Expert: Andy Bouwman - 3/20/2007

Question
Hi, I was scrolling thru this website, and I came across a question from Boaz asked on April 8, 2005; regarding Trippin Billies.  Jilly had answered it.  She talked about Dave on acid and out of his his experience, came this song.  Now, my question is, which came first, the song or Daves Firedancer?  I ask this because I have been reading that the Firedancer came from Dave looking out at his fans while preforming, but in the song he sings...."We all are sitting legs crossed 'round the fire, my yellow flame she dances".  If the song came first, then I think it makes more sense that the Firedancer was born during his trip.  (I believe all that have tripped during a camping trip will agree)  What do you think?

Answer
Hi Maureen,
Both the song and the drawing predate the recorded history of the band.  Tripping Billies is one of the first songs Dave wrote, and we're not sure exactly when he wrote it, only that he had already written it when he started playing shows in 1991-92.  As for the firedancer, I know it's a very old drawing Dave did but I'm not sure exactly when it came about.  It very well could be related to the line in Tripping Billies, or not at all.  I think it's likely there's a connection though.

Hope this helps,
Andy