Shit Towne, Who are "The Weavers"? Options

[dangum]

The weavers live up the street from me
The crackheads, they live down the street from me

The first two lines of Shit Towne, are pretty explanatory.
Ed talking about the environment in which he lives in - York.

In line 1, Ed's talking about a group of hippies (or maybe the Amish) who inhabit the town.
In line 2, Ed's talking about a group of drug addicts who live nearby.

Well, that's what I thought until I saw a recent post by Chad Taylor on Facebook.


Source: https://www.facebook.com/theycallmechuck/po...545286435494403

According to Chad, "Weaver" was the family name of relations on his father's side.

So, could the Weavers that Ed's talking about be this family?
Did Chad Taylor have a hand in writing these lyrics?

I think it would make sense in the theme of the song. The lyrics describe York as being a shit place to live, but it's a place where Ed lives, where his family and friends live, where good hard working people live (see Pillar of Davidson).

Looking at the liner notes of Throwing Copper, it's hard to tell whether the 'w' in weaver is in upper or lower case. It appears to be in upper case - which would support the family Weaver theory...

What do you think?

[Bremang]

I feel like it has been explained at some point.

Wiki says that Ed wrote all Throwing Copper lyrics.

Always thought it was the name of a family. Wouldn't think it makes much sense lower case.

Seems like just a random arbitrary family, representing how boring and stagnant the town can be.

[brianblank]

Just my two cents... I always thought the reference to Weavers was to a family in town. But, I am intrigued by your reading of the lyrics that it could be hippies or Amish. But, with this little nugget of info from Chad I would have to say that the lyrics reference a family name. In a town that small I am sure that Ed knew the Weavers, even though they were Chad's family.

[ridley]

The first two lines of Shit Towne, are pretty explanatory.
Ed talking about the environment in which he lives in - York.

In line 1, Ed's talking about a group of hippies (or maybe the Amish) who inhabit the town.
In line 2, Ed's talking about a group of drug addicts who live nearby.

Well, that's what I thought until I saw a recent post by Chad Taylor on Facebook.


Source: https://www.facebook.com/theycallmechuck/po...545286435494403

According to Chad, "Weaver" was the family name of relations on his father's side.

So, could the Weavers that Ed's talking about be this family?
Did Chad Taylor have a hand in writing these lyrics?

I think it would make sense in the theme of the song. The lyrics describe York as being a shit place to live, but it's a place where Ed lives, where his family and friends live, where good hard working people live (see Pillar of Davidson).

Looking at the liner notes of Throwing Copper, it's hard to tell whether the 'w' in weaver is in upper or lower case. It appears to be in upper case - which would support the family Weaver theory...

What do you think?

Exemplary work Inspector Dan!

[alexou]

Very nice find indeed!

[Hoodstock]

I never could figure out why crackheads would be followed up by weavers. I thought he was just singing about old lady's or something.

[LiveFan92]

Just my two cents... I always thought the reference to Weavers was to a family in town.

That's what I've always thought, too.

[Waterboy]

I'm a Yorker, so I always assumed it was a reference to a family with the last name of Weaver. It's a very common name around here. There aren't really any Amish living in York, especially York City. Most of the Amish in this part of PA live on the other side of the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County.

I don't think it's unique to York really - to have crackheads living near you, while a nice, traditional, perhaps Christian family with a common last name lives near you as well, but that is the picture I think they were trying to paint of York. And it's very true. Lots of churches, lots of crackheads, nice areas, bad areas, people very much stuck in their ways, those that blast the city, but never seem to leave for greener pastures, those that swear they wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I typically find York to have more than its share of racists as well - in fact it had race riots at one point - so I wouldn't be surprised if some of that inspired "Beauty of Gray" but who knows? Again, a lot of Yorkers are stuck in their ways - and in the past. York is just a little town tucked away within driving distance of Baltimore, Philly, Pittsburgh, and NYC.

Thanks for sharing what you found about the lyrics. Always interesting to find out the origin. Like I said, I assumed it was a family name, but was never 100% sure if that was what it was referring to.

This post has been edited by Waterboy: Mar 25 2013, 10:51 pm

[jclive]

My interpretation was that it was a general reference to a common name. Possibly a common name in the area? 'Crackheads' isnt likely referring to any particular individual either, but more of general reference to something common in the area. Black and white. Good family (Weaver) and bad family (crackhead).

[Wambangalang]

song bout some junkies

[throwing_cheetahs]

My interpretation was that it was a general reference to a common name. Possibly a common name in the area? 'Crackheads' isnt likely referring to any particular individual either, but more of general reference to something common in the area. Black and white. Good family (Weaver) and bad family (crackhead).

Exactly, it is just like saying Jones or Smith, like the Weavers are the normal people and the crackheads are just that, Crackheads . It is not really hard to figure out what Ed was singing about there.

TC