At Outsider, we know that music isn’t just a soundtrack for the best of times. Sometimes, all it takes is the right song to turn a bad day around. On the other hand, you might have to put on a sad song and just let it wash over you like a rushing river of sorrow. Either way, good music can be the salve that heals a hurting heart or settles a worried mind. Most folks have a few go-to songs that fit into one or both of those categories. This week, we’re sharing one of ours with you.
This week’s Outsider Anthem is “Meet Me at the Creek” by Billy Strings. Between the lightning-fast picking and thoughtful lyrics, it’s the perfect tune to turn things around on a rough day.
Billy Strings featured “Meet Me at the Creek” on his 2017 album, Turmoil & Tinfoil. Since then, it has become a fan favorite, as well as a cornerstone of Strings’ live shows.
We can really get behind lyrics like: “Well one thing I want to know / Lord, is where we people go / When everything comes crashing to the ground / Meet me at the creek / Grab a beer and tap your feet.”
Guitar Strings and Fishing Line
Billy Strings started playing guitar when he was around six years old. Soon, he and his stepdad, Terry Barber, were playing together on the Michigan bluegrass scene. At 20 years old, he was already on his way to being one of the best flatpickers on the planet. The viral video of him playing “Dust in a Baggie” on his buddy’s couch in 2012 is solid proof.
Now 28 years old, Strings has taken home three awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, including New Artist of the Year in 2019. Last year, he won a Grammy for his 2019 album, Home.
Billy Strings spends his time on the water when he’s not in the studio or tearing up a stage. In fact, his Instagram feed is full of photos and videos of him hauling in fish from America’s waterways. So, he knows all about how important it can be to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
Having a Rough Week? Meet Us at the Creek
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is gather some friends and hit the great outdoors to forget your troubles. If that looks like gathering on the banks of the river with some good tunes and cold beers, we’re on the same page.
If you’ve ever been there, the chorus of “Meet Me at the Creek” will hit home with you.
“I’m letting go of all my troubles / I think I’ll be right here to stay / Well the water keeps a churning while my poor heart is burning / Muddy water take my pain away.”
The rest of the song builds on the themes of forgetting your sorrows on the banks of the river and letting the water clear your mind. It doesn’t matter if you’re down and out or living through an all-time high, you can’t go wrong with this track.
More from Billy Strings
If you like “Meet Me at the Creek,” you’re in luck. Billy Strings has a whole catalog of other songs that might be right up your alley. I highly recommend “Taking Water” and “Everything’s the Same,” from the Grammy-winning album Home (below).
