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Jason Isbell — Hope the High Road
Album: The Nashville Sound
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 851









Released: 2017
Length: 2:55
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I used to think that this was my town
What a stupid thing to think
I hear you're fighting off a breakdown
I myself am on the brink

I used to want to be a real man
I don't know what that even means
Now I just want you in my arms again
And we can search each other's dreams

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again

I've heard enough of the white man's blues
I've sang enough about myself
So if you're looking for some bad news
You can find it somewhere else

Last year was a son of a bitch
For nearly everyone we know
But I ain't fighting with you down in a ditch
I'll meet you up here on the road

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again
To a world you want to live in

We'll ride the ship down
Dumping buckets overboard
There can't be more of them than us
There can't be more

I know you're tired
And you ain't sleeping well
Uninspired
And likely mad as hell
But wherever you are
I hope the high road leads you home again
To a world you want to live in
To a world you want to live in
Comments (50)add comment
 kopfhoerer wrote:

Mugro wrote:

Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country
accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little
whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out
here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better.
Whatever.


Sounds like someone really needs a hug
 
Nah, they'd think it was "gay".
 h8rhater wrote:
"Last year was a son of a bitch for nearly everyone we know."

Amen brother.
 

...and this was a pre-Covid/2020 comment!
 Sasha2001 wrote:

" Liberals with a country accent" 

Gotta suck when people who look and sound like you refuse to live in the same angry, dispair-filled swamp. In my experience, the resentment I feel towards others dissipates when I start to see them as individuals and less as members of some tribe I want to identify with.

Also, these are great lyrics! I love this album!

Thank you Sasha.  I love it when someone else is able express my thoughts  better than I could ("Gotta suck...").  And I love it even more when they extend those thoughts in a positive direction (how to dissipate resentment).  Much love.  
Incredible live show.  Go see him.

And y'all 6.5 Radiohead fans can go F yourselves.
saw this band with Brandi Carlisle - great show and I wish he had opened. She was okay but all about being a mother. I felt he was more interesting and delivered a great live show
 Mugro wrote:
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 
 

W O R D .

 Sasha2001 wrote:

" Liberals with a country accent" 

Gotta suck when people who look and sound like you refuse to live in the same angry, dispair-filled swamp. In my experience, the resentment I feel towards others dissipates when I start to see them as individuals and less as members of some tribe I want to identify with.

Also, these are great lyrics! I love this album!
 

I'm right there with you,Sasha2001, and going +1 to 8 today...great lyrics and meaning. Long Live RP!!
Mugro needs a punch in the neck.  Isbell is amazing.
 Mugro wrote:
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 
 

Sounds like someone really needs a hug
One of my three favorite lyricists currently. Tied with Craig Finn (Hold Steady) and Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes). 
Jason, it is ok to try to be a real man.
 Sasha2001 wrote:

"...the resentment I feel towards others dissipates when I start to see them as individuals and less as members of some tribe I want to identify with."
 
Thanks. Political polarization today is the worst I've seen in my 54 years. We used to ALL be patriots, but many today have become tribal-bound nationalists.  We can't return to pre-WW2 thinking. It will kill us. ALL of us.
"I'm hinged as hell!" - Good for you, Jason!  Keep up the good work.
Well, he grows on me I guess. A little bit.
 kingart wrote:

Listen to much Michael Franti and Spearhead, do you? 
Yes, we have lived through worse. That Ted Nugent thing sounds difficult, if that's your speed. 
I struggle for a living, too, but I know who the causes of it are. Hint: they're not urban liberals with country accents. 

 
Agree with the sentiment, but Jason Isbell lives in a modest country farmhouse outside of Nashville with his lovely wife and family. 
 Mugro wrote:
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 

 
" Liberals with a country accent" 

Gotta suck when people who look and sound like you refuse to live in the same angry, dispair-filled swamp. In my experience, the resentment I feel towards others dissipates when I start to see them as individuals and less as members of some tribe I want to identify with.

