Down Past The Bottom

Album: Good Souls Better Angels (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lucinda Williams' friend, Pennsylvania-born-and-raised songwriter Greg Garing, wrote this song. Originally recorded by Wanda Jackson for her 2012 Unfinished Business album, Williams told Uncut magazine she thought the honky-tonker was a "really cool traditional country song," but sounded too similar to others she'd done in the past.

    The singer's husband and co-producer Tom Overby suggested they have a look to see what they could do with it. The band started playing, Williams improvised some lyrics, and they ended up with a dark-night-of-the-soul hard rocker, which she described as "this totally punked-out garage-rock version of a country song."

    Williams added: "The punk thing is so closely aligned to real country full stops what Hank Williams did. What Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. What Iggy and The Stooges did. It's all about attitude."
  • Lyrically, this is one of several Good Souls Better Angels songs that employ American gothic and religious imagery. "I've always been drawn to that imagery," Williams told The Irish Examiner. "It's a beautiful way to explain things... I've always loved and been fascinated by it."
  • Longtime Wallflowers band member Stuart Mathis supplies the song's raw, ferocious guitar playing.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Corey Hart

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.