Texas Singer Songwriter Eley Buck Davis delivers an incredibly sentimental and upbeat single “Grocery Bill” from his newly released album Pier and Beam
Writing “Grocery Bill”
“Grocery Bill” is one of those sing-a-long love tunes that’s relatable and timeless.
“It’s one of those I wrote in like fifteen minutes, you know?” Davis said.
Davis said that he was visiting a park in South Austin with this future wife and knew it was growing into something special.
“I really realized that I had finally found what I was looking for,” Davis said.
At the time Davis was living in an old Catalina camper and would travel to visit Gracie.
“A lot of young ladies would want more than a tin shack,” Davis said with a laugh, but the song came together and certainly helped sweeten the offer. They had a common desire to follow the arts and live an adventurous life, and became engaged after only nine months.
Pier and Beam
Pier and Beam is an album designed to honor some of the family and friends that are still living today, with the title track written to this father.
“In the past I’ve written songs about my Grandfather, and it was after he had already passed,” Davis said. “So with this album I’m trying to let everybody know that I appreciate them and I love them.”
Davis described his Father as “very old school” and said that their love for each other has often gone unspoken.
“The point of this song for me is to tell my Dad the way I feel while He’s still here,” Davis said.
Harnessing this joy for those around him, and his pursuit of an artistic dream, has produced his finest work. Davis’ Father described “Pier and Beam” as “one of his favorite songs.”
Life of a Songwriter
Davis said he tries not to take himself too seriously when writing songs, but takes time to rewrite lyrics and phrases before finalizing a song.
“I feel like if I wasn’t so stubborn, I could write a hit,” Davis said. “I’ve got a hundred songs that I wish I could finish.”
Davis sees songwriting as “the road less traveled” and knows it can be seen as an unconventional lifestyle, but it’s a calling that can’t be silenced. He said that tough roads often lie ahead for those that are “fighting against the universe.”
“The road less traveled also seems scary because it’s not guaranteed,” Davis said.
He described a time recently where he was in a “bad place” mentally and was performing his title track “Pier and Beam.”
“I feel like in life God gives us these little checkpoints right before we’re about to give up and quit,” Davis said. “I was worried about money, worried about whether or not to get a day job… I was really stressed about not being able to afford some things.”
There was a “rough looking dude” that came into the bar and started to watch Davis perform.
“He’s looking kind of annoyed that I’m even there,” Davis said, “like he’d rather watch a football game or something. And I closed my eyes and I started singing “Pier and Beam” and when I opened my eyes he was in tears. He put his cigar out, sat his beer down, and he tabbed out and left. Got on the motorcycle and drove off.”
Davis saw it as God telling him to keep going forward with this journey. He was almost at the point of moving back to East Texas for work before this moment, and It hasn’t been the only sign that’s come for Davis.
“We’re not really supposed to retire,” Davis said with a laugh. “I love this stuff. I love being on the road. I ride off from that high all the way back.”
Davis said he even appreciates the odd situations that come from being an artist. “Every now and then you just have those strange encounters,” Davis said as he told a few stories. “I’m thankful because I could be running a forklift.”
Recording Pier and Beam
Pier and Beam was recorded by Jake Wylon at Rocket Pig Records Studio in Thorndale, Texas.
More information about Eley Buck Davis can be found here:
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