Thom Daugherty, former lead guitarist for The Elms and The Band Perry, released his first full -length solo album today: Westfield. My children and I have been a fan of his guitar work for years, and recently I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate on some music with him. We were reflecting on how, when we were younger, we loved reading the album covers to our favorite albums. Many artists would explain the meaning behind their songs and album, include photos, and thank various individuals who contributed to their recording project. Thom and I were talking about how some of that gets lost in today’s music environment, where the audio version of a single song may be streamed or downloaded without additional information/insight into the creative process.
Here is Thom in his own words…
“In the industrial Midwest, guys talk a lot about “Boss Man.” Boss Man is the reason why they’re having to work through the weekend. Boss Man just cut their rates. Boss Man is bearing down on them forcing them to work twice as hard for half the pay.
Boss Man is responsible for most of their woes, and they’re not wrong.
I’ve seen the stress and the strain this puts on them and their families for several decades now.
What I’ve never gotten is that despite the fact that they’re connecting Boss Man to their hardship, they also continue to vote for the politicians who strip them of their rights to protect them from Boss Man and the Top Brass who push Boss Man to treat them like this. Sucking every last dime away from their bring-home pay.
Those politicians have been able to successfully deflect the blame onto Immigrants, People of Color, the LGBTQ community, and Women, instead of The Top Brass.
I understand their frustration because my family had our share of it, too.
But I wish we could learn eventually that we have way more in common with The Others than we think, and stop placing the blame on them.
Their real enemy is a system of Greed that squeezes the life out of anybody and everybody who isn’t a member of The Top.“
Thom wrote Westfield based out of an evolution/enlightenment he experienced regarding his Christian faith, and how he began to see the world differently as a result. While each song may contain a specific message regarding the state of society in the USA, the album in its entirety contains a message as well.
Since Thom has written an album full of meaning, I wanted the message behind the songs to be presented for those who, like us, miss the days of the Album Cover.
The second album track is called Burn It All Down, you can stream it here on Spotify, Apple Music , or Purchase on iTunes
BURN IT ALL DOWN Downshift the Ford into 2nd Turn left down this forgotten street Pulled into my old spot in a parking lot that is losing a fight to the weeds And a cold wind is signaling changes The living we made is dead As the sky slowly turns to crimson, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet I’m gonna light it all up I’m gonna burn it all down The flames will scorch the clouds The sixth alarm will sound I’m gonna light it all up I’m gonna burn it all down There’ll be nothin’ left So when you come lookin’ for me I’m nowhere to be found I’m gonna burn it all down I’m gonna burn it all down Down comes the door of my short-bed I’ve got a little of everything And a book of matches with the company line From the cookout they threw last Spring Our home, our station, my kids’ education And the way to pay for all of them Hell, it’s not so much all the things that I’ve lost I’ve got nothin’ left to win So I’m gonna light it all up I’m gonna burn it all down The flames will scorch the clouds The sixth alarm will sound I’m gonna light it all up I’m gonna burn it all down There’ll be nothin’ left So when you come lookin’ for me I’m nowhere to be found I’m gonna burn it all down Gas all along the perimeter Throw a match and learn I’m not alone Turn to my right, and to my surprise I’m locking eyes with the C.E.O. We bold for the door, but he got out before Must’ve propped up somethin’ outside Would be the luck of me, that S.O.B. Got the best of me one last time I’m gonna light it all up I’m gonna burn it all down The flames will scorch the clouds The sixth alarm will sound I’m gonna light it all up I’m gonna burn it all down There’ll be nothin’ left So when you come lookin’ for me I’m nowhere to be found I’m gonna burn it all down I’m gonna burn it all down I’m gonna burn it all down I’m gonna burn it all down
Wonderfully Plagued 