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Son Volt — Tear Stained Eye
Album: Trace
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 383









Released: 1995
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Walking down Main Street, getting to know the concrete
Looking for a purpose from a neon sign
I would meet you anywhere the western sun meets the air
We'll hit the road, never looking behind

Can you deny, there's nothing greater
Nothing more than the traveling hands of time?
Sainte Genevieve can hold back the water
But saints don't bother with a tear stained eye

Seeing traces of the scars that came before
Hitting the pavement still asking for more
When the hours don't move along
Worn-out wood and familiar songs
To hear your voice is not enough
It's more than a shame

Can you deny, there's nothing greater
Nothing more than the traveling hands of time?
Sainte Genevieve can hold back the water
But saints don't bother with a tear stained eye

Like the man said, rode hard and put away wet
Throw away the bad news and put it to rest
If learning is living and the truth is a state of mind
You'll find it's better at the end of the line

Can you deny, there's nothing greater
Nothing more than the traveling hands of time?
Sainte Genevieve can hold back the water
But saints don't bother with a tear stained eye

Sainte Genevieve can hold back the water
But saints don't bother with a tear stained eye
Comments (35)add comment
This song sounds like a direct descendant of some of the songs on Sweetheart of the Rodeo. I mean that as a big compliment.
 BoulderKevin wrote:
All the bitching about caterwauling aside, every time I hear this album, especially this song and "Windfall", I just want to go on a road trip across empty spaces. A solid 9 in my book...
 
Here's to road trips across "fly-over" places.
Ok, so it is alt.dreck.
To the previous comments about country....many people consider the writer of this song to be the founder of alt.country.  It's not country, it's alt.
 BoulderKevin wrote:
All the bitching about caterwauling aside, every time I hear this album, especially this song and "Windfall", I just want to go on a road trip across empty spaces. A solid 9 in my book...
 
Amen
well this just brightened my raggedy-ass-end-of-winter mood. 
Nice set this morning! Thank you!

Oh, for FSM, just swallow a bullet already.


Pass that there corn-likker and play that one agin' Cleetus! That was a good 'un...
All the bitching about caterwauling aside, every time I hear this album, especially this song and "Windfall", I just want to go on a road trip across empty spaces. A solid 9 in my book...
its got a neil young sound, that's enough to get it a 7 from me.
i like homage. 
 gandalfbmg wrote:


It's country: it's what country SHOULD be, were 'country' not now simply a corporate lowest common denominator factory.
 
It just sounds contrived...


 Krimptastic wrote:

I agree, the lyrics exclude this song from the country genre.  However, the twang is definitely present and this excludes it from my music library.  The "twang" has always turned me off no matter what the lyrics; it's something that i can't seem accept.

 

It's country: it's what country SHOULD be, were 'country' not now simply a corporate lowest common denominator factory.
 jadewahoo wrote:
Wretched.
Caterwauling is caterwauling, no matter how you gussie it up, and this song is nothing but caterwauling.

  But oh, what wonderful caterwauling. Love it.


Wretched.
Caterwauling is caterwauling, no matter how you gussie it up, and this song is nothing but caterwauling.

 Randomax wrote:

Wow, have to agree with the last post....this is NOT country....Sun Volt isn't and never has been country.  I just don't know why people get confused about this....just cuz there's a twang once in a while doesn't mean it's country.  You would NEVER hear a country music singer sing the words in these lyrics!  (btw, I, too, can't stand what is considered "country music")
 
I agree, the lyrics exclude this song from the country genre.  However, the twang is definitely present and this excludes it from my music library.  The "twang" has always turned me off no matter what the lyrics; it's something that i can't seem accept.

When people hear a lap- or pedal steel it's quickly considered country music. I do love country music in its purest form, not for 24 hours a day, but with the right dosis i love it. So much of music nowadays wouldn't exist if it wasn't for country music, so in some way many people like it i guess...

Ow, and not everybody that likes country music is a cowboy... {#Rolleyes}
 phiagurl wrote:
Country is the only musical genre that I don't like anything from. It's great when diluted with jazz, hard rock, what-have-you, but my ears don't like it taken straight. But since Radio Paradise caters to my desires every other way, I should let that pass. Have fun and enjoy your music, cowboys. Yeehaw! :p
 
Wow, have to agree with the last post....this is NOT country....Sun Volt isn't and never has been country.  I just don't know why people get confused about this....just cuz there's a twang once in a while doesn't mean it's country.  You would NEVER hear a country music singer sing the words in these lyrics!  (btw, I, too, can't stand what is considered "country music")


phiagurl wrote:
Country is the only musical genre that I don't like anything from. It's great when diluted with jazz, hard rock, what-have-you, but my ears don't like it taken straight. But since Radio Paradise caters to my desires every other way, I should let that pass. Have fun and enjoy your music, cowboys. Yeehaw! :p
This is not country! The is nothing about mama, prison, drinkin, trucks, rain or prison. These are the only criteria I'm aware of. Now that that's off my chest I can say that this is an awesome song.
Country is the only musical genre that I don\'t like anything from. It\'s great when diluted with jazz, hard rock, what-have-you, but my ears don\'t like it taken straight. But since Radio Paradise caters to my desires every other way, I should let that pass. Have fun and enjoy your music, cowboys. Yeehaw! :p
I want a passed out lying on the floor from holding my breath until this song is over emoticon. Or better yet, a fingers in both ears emoticon!
these guys are some of the best. I.n M.y H.umble O.pinon.
My favorite Son Volt song! Possibly my favorite straight country song period. Easy to sing along to also
I really love this band, have since I first heard them, thanks RP.
Originally Posted by BC_Night_Heron: There is a line, when crossed, causes the potency of lyrics to be negatively affected by the cloying country style of musical approach. This song suffers from crossing that line, IMHO.
Beg to differ.
There is a line, when crossed, causes the potency of lyrics to be negatively affected by the cloying country style of musical approach. This song suffers from crossing that line, IMHO.
These guys have long been one of my favorites. Great music for driving through the hills on back roads...along a mountain stream, and then grabbing a cheeseburger at some backwoods bar. Amazing. Great taste, Bill!!
WILCO is the other Uncle Tupelo spin off. Great music from both bands.
man, I REALLY really like these guys. had heard the name many times before, but never the music. I love it. we should hear more. (ps - has the singer been in other bands that I would have heard? very familiar voice)
Pleasant enough but a little too country for my tastes.