Ever South – Drive-By Truckers

It’s hard for me to believe that it has been so long since I’ve written on this blog. For those who don’t know, I started a Master’s program in early August, which has taken most of my free time that I would use to write. I really hate that. The greatest travesty of this undertaking for me has been my lack of music consumption. That being said, rest easy and fear not; the passion I have for music remains, and I am still discovering new tracks and revisiting old ones weekly, just not at the rate that I was before. I have a few days off before my next term begins on Monday, and I look forward to relaxing with some good tunes.

I am firm in my belief that the Drive-By Truckers are one of the great “autumn” bands. I enjoy them year-round, and I’m guessing that they have been my most regular band to write about on this blog regardless of the time of year, but something about their music hits harder when the leaves begin to change colors.

Much like the Truckers, I have a deep love and appreciation for the South, while still being able to acknowledge its flaws. (As ALL regions and places have.) I have come to really understand the “duality of the southern thing,” as they would put it, as I continue to evolve and grow older. Part of my love for the Truckers comes from how well they represent the Deep South and explain that we are not all ignoramuses, contrary to the Yankee concept placed upon our drawl. While I don’t line up perfectly with everything the Truckers write about and have to say, my admiration for them remains regardless, and I can really appreciate their point of view, and most certainly love their music.

For today’s song, I chose a Patterson Hood penned saga, one of his best, I think. “Ever South” is a nuanced telling of the plight of Irish and Scottish immigrants through multiple generations, slipping in and out of being narratively told from the point of view of Patterson’s ancestors. The song evolves towards the end, taking a more critical stance that encapsulates Patterson’s own views. The last two verses are some of my favorite lyrics that he has penned.

Ever southern in my carriage, ever southern in my stance
In the Irish of my complexion and the Scottish in my dance
In the way I bang my head against my daily circumstance

Let this blue-eyed southern devil take you out upon the prowl
With decadence and charm we’ll take it into town
Tell you stories of our fathers and the glories of our house
Always told a little slower, ever south
Always told a little slower, ever south

I like the non traditional lack of a chorus, and “Ever South” almost feels akin to a slow burn film. Musically, there is some awesome work on the keys being done throughout as well, perfectly accenting the song. Driven by the rhythm section, this almost 6 minute track feels much shorter.

I linked a really cool live version, recorded at the legendary 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA, the Trucker’s adopted home. Patterson begins the rendition with a tribute to another son of the south, one of my personal favorites, Mr. Tom Petty.

Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0lY2AcqU6c&list=RDR0lY2AcqU6c&start_radio=1

Live from Athens, GA – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRiBtKurEO4&list=RDIRiBtKurEO4&start_radio=1 (Tom Petty’s Southern Accents Intro, very cool)