Today’s Song of the Day is “Bloodshot Eyes” by Trampled by Turtles.
I stumbled across this band back when “Wait So Long” was buzzing everywhere, and Palomino ended up being one of the first albums I ever bought on iTunes. Funny enough, it wasn’t the big hits that stuck with me, but this quieter, hungover gem of a track called “Bloodshot Eyes.” Even back then, it always pulled me in—like I could feel every bit of the pain each lyric offered.
Lyrically, it’s brilliant. It drifts right into that blurry headspace of a man trying to untangle his thoughts through the haze of last night’s choices. And the production? There’s so much to love if you lean in and really listen. The harmonica—an instrument I usually banish from my sessions as a producer—fits here. It wanders around the beat like someone trying to find their balance at closing time. And then there’s that fiddle solo—man, it’s almost sluggish on purpose, like it’s carrying the weight of a headache it just can’t shake.
I added this track to a playlist (check it out!) yesterday because it sets a tone that’s raw and honest, perfect for the theme I was building. But, for me, it hits even deeper. I’ve got over a decade of sobriety under my belt now, and when I hear “four inches from dying, and at my best,” it lands hard. Wow! So many times I thought I was at my best back then, too. But not so much.
This song isn’t a temptation. If anything, it’s a reminder of where I’ve been and why I keep moving forward. It’s proof that music really can be a mirror for the things we’ve outgrown but never fully forget. That’s why every life needs a soundtrack.
So here’s your listen for the day: drunk, sober, or somewhere in between—put on “Bloodshot Eyes” and live with it for a few moments.
Check it out if you haven’t heard it!
