Son Volt – Drown

I’ve been staying on this Americana kick with some new bands to me….or alt-country…whichever label you wanna use. So many of these great bands started or really hit their stride in the 1990s. The Jayhawks, Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, The Blue Shadows, Wilco, The Old 97s, and many more. Bands to listen to…to forget your problems. No, you will not see a ton of hits with these bands and that is ok with me because they sound so damn good. 

When Uncle Tupelo dissolved in 1994, singer Jay Farrar set out to create a new band that would continue blending rock with country influences. This led to the formation of Son Volt, a band that would quickly become a major force in the alt-country movement. 

This song was released as a single on their debut album, Trace, in 1995. It peaked at #15 on the Billboard Alternative Chart and #10 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts. The album received critical praise for its songs, authenticity, and raw sound. It peaked at #166 on the Billboard Album Charts and #7 on the Billboard Heatseekers Charts. 

Son Volt has continued to perform and record. They have released 11 albums, and their last one was in 2023, named Day of the Doug. Another thing I like about these albums is that they are organic sounding with no big production or tricks. 

Drown

Sky cracks open, walls falling to the floorJust as well to keep it, a guessing game in storeYou’re with me now, will be againAll other points in between

And the cruel, cruel morningsHave turned to days of swim or sinkIf living right is easy, what goes wrongYou’re causing it to drown

Didn’t want to turn that wayYou’re causing it to drownDoesn’t make a difference nowYou’re causing it to drown

Silence knows, can’t drown a heartHappenstance is falling through the cracks each dayToo close now to change itFool’s gold is lighter anyway

When in doubt, move on, no need to sort it outYou’re with me now, will be againAll other points in betweenAnd I want to find the right side of you

If living right is easy, what goes wrongYou’re causing it to drownDidn’t want to turn that wayYou’re causing it to drown

Doesn’t make a difference nowYou’re causing it to drownSilence knows, can’t drown a heartWhen in doubt, move on, no need to sort it out

You’re with me now, will be againAll other points in betweenAnd I want to find the right side of youIf living right is easy, what goes wrong

You’re causing it to drownDidn’t want to turn that wayYou’re causing it to drownDoesn’t make a difference now

You’re causing it to drownSilence knows, can’t drown a heart

…

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

38 thoughts on “Son Volt – Drown”

    1. Yea…I like the rest as well…I just picked this one out of the blue. Ever since I started to listen to The Blue Shadows…I’ve been hooked on Americana.

      Like

      Reply

  2. Good stuff. I was off at college while a lot of these bands were forming and getting some attention. I think there was a “No Depression” music newspaper in the St. Louis area, too. Most of these groups have at least one song I really enjoy.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. There were a lot of them….I missed some of them at the time. “No Depression” music…I like that.

      Like

      Reply
  3. Pingback: Son Volt – Drown – MobsterTiger

    1. I knew their name but that was about it…when I tried this album by them…I was impressed. I just picked this song because it was the one I liked the best. You made me realize something with your first sentence…tomorrow is almost a carbon copy lol.

      Like

      Reply

  7. No Depression was a publication dedicated to that style of music, name was derived from an Uncle Tupelo song I believe. I remember, years back, borrowing the first Son Volt CD from local library…it was ok, perfectly good but depressing songs…but nothing stuck. Wilco appealed much more to me. But maybe it’s time to give Jay & co. another listen

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh cool…I had no clue. I heard this one and I automatically liked it with a first listen. I’ve read where this is their best album.

      Like

      Reply

  8. Now you’re talking buddy. This, Wilco and the band they came from are very high in my listening back then and still today. This song still sounds fresh to me. It’s that personal connection we’ve talked about. This band just hit me hard and still does. I have never seen that live clip. Aces Max. “If living’s easy what goes wrong you’re causing it”. Love that lyric.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I do love lyrics like that…it makes you think and that is worth it. I went in with no knowledge of them and that album sounds so good…this is the track that jumped out to me…but many did.

      Like

      Reply

      1. When Uncle Tupelo came around they grabbed me big time. I cant pick a favorite from all that music at that time but they really resonated and I played them a lot.
        Again this was a band I had in the wings for you but i was beaten to the punch. You’re finding gold Max. Thus stuff just keeps sounding better to my ears. My son Big Earl became a big Wilco fan on his own. Son, Tupolo, Wilco have given me hours of listening pleasyre.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. You are right in the last comment…it doesn’t sound dated at all…no 90s sound…just timeless and great.
        This music really fits me right now and lately. Tomorrow is almost a carbon copy of today…but that is a good thing. Bailey told me about Wilco not long ago…so CB…we did right!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I’ll shut up about how much I like this stuff
        Yeah, Bailey and Earl are making some excellent choices. Amazing how it circles back plus he exposes me to some really good new material but he seems to be getting into a lot of the music I like especially this “Americana” vibe.
        As usual im curious about tomorrow.

        Like

    1. That was one of the songs that was in the running…I like it as well. Never heard of the Waltons…I will look them up.

      Like

      Reply

  11. I love, love, love what I’ve heard from Son Volt, including this song. Jay Farrar oftentimes reminds me of Neil Young. While I also generally dig Wilco, Jeff Tweedy’s band and the other group that came out of Uncle Tupelo, overall, I prefer Son Volt.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Yea I love them as well from what I know. I love this album Trace. It’ funny…tomorrrow I have almost a carbon copy of today lol…yes I have the other band you mentioned and a female singer of alt country

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. I bought a cassette of Uncle Tupelo’s No Depression when it came out on a whim, never heard of them or what they were about. Enjoyed it a lot. As far as the two splinter groups go, I prefer Son Volt. I’ve listened to a little Wilco, but I find it hard to get into them, don’t know why.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Well Wilco changed a little after this. Their first album was more like Uncle Toledo…as I told CB….tomorrow is almost a carbon copy of today…I didn’t notice that until this afternoon.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yeah, Son Volt are pretty much Americana- at least from what I’ve heard, and I like what I’ve heard from them. Wilco move in and out of genres to an extent. I can happily listen to ‘Box Full Of Letters’ and then veer off to something like ‘Spiders/Kidsmoke’ and they don’t sound the same band at all. And that’s a good thing too.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Like Wilco they did move out of it a little later on but not with as much success. Wilco started to change after their first album…like I’ve told other people today…tomorrow is going to look a lot like today.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I really like this album Trace. From what I read…and I don’t know how true it is but this is said to be their best album.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment