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about
This song was written on a writing retreat in Rhode Island in 2018 and the lyrics were refined on another retreat in Virginia in 2019. Lyrically the song feels like our way of addressing the idea that music is constantly evolving yet still calls on the work of our predecessors for inspiration. No matter how hard musicians try to innovate, there are only so many notes & chords to play. Hence the idea that “this ain’t the first time” and recognizing that it certainly won’t be the last time certain chords are played together, rhythms are used and lyrical themes are referenced. We liked the idea of calling out some of our favorite songs & artists (Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, etc) and used a reference to Hank Williams that we discovered when staying at a friends house in Tennessee. Our friend (& member of Roots of a Rebellion) Austin was living in a house that was once inhabited by Hank. We found a news article that mentioned the police being called due to Hank shooting his gun in the house - possibly at his then upstairs houseguest Chet Atkins. I couldn’t get that imagery out of my head and it ended up in the lyrics to this song. At the end of the day we are musicians and writers at our core. Try as we might to explore other paths- the art of the song always calls us back home. As the bridge of this tune states: there’s no life without song and there’s no song without soul.
lyrics
This ain’t the first time baby
It won’t be the last time, yeah
Hank’s ghost shootin’ holes in the floor
Aretha, she is losing her mind
Paul and John,they’re arguing again
Me, I’m gonna take my time
All my friends they’re searching for a song
That ain’t been sung before
But me, my voice is all that’s mine
I sing to weather the storm
This ain’t the first time baby
It won’t be the last time, yeah
I throw my heart in CDs no one can play
Cuz it’s good for the soul
Otis says to try some tenderness
Marvin still asks what’s going on
This ain’t the first time baby
It won’t be the last time, yeah
Everything’s been good lately
You know that I’m fine, oh yeah
You think that I’ve changed, maybe
It won’t be the last time
Don’t wanna live a life
Without a song to sing
Ain’t no life without song, yeah
Ain’t no song without soul, yeah
Here I go, one more time
Singing songs trying to save my life
Ain’t no life without song, yeah
Ain’t no song without soul, yeah
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