Questions + Answers
From Greg H.
Hi Allison,
There have been so many amazingly thoughtful and deep questions that have come through to you on this platform. I wish I could say mine was going to be the same but instead I'm going to nerd out a little (maybe a lot).
I absolutely love the song "When You Wake Up Feeling Bad" from the Crows album (LOVE the album too!). I have always contended (just ask Mrs.Halka and the kids) that it would not sound out of place on the Beatles White Album and is a perfect companion piece to "I'm So Tired". As a matter of fact "When You Wake Up" follows "I'm So Tired" on multiple playlists I have created over the years.
The first time I heard the song I remember thinking "Wow the bass line is very McCartney, the drumming very Ringo-esque, the harmonies very Beatlesque as well"
Was any of this intentional or have I just conjured this up in my head? If the answer is the latter, I can take it. I am well aware that fans can put meaning to a song that was never the intent of the artist.
In closing I just want to say thank you for your art; the music, the books, the prose etc. It has meant so much to my family and I.
The most incredible live concert my wife and I have experienced was seeing you and Shelby when you were touring the "Not Dark Yet" album.
All the best,
Greg H.
Dear Greg,
I am so happy to receive your question. “When You Wake Up Feeling Bad” is one of my favorites from my catalog. I know it could be lyrically interpreted as a song about depression, but it’s really a simple song about the mysteries that come with riding the waves of life. One of the things that always strikes me as odd now when I reflect on youth, is the tendency to take all of those waves head on, as if that were the only way, while having no idea that it’s impossible to overpower them no matter the approach. I often write down the word float as a reminder to myself these days. Feelings come and go and are not the actual truth so let them flow but don’t take them all seriously. That lesson took a long time to learn.
You’ve totally busted me on The Beatles thing. Yes, of course. That song, and many of my songs, have Beatle-ly things about them. I was raised on their (mostly early) records — I think my Mama lost interest when John & Paul started individualizing — she was a sucker for harmonies and 7ths but much less so for experimental artistic doglegs. Growing up, I knew all those early songs and when I got grown I learned about what came later. And somehow, I gravitate toward other Beatles-inspired musicians and writers — even with my country soul, I most love the chords that like each other like Paul said — I think he attributed that idea to Mozart but I’m not sure — y’all will have to use the Google if you want to look down that hole. But yes, the electric guitar tone is very Abbey Road ( I think Revolver is my favorite complete album) — that’s Joe McMahan. Brad Jones, my favorite McCartney-esque bass player did the honors in that chair (I remember him looking at me upon hearing my work tape of the title track and remarking “how wonderfully strange”). And RS FIeld, who produced the album, played drums (RS knows everything about the lads and plays like Ringo, of course). That’s me on the Wurlitzer and probably all of us on backgrounds. I had a lot of fun making that album — I was so into finger pickings and open tunings and the hifi approach.
Greg, thank you so much for your kind words about my artistry. It has been an incredible journey and continues to be — life blooms bigger everyday and I feel so fortunate to be able to live as a discoverer and sharer. I couldn’t do that without a lot of grace in my life, and part of that comes from this community.
I hope y’all have a fantastic weekend.
PEACE. LOVE.
Allison
Send me a question at allisonmoorercontact@gmail.com
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Very interesting. I first heard you do that song on Youtube of an appearance on Letterman. And I loved it and recognized that it was a left turn from any of your other songs. Very pop. Another left turn and you gave us "The Broken Girl". A song with a similar divergence from country. Nothing country about either of those songs. Great question. Great insight. Thank you both. The Beatles are what got me into playing music.
🦋