Also, these are great lyrics! I love this album!
 Mugro wrote:
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 

 
Listen to much Michael Franti and Spearhead, do you? 
Yes, we have lived through worse. That Ted Nugent thing sounds difficult, if that's your speed. 
I struggle for a living, too, but I know who the causes of it are. Hint: they're not urban liberals with country accents. 
rock lives!  {#Cowboy}
 Mugro wrote:
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 

 

Good luck with your little whiny sour dissing on high quality music niche, dude. (Why do you even listen to RP?) The rest of us will be out here enjoying RP, while you wish you could write a song so good — even one line. Whatever. 
Why haven't I clocked this before. RP must have slipped him plenty and the flow was so smooth — today this jumped out. Instant fan: listening to Tiny Desk on NPR. Thanks RP!
 Mugro wrote:
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 

 
Taking responsibility for your choices in life is a wonderful thing.
 Mugro wrote:
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 

 
Who's thin-skinned now??
Millenial drama with an echo. Liberals with a country accent? I guess we've lived through worse. Good luck with your little whiny political country music niche, dude. The rest of us will be out here struggling to make a living while you wish things were better. Whatever. 
Saw them live at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival last week. Liked the lyrics, good energy, great rapport. Put on a good show.
Ho hum...
David Lindley meets Bruce Springsteen meets .....
This group doesnt do much for me. pxd
 redmachine wrote:
Easily makes it into the top 500 uninspiring, bland, pointless alt-country bands.

 
The music is pretty much cream gravy, but I think the lyrics are fairly spicy.
 redmachine wrote:
Easily makes it into the top 500 uninspiring, bland, pointless alt-country bands.

 
Why would a Commie be interested in alt-country anyway?
"Last year was a son of a bitch for nearly everyone we know."

Amen brother.
Overplayed.  Song is only...meh
 redmachine wrote:
Easily makes it into the top 500 uninspiring, bland, pointless alt-country bands.

 
Maybe it's because he doesn't wear one of them there officially approved honky tonk bull riding cowboy hats. 
Easily makes it into the top 500 uninspiring, bland, pointless alt-country bands.
There is a lot of good, new alt-county/country-rock, whatever you want to call it.  And this guy is one of the leaders of the pack of the genre.
Solid alt country by a tight and passionate band.  Let the high road take us home again. To the world we want to live in. 
Amen, brother. 
Brilliant Segue from McMurtry Can't make it here anymore. Nice work William!
Great live with really solid band....new album makes three outstanding in a row!
This man writes some great lyrics. 
 sunybuny wrote:
'Smart person's country' - I think you have a winner there.

 

I hear the country, but this sounds like Glenn Frey moving in a new direction from "Smuggler's Blues..."
Rock & Roll baby! What a way to start the day! Thanks B & R.
I love this guy!  I personally didn't think that "something more than free" quite lived up to "southeastern", but it was still great.  I am very excited to hear this whole album.

BTW, I first heard him on RP... so, thanks!
 ploba wrote:
when will it be released!

 
June
This man has it all - poignant lyricist, singer, helluva guitar player and amazing live performer.  First saw him in small venue in Knoxville in 2012 and have been a huge fan ever since.  Oh - and his tweets are very entertaining!
when will it be released!
Best of the new breed
'Smart person's country' - I think you have a winner there.
 Randomax wrote:
I just discovered Jason Isbell when I was pushed to go see him at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels Tx.  I was blown away.  bought some albums even...I haven't heard this before but LOVE it....honestly I thought it was Joe Ely at first!!    I love Jason's writing talent....soooo good....I call it "Smart person's country".    Though he falls more into the alternative country folk but that's because of his WORDS!!  Thanks for playing him, Bill!!

 
"Smart person's country music", that's exactly what I was thinking. 

I just moved to an area where country is most popular, but I never hear Jason Isbell played here.  Seems music with 'writing talent' would be something that stands out in a good way.  But what do I know, most folk here think sugared soda, cigarettes, gambling, poison food and ignoring climate change are a good thing. 

Thanks for playing him, Bill!!
I just discovered Jason Isbell when I was pushed to go see him at Whitewater Ampthitheater in New Braunfels Tx.  I was blown away.  bought some albums even...I haven't heard this before but LOVE it....honestly I thought it was Joe Ely at first!!    I love Jason's writing talent....soooo good....I call it "Smart person's country".    Though he falls more into the alternative country folk but that's because of his WORDS!!  Thanks for playing him, Bill!!
Solid Unit.