The first song off Dawes' debut album tells a story, something Dawes is known to do quite often.
In this story, a man falls foolishly in love with a girl in California. However, when the girl has to return to her home in Birmingham, the man decides to follow her with dreams of love on the horizon....
Oh Lou, I'd like to let you know that I do not feel welcome
All the birds, the trees, the falling snow;
No, they were not made for me
And though this is where her heart resides, we met in California
She saw a city's promise reaching through my eyes
And she turned her self away
Well how I curse that western skyline
And yet I thanked it for my start
Oh Lou, no my dreams did not come true
No, they only came apart
So I followed her here to Birmingham, where the soil is so much richer
And though my aching pride might guide my hand, she did not ask for me to come
So I wait for her all through the day, as if I wait for her surrender
And every time I get her to look my way, she says I'm not where I belong
But I watch her father preach on Sundays
I know the hymnals all by heart
But oh Lou, no my dreams did not come true
No, they only came apart
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
All the snowfall this time of year, it's not what Birmingham is used to
I get the feeling that I brought it here, and now I'm taking it away
But let's share one more drink together, before I go reload my car
And oh Lou, no my dreams did not come true
No they only came apart
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
Take me home
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
Ohhhh, oh oh oh oh
That Western Skyline was written by Taylor Goldsmith.
That Western Skyline was produced by Jonathan Wilson.
Dawes released That Western Skyline on Tue Aug 18 2009.