rats.
Hmmm... Iguanas - 9 Son Volt Medicine Hat Heart? ;-) I really like these guys. Always have. Jay's quite unique.
suzebee wrote:
I like this singer -- first time I've heard them. Who does he sound like? Someone familiar, like Tom Petty, maybe?
New band to me also...I hear the Petty connection,a little Zevon and a little of the Iguanas,who just played prior.No rating for me yet.
suzebee wrote:
I like this singer -- first time I've heard them. Who does he sound like? Someone familiar, like Tom Petty, maybe?
Jay Farrar - Formerly of Uncle Tupelo, technically formerly of Son Volt. The rest of Uncle Tupelo is now Wilco. Jay has a few solo albums out there. Some really great Americana/Alt. Country stuff.
I like this singer -- first time I've heard them. Who does he sound like? Someone familiar, like Tom Petty, maybe?