Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit — Seven Mile Island
Album: Jason Isbell & The 400 UnitAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 836
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 4
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Take my body to Seven-Mile Island.
Lay my head down where Indians sleep.
Take your shoes off and walk across the water.
It's been so long so I heard a man speak.
Watch the spillways when the water starts rising.
Take your hat off when the sun goes down.
Keep your eyes on that concrete tower.
Maybe one day it will crumble to the ground.
Mary's crying 'cause she can't hold water
And her clothes don't fit her right.
She used to say that she wanted a daughter,
Now she only wants a Saturday night.
There were days when that dusty cave was empty,
image: http://static.urx.io/units/web/urx-unit-loader.gif
Back before this city made a claim
On that hotel for wanderers and strangers,
Back before you could live off of your name.
We all live in an Airstream trailer
About three-hundred yards up the lake.
Call the doctor, Mary's going into labor
And you can't raise a baby on shake.
So take my body to Seven-Mile Island
Lay some stones down on top of my grave.
Tell my lady I just couldn't bear to see her
Tell my daughter I just couldn't be saved.
Lay my head down where Indians sleep.
Take your shoes off and walk across the water.
It's been so long so I heard a man speak.
Watch the spillways when the water starts rising.
Take your hat off when the sun goes down.
Keep your eyes on that concrete tower.
Maybe one day it will crumble to the ground.
Mary's crying 'cause she can't hold water
And her clothes don't fit her right.
She used to say that she wanted a daughter,
Now she only wants a Saturday night.
There were days when that dusty cave was empty,
image: http://static.urx.io/units/web/urx-unit-loader.gif
Back before this city made a claim
On that hotel for wanderers and strangers,
Back before you could live off of your name.
We all live in an Airstream trailer
About three-hundred yards up the lake.
Call the doctor, Mary's going into labor
And you can't raise a baby on shake.
So take my body to Seven-Mile Island
Lay some stones down on top of my grave.
Tell my lady I just couldn't bear to see her
Tell my daughter I just couldn't be saved.
Comments (30)add comment
The Maestro Chris Whitley like crazy. Nice done though.
The cover looks like it was painted by the late lamented Bob Ross.
fgreene wrote:
I spent junior and high school years in Montgomery. I think my HS played Florence (?) - at the old Cramton Bowl, where the Blue-Gray game was held. Damn field had about a three-foot rise from sidelines to center.
I escaped with less accent than most, being an Air Force brat. Haven't been back in decades, probably wouldn't recognize it.
c.
It's great to hear a county-ish singer who's not faking a southern accent. He grew up near Florence AL and sounds like it. I'm From Chattanooga, about 3 hours away and I don't sound like Jason. There's way more than a few versions of southern.
Good song. This isn't my favorite of his, but it's a good one.
I spent junior and high school years in Montgomery. I think my HS played Florence (?) - at the old Cramton Bowl, where the Blue-Gray game was held. Damn field had about a three-foot rise from sidelines to center.
I escaped with less accent than most, being an Air Force brat. Haven't been back in decades, probably wouldn't recognize it.
c.
It's great to hear a county-ish singer who's not faking a southern accent. He grew up near Florence AL and sounds like it. I'm From Chattanooga, about 3 hours away and I don't sound like Jason. There's way more than a few versions of southern.
Good song. This isn't my favorite of his, but it's a good one.
Good song. This isn't my favorite of his, but it's a good one.
I was curious, so looked this up in the Wiki page:
Wikipedia wrote:
Wikipedia wrote:
The band's name comes from the 400 Unit, a colloquial name for the psychiatric ward of Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Alabama. It was originally called the 400 Unit because it was in a separate building from the main three-story hospital. After renovation in the 1980s, the ward was renamed as the Behavioral Health Center, also known as 1st North, and is located on the hospital's first floor.
miamizsun wrote:
Lacon, Alabama for me about 50 miles southeast.
i like this very much.
not to mention that we're from the same small town.
in my youth, i spent a lot of time on seven mile island.
jason is better live
not to mention that we're from the same small town.
in my youth, i spent a lot of time on seven mile island.
jason is better live
Lacon, Alabama for me about 50 miles southeast.
obispo wrote:
looks like they did a cut-copy-paste for the lyrics and there was a pic that did not come through
see the end it says, dot gif
What's with the URL in the middle of the lyrics?
looks like they did a cut-copy-paste for the lyrics and there was a pic that did not come through
see the end it says, dot gif
What's with the URL in the middle of the lyrics?
You can't raise a baby on shake.
It's so peppy, I didn't imagine it could be Jason Isbell. Like it!
keller1 wrote:
Oh, he IS a huge star. You're not likely to hear him much on mainstream radio*, but I imagine everywhere he plays sells out.
c.
*I have heard him on KGID, a local station that plays 'country' from an incredibly deep catalog. Conway Twitty, The Statler Brothers, Loretta, Merle (Haggard and Watson), Mr. Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie (duh), Faron Young...
KGID.FM
One of my current favorite artists. He has a chance to be a huge star.
Oh, he IS a huge star. You're not likely to hear him much on mainstream radio*, but I imagine everywhere he plays sells out.
c.
