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Todd Snider
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thumb|Todd Snider in 2009
Todd Daniel Snider (November 11, 1966 – November 14, 2025) was a singer-songwriter born in Portland, Oregon.
Sourced
You internet people scare the shit out of me.
"The Todd Snider Archives." EighteenMinutes.com. 2004. <http://www.eighteenminutes.com/index.html>
I don't know much about that whole grunge thing.
USA Today, December 7, 1994. <http://www.eighteenminutes.com/memorabilia/print/images/usatoday_1b.jpg>
Song Lyrics
Near Truths and Hotel Rooms (2003)
You know, this war on drugs is funded by tobacco and alcohol commissions. It's not what drugs you're strung out on they care about so much as whose.People still dig drugs. I mean, y'all do, anyway. I'm over it.
Tension.
Republicans... That's what scares people these days.That, and uh, Democrats.
Tension.
They say the average bank robber lives within say about 20 miles of the bank that he robsThere's this little bank not so far from here I've been watching now for a whileSeems like lately alls I can think about is how bad I wanna go out in style
Statistician's Blues.
I'm gonna make my last standThis time I can't be boughtThen again, on the other handHow much have you got?
I Can't Complain.
(Spoken) So I called my brother... he was living in Austin. He had these friends who were letting him stay on their couch, and I figured they might have a couch that I could stay on. So, I got this ride to Austin, Texas and got to this address my brother gave me, and this guy introduced himself as "Bonehead." And I went in and started asking around; turned out they didn't have the second couch, they just had the one couch, uh, for my brother. But they knew where there was a party, and I thought, well, that's good enough.
The Story of the Ballad of the Devil's Backbone Tavern.
(Spoken) He came out, kinda like tonight, like I am, with just a guitar, and sang some songs. I thought, shit, I could do that.
The Story of the Ballad of the Devil's Backbone Tavern, about Snider's first time seeing Jerry Jeff Walker in concert.
(Spoken) You get out in the desert and there's no signs. And of course it was just me and all my friends, it was all guys in the car, so we drove about another two and a half hours before we ever pulled over and asked anybody where we was. And we were on this thing called the Devil's Backbone Highway, right, so we finally pull into this place uniquely named "The Devil's Backbone Tavern." We go in, and all the guys say I gotta go in, you know. And so I go in there, and it's one of them bars, like everyone's drinking beer and there are like, say, twenty people in there and they have maybe, say, seventeen teeth total in the whole place. And I'm not a good fighter, or very good at protecting myself at all, you know! And I thought, well this could - this may not work out. So I saw behind the bar there was this one older woman; she looked like she was in her eighties and she kinda hunched over like I remember my grandma started to do, she kinda, she had curly white hair, and she's all... I thought, well, I could take her...
The Story of the Ballad of the Devil's Backbone Tavern.
Now to fit in on the Seattle sceneYou had to show people something that they'd never seenSo thinkin' up a gimmick one dayWe decided to be the only band that wouldn't play a noteUnder any circumstanceWe called it silence...Music's original alternativeRoot's grunge
Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues.
With good behavior I'll be out in seven yearsDon't worry over me or shed any tearsI've learned a lot in here and I know what a chance I blewThe next time I won't make the same mistakeI'll shoot the camera out tooI'm learning all kinds of things you can doWhen you're broke
Broke.
East Nashville Skyline (2004)
Conservative Christian, right-wing RepublicanStraight white American malesGay-bashing, black-fearingWar-fighting, tree-killingRegional leaders of salesFrat-housing, keg-tappingShirt-tucking, back-slappingHaters of hippies like meTree-hugging, peace-lovingPot-smoking, porn-watchingLazy-ass hippies like me
Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican, Straight, White, American Males.
The Devil You Know (2006)
I was looking for a job when I found this oneDon't need the work like you need the work doneYou look like you're under pressureI was already looking for a job two weeks ago, when I met you, remember?
Looking For a Job
Peace Queer (2008)
Making money out of paper, making paper out of treesWe’re making so much money we can hardly breathe
Stuck on a Corner
The Excitement Plan (2009)
By the time that he mowed the last man downHe was high as he had ever beenLaughing to the sounds of the world going aroundCompletely unaware of the winAnd while the papers would say he was scattered that dayHe was pretty as a pitcher could beThe day Dock Ellis of the pittsburgh piratesThrew a no hitter on lsd
America's Favorite Pastime (The Ballad of Dock Ellis).
A man once said that the pinnacle of successWas when you've finally lost interestIn money, compliments, and publicityA noble enough idea I supposeHow on Earth he does this heaven only knowsI know I need a lot more of all three of thoseBefore I'll ever have the nerve to turn up my noseAt any money, or compliments, or publicity
Money, Compliments, Publicity (Song Number 10).
It's an issue for meI went to see this therapistShe said just do the best you can doDo the best you can doI was hoping for something more specific
Money, Compliments, Publicity (Song Number 10).
Quotes about Todd Snider
Todd Snider is a true songwriter, with the heart and humor of John Prine, the wild unpredictability of Roger Miller, and a fresh, original spirit and freedom of imagination that's absolutely his own.
Kris Kristofferson, quoted at Oh Boy Records
Todd Snider writes great songs and also is a great performer. He totally connects with every audience. Hardest act to follow since Steve Goodman.
John Prine, quoted at Oh Boy Records
Of all the young singer-songwriters out there, I think Todd Snider is the best.. by that I mean he has found a way to take his feelings and observations and turn them into songs that can get an audience...he won't quit til he gets the audience and he always gets the audience.
Jerry Jeff Walker, quoted at Oh Boy Records.
External links
Official Homepage
Category:1966 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Agnostics from the United States
Category:Folk singers
Category:Guitarists from the United States
Category:People from Portland
Category:Singer-songwriters from the United States