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

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

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.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.