*I have heard him on KGID, a local station that plays 'country' from an incredibly deep catalog. Conway Twitty, The Statler Brothers, Loretta, Merle (Haggard and Watson), Mr. Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Asleep at the Wheel, Willie (duh), Faron Young...
KGID.FM
One of my current favorite artists. He has a chance to be a huge star.
sjmorrison2 wrote:
it is
love jason isbell. speedtrap town should be on RP
it is
love jason isbell. speedtrap town should be on RP
Cynaera wrote:
I hate to disappoint, but it only gets more depressing from here. Southeastern (Isbell solo) is one of my favorite albums of all time, I can listen cover to cover, over and over. Unfortunately, if I actually do that I find that it is so dark and depressing it can affect my mood for days. I do it anyways.
Okay, I read the words, I love the song in general, and I'm not downgrading it, but geez. Depressing lyrics.. I hope he's got some better, more optimistic words in other songs, and I hope RP will play those songs.
I hate to disappoint, but it only gets more depressing from here. Southeastern (Isbell solo) is one of my favorite albums of all time, I can listen cover to cover, over and over. Unfortunately, if I actually do that I find that it is so dark and depressing it can affect my mood for days. I do it anyways.
Cynaera wrote:
In my experience, "depressing" lyrics have usually meant more to me than "happy" ones.
Okay, I read the words, I love the song in general, and I'm not downgrading it, but geez. Depressing lyrics.. I hope he's got some better, more optimistic words in other songs, and I hope RP will play those songs....
In my experience, "depressing" lyrics have usually meant more to me than "happy" ones.
Cynaera wrote:
You may enjoy everything he ever did with Drive-By Truckers. I thought they were a great band before he came along, and they're a great band without him now that he has left - and I think he's great solo. But DBT *with* Jason Isbell was something that comes along once in a generation - it was more than the sum of its parts.
"T.V.A." first verse, from memory...
"I grew up two hours north of Birmingham.
Me and my daddy used to fish next to Wilson Dam.
He told some stories, Camaros and J.W. Dan.
When I got a little older, I wouldn't and now daddy can't."
Okay, I read the words, I love the song in general, and I'm not downgrading it, but geez. Depressing lyrics.. I hope he's got some better, more optimistic words in other songs, and I hope RP will play those songs. This is really poignant, and it reminds me of "Cross Creek." (Rent the movie. Mary Steenburgen, Rip Torn, Peter Coyote. Quite the period piece, based on Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings' life.)
You may enjoy everything he ever did with Drive-By Truckers. I thought they were a great band before he came along, and they're a great band without him now that he has left - and I think he's great solo. But DBT *with* Jason Isbell was something that comes along once in a generation - it was more than the sum of its parts.
"T.V.A." first verse, from memory...
"I grew up two hours north of Birmingham.
Me and my daddy used to fish next to Wilson Dam.
He told some stories, Camaros and J.W. Dan.
When I got a little older, I wouldn't and now daddy can't."
miamizsun wrote:
I'm from just west of there, myself. Love this stuff. Get a little homesick every time I hear it.
i like this very much.
not to mention that we're from the same small town.
in my youth, i spent a lot of time on seven mile island.
jason is better live
not to mention that we're from the same small town.
in my youth, i spent a lot of time on seven mile island.
jason is better live
I'm from just west of there, myself. Love this stuff. Get a little homesick every time I hear it.
i like this very much.
not to mention that we're from the same small town.
in my youth, i spent a lot of time on seven mile island.
jason is better live
not to mention that we're from the same small town.
in my youth, i spent a lot of time on seven mile island.
jason is better live
Excellent song. will be buying immediately
At last!!!
I am a huge fan of this guy, and his band. They are fantastic live. Go see them if you get the chance. You won't regret it.
I am a huge fan of this guy, and his band. They are fantastic live. Go see them if you get the chance. You won't regret it.
fingerpin wrote:
Reminds me of Michael Hedges' Ritual Dance.
I love Michael Hedges, in my very limited way. I'll have to check out "Ritual Dance." Thanks, fingerpin!
Reminds me of Michael Hedges' Ritual Dance.
I love Michael Hedges, in my very limited way. I'll have to check out "Ritual Dance." Thanks, fingerpin!
Cynaera wrote:
Reminds me of Michael Hedges' Ritual Dance.
I like this the more I hear it. I especially love the loosely-tuned drums - gives it a sort of a tribal feel.
Reminds me of Michael Hedges' Ritual Dance.
Okay, I read the words, I love the song in general, and I'm not downgrading it, but geez. Depressing lyrics.. I hope he's got some better, more optimistic words in other songs, and I hope RP will play those songs. This is really poignant, and it reminds me of "Cross Creek." (Rent the movie. Mary Steenburgen, Rip Torn, Peter Coyote. Quite the period piece, based on Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings' life.)
I won this disc from my local (now defunct) radio station 'bout a year ago. Not bad, I say, not bad.
I like this the more I hear it. I especially love the loosely-tuned drums - gives it a sort of a tribal feel.
More, more, more!!
How about However Long, Sunstroke, Cigarettes and Wine, and Soldiers Get Strange?
How about However Long, Sunstroke, Cigarettes and Wine, and Soldiers Get Strange?
New Music! Yeah!
Former mermber of the Drive By Truckers.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!