A couple of years ago, I had a gig in Austin, Texas. I flew in around 10pm the night before the show, dropped my stuff off at the hotel, and decided to walk over 6th Street for a beer or two before heading to bed. On the way to the pub, I passed by a guy sitting on a bench staring up into the sky. He seemed normal enough, but I remember being struck by how he was lost in thought. For some reason, the only physical recollection I have is that he was wearing old faded blue jeans.
After walking past, I continued on to the bar, drank my beer, and went back to the hotel without any more thought of the “blue jean dude.” The next morning, however, I woke up and couldn’t get the scene out of my head. I couldn’t help but be curious about what was going through his mind while he was sitting on an Austin street bench late at night. I remember telling myself that there could be a thousand potential stories attached to the “blue jean dude”, and that I wanted to write one of them.
This was the inspiration for a song I wrote in the weeks that followed called “Faded Blue Jean Night.” I love filling in the blanks of unfinished narratives, and that’s what I tried to do here. I’m sure none if it is accurate, but it’s my take on why a random dude in jeans would spend a night alone on a bench staring up into the sky.
Next month, I’m heading into the studio to record it.
Faded Blue Jean Night
I’ve been catching hell down here in Austin
I came to find some work and find my way
She told me that she’d wait back home in Boston
And maybe we could make a life someday
But I know how that story goes
It’s easy come and I suppose
It’s easy going back to what I knew
But she’s too far gone,
And I’m too drunk to sleep
It’s too bad ‘cause it’s too late
To ever make it right
The moon and stars and love that has no scars
Were promises I couldn’t keep
Guess it’s just another faded blue jean night
Somewhere out here on the street at midnight
I found the nerve to read it all again
The letter said she found a man that’s just right
He’s nine to five and loves her now and then
But I know how that story goes
It’s easy come and I suppose
It’s easy going back to what she knew
But she’s too far gone,
And I’m too drunk to sleep
It’s too bad ‘cause it’s too late
To ever make it right
The moon and stars and love that has no scars
Were promises I couldn’t keep
Guess it’s just another faded blue jean night
I am gonna sit here till the sun comes up
And I quit hearing slamming doors and footsteps
And voices in my head
I could find a sobering direction
Maybe walk that trendy section of this town
And put it all to bed
But she’s too far gone,
And I’m too drunk to sleep
It’s too bad ‘cause it’s too late
To ever make it right
The moon and stars and love that has no scars
Were promises I couldn’t keep
Guess it’s just another faded blue jean night
