Soulife was released in June of 2005 by Rhino Records. The album is composed of songs recorded during the early part of Hamilton's career. Ain't Nobody Worryin was released on December 13, 2005 by SoSoDef/Zomba Label Group. In 2007, another compilation album, Southern Comfort, was released, featuring songs written and recorded during a similar period. A year later, in december 2008, he released another album, The Point of it all.
Hamilton also makes a guest appearance on blues guitarist Buddy Guy's 2005 album Bring Em In, contributing vocals to Guy's cover of Bob Dylan's Lay Lady Lay. Bring Em In also features appearances by John Mayer and Carlos Santana.
At the BET Awards of 2006, Anthony Hamilton was nominated for and won the BETJ 'Cool Like That' Award. He has also received a 2009 Grammy for a tribute performance to Al Green.
He is amazing
Anthony Hamilton performs two tracks on the 2007 movie "American Gangster" soundtrack, as well as appearing in a scene of the film.
Ball
Anthony Hamilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, yeah, ah, yeah, yeah
Sitting here thinking
Damn I'm getting a little older
Trying to find some piece of mind
Take the weight of the world off my shoulders
Mm, got me driving down the highway
Fade to black and all poverty
Take a truck and move my people down south with me
Trade my ball and chain in for a ticket
On a one way trip into Georgia
Big smiles, apple pies, my people, and blue skies
Tomatoes grow where I can pick 'em
On an open highway to Georgia
Green grass, tear stains, shadow dancing in the pouring rain
Sitting here looking in the mirror
Damn it's getting a little clearer
If I could paint a perfect picture
Would you dare take it with ya, take it with ya, take it with ya
Picture us whistling while fishing
Picture us dancing while romancing
To a tune that belongs to me and u
My ball and chain we will all be free yeah
Trade my ball and chain in for a ticket
On a one way trip in Georgia
Big smiles, apple pies, my people, and blue skies
Tomatoes grow where I can pick 'em
On an open highway to Georgia
Green grass, tear stains, shadow dancing in the pouring rain
We can be dancing, steady romancing
Whistling, while we steady fishing
Yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah) oh, oh
Oh, yeah
Trade my ball and chain in for a ticket
On a one way trip in Georgia (see all my people)
Big smiles, apple pies, my people, and blue skies
Tomatoes grow where I can pick 'em
On an open highway to Georgia
Green grass, tear stains, shadow dancing in the pouring rain
The song "Ball and Chain" by Anthony Hamilton is a powerful account of a young boy named Georgie Parker who is trying to overcome the struggles in his life. The song paints a picture of a boy who is frail and doesn't think much of himself. He sees the world around him and is acutely aware of the pain and suffering that is happening. His mother's drunken boyfriend is always hanging out by the corner store, and he is exposed to this reality every day. The only solace he finds is in an old lady who calls him "baby," and in his mind, this is what he hears.
Georgie is trying to be his own friend and navigate life, but he feels alone and isolated. He is not cool with the strangers he encounters and turns his head and walks away. He is stuck in the lions' den, too scared to let help in, and the only way out is by making a sacrifice. He tries to cope with his struggles, but he can't find the strength to overcome them. The chorus of the song calls out to Georgie to get away, free his mind, and come with the singer.
The song is a powerful message of hope for anyone who is struggling with the weight of the world. The lyrics urge listeners to find the strength to let go of the things that are holding them down and to free their minds. The song also reminds listeners that there is always a better place, and we can find peace and solace if we are willing to let go of the things that are weighing us down.
Line by Line Meaning
Their used to be a little old boy
The singer of the song was once a small, frail boy.
Riding round their home from school yea
He used to ride around his home from school to avoid facing his problems.
Kinda frail didn't think much of himself, no
The boy wasn't confident in himself and his abilities.
He used to see the petty
He noticed the small, insignificant things in his surroundings.
His mothers drunken boyfriend
His mother was involved with a man who had an alcohol problem.
Hanging out by the corner store
The boyfriend would spend his time hanging out by the corner store.
Their was a very old lady
There was an old woman who took interest in the boy.
That used to call him baby
She called him 'baby' as a term of endearment.
And in his mind this is what he heard
The boy imagined the old lady calling him 'baby'.
Georgie Parker, get away
Georgie should run away from his current situation.
Georgie Parker, come with me
The singer is offering to take Georgie away from his problems.
Georgie Parker, free your mind
The singer wants Georgie to clear his mind of negative thoughts and emotions.
Georgie Parker, let yourself be
The singer wants Georgie to be himself and not feel restricted by his circumstances.
Trying to be his only friend
The singer was trying to be the only friend that Georgie had.
He wasn't cool with the strangers then
Georgie was uncomfortable with strangers and didn't want to associate with them.
He turned his head and walked away
Georgie avoided confrontation and walked away from uncomfortable situations.
As he turned around and started to cry
Georgie was emotional and cried when he was alone.
Stuck in the lions den
Georgie felt trapped in a difficult situation.
To scared to let help in
Georgie was too afraid to accept help from others.
He had to make a sacrifice
Georgie had to make a difficult decision to get himself out of his situation.
He tried to cope with it
Georgie tried to deal with his problems alone.
And couldn't find the strength
Georgie didn't have the strength to overcome his problems on his own.
Can anybody tell me what Georgie did
The singer wants to know how Georgie dealt with his situation.
They'll be a better place for u and me
The singer believes that there is a better place for people like Georgie and himself.
Free your mind
The singer wants Georgie to clear his mind and be free of negative thoughts.
Get away, follow me
The singer wants Georgie to leave his problems behind and follow him to a better place.
Follow me to a place
The singer wants Georgie to follow him to a place that is free of negativity.
Where u can be free, oh Georgie
The singer wants Georgie to be free of the restrictions that he feels.
Free your mind, let yourself go the rest will follow
The singer wants Georgie to clear his mind and be himself, and everything else will fall into place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Anthony Cornelius Hamilton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind