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

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

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.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.