I used to have this old Chevy Blazer that broke down at least twice a month; I think it was maybe a ‘91, the little two door model. I’d stand around the front end of that piece of shit as it smoked for one reason or another, hood open, shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of buddies and a case of cheap beer. My cousin had just come home from the war in Iraq, some of the guys had gone off to college and come back, a few were in the trades, I was already fucking around with my music trying to get something going but was mostly playing in bars for nobody. None of us knew shit about cars; honestly, none of us really knew shit about anything yet. My cousin had this girlfriend and they were crazy around each other; in love like crazy, fight like crazy, break up like crazy, the whole thing was like a game of Ring Around The Rosie where they spun in a circle faster and faster until eventually one of them let go and they flew apart and crashed into the ground. I think about that truck and it all comes at me together. None of us were all that good or all that bad, but I remember the two of them screaming in each others’ faces at some graduation party in a backyard, all of us ripped up drunk on about twenty Yuenglings each. Then they’d turn some invisible corner and they’d be making up like nothing happened, her sitting in his lap, whispering in his ear. I guess we always knew that they were doomed, but it seemed to me like they had a hell of a ride getting there and it was really nobody’s fault in the end. Too young, too crazy, too wild, etc etc etc.
I wanted Taylor to sing on this song because I think that she’s a singer and songwriter of incredible depth and so I knew she’d understand the emotional car accident I was trying to get at.
lyrics
Amy’s backyard and Yuengling case,
You sitting in my lap, face pressed to my face.
Meter running like in a Meg Ryan scene,
Lift you clean off the ground like in my daylight dreams.
Broke down Chevy, grease on my hands,
I didn’t know we were counting, what’s the measure of a man?
I might’ve led you to water but never made you drink,
I’m not the devil no matter what you think.
Last call urgency when we kiss,
Hands on every part of me that you’re gonna miss.
Tore the lace on the top of my brand new dress,
All of this feels like something I’ll have to confess.
Broke down Chevy, grease on my hands,
I didn’t know we were counting, what’s the measure of a man?
I might’ve led you to water but never made you drink,
I’m not the devil no matter what you think.
Sunrise hits different when you haven’t been to sleep,
The corners of your mouth twist into a smile that I will keep,
Like a cool glass of water when I’m broke and hungover,
I’ll drive you back to West Virginia, rest your weary head against my shoulder.
Broke down Chevy, grease on my hands,
I didn’t know we were counting, what’s the measure of a man?
I might’ve led you to water but never made you drink,
I’m not the devil no matter what you think.
I’m not the devil no matter what you think.
credits
released February 9, 2024
FEATURED ARTIST: Taylor Bickett
SONGWRITER: Ron Pope
Zach Berkman - vocals
Taylor Bickett - vocals
Billy Contreras - violin
Rob Crowell - drums, percussion, Hammond B3 organ, synthesizer
Jeff Picker - upright and electric bass
Ron Pope - piano and vocals
Shaun Richardson - high strung guitar
Philip Sterk - pedal steel
Seth Taylor - acoustic and electric guitars
SOUND ENGINEER: Zach Berkman
Assistant engineer - Owen Phillips
MIXING ENGINEER: Zach Berkman
MASTERING ENGINEER: Pete Lyman
PRODUCER: Ron Pope
Platinum recording independent artist, Ron Pope, made a name for himself in the early days of music streaming with the viral
success of his song, “A Drop in the Ocean” - which has now been streamed over 1 billion times going platinum in the US and double platinum in Sweden....more
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