Ten Favorite # Songs: Super 8 (#9)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86778)
United States
June 10, 2017 10:21pm CST
There's just no rhyme or reason to this. Why can't I find a "9" song for the number nine spot on this countdown of favorite number songs -- songs with a number (the actual number, not the word spelled out). There is one out there, but it didn't make the list. Poor engine. 
This countdown was started by @teamfreak16 so read his as well! Here's the next song.
#9: Super 8 - Jason Isbell
There are two ways address a dangerous, serious addiction to a substance: sober up and become a preacher about it, or let it kill you. Much like other favorites of mine (John Hiatt, Warren Zevon), former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell had his demons with alcohol. He tried to get away from it, but it kept coming back to haunt him. Finally, he said he would remember the rehab by writing songs about it. The results of that was his critically-acclaimed 2013 album Southeastern.
He addressed the evils in a serious way (singing a song to his wife, fiddler Amanda Shires, called "Cover Me Up," in which he said, "Put your faith to the test when I tore off your dress in Richmond all high, but I sobered up, I swore off that stuff, forever this time"). The other side of that is a more tongue-in-cheek look at the post-concert party, complete with booze ("buddy, it's a good bet I'll raise more hell than you"), groupies ("trimmer in a t-shirt telling me her heart hurt, honey, let me count the ways"), a jealous boyfriend ("then a big boy busted in, screaming at his girlfriend, waving around a fungo bat"), and too much partying ("it wasn't quite morning and I wasn't quite breathing"). All of this story is delivered with the chorus of, "Don't wanna die in a Super 8 motel just because somebody's evening didn't go so well."
This song is funny. However, the subject matter is quite serious. Sometimes that's the best way to get a message across: with humor. Isbell delivers in spades.
Super 8
Written by Jason Isbell
Recorded by Jason Isbell
From Southeastern, 2013
They slapped me back to life and they telephoned my wife:
This countdown was started by @teamfreak16 so read his as well! Here's the next song.
#9: Super 8 - Jason Isbell
There are two ways address a dangerous, serious addiction to a substance: sober up and become a preacher about it, or let it kill you. Much like other favorites of mine (John Hiatt, Warren Zevon), former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell had his demons with alcohol. He tried to get away from it, but it kept coming back to haunt him. Finally, he said he would remember the rehab by writing songs about it. The results of that was his critically-acclaimed 2013 album Southeastern.
He addressed the evils in a serious way (singing a song to his wife, fiddler Amanda Shires, called "Cover Me Up," in which he said, "Put your faith to the test when I tore off your dress in Richmond all high, but I sobered up, I swore off that stuff, forever this time"). The other side of that is a more tongue-in-cheek look at the post-concert party, complete with booze ("buddy, it's a good bet I'll raise more hell than you"), groupies ("trimmer in a t-shirt telling me her heart hurt, honey, let me count the ways"), a jealous boyfriend ("then a big boy busted in, screaming at his girlfriend, waving around a fungo bat"), and too much partying ("it wasn't quite morning and I wasn't quite breathing"). All of this story is delivered with the chorus of, "Don't wanna die in a Super 8 motel just because somebody's evening didn't go so well."
This song is funny. However, the subject matter is quite serious. Sometimes that's the best way to get a message across: with humor. Isbell delivers in spades.
Super 8
Written by Jason Isbell
Recorded by Jason Isbell
From Southeastern, 2013
They slapped me back to life and they telephoned my wife:
Music video by Jason Isbell performing Super 8. (C) 2014 Southeastern Records
3 people like this
3 responses
@teamfreak16 (43645)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Jun 17
That rocks! Anybody that can work "fungo bat" into a song is alright in my book!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86778)
• United States
11 Jun 17
When I saw him in January 2014 this was the last song before the encore. Absolutely smoking live.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43645)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Jun 17
@FourWalls - I'll bet. It's a very energetic tune.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Jun 17
You totally got me here. Never heard of him until now.
1 person likes this
