Atlanta Rhythm Section, sometimes abbreviated ARS, is an American rock band… Read Full Bio ↴Atlanta Rhythm Section, sometimes abbreviated ARS, is an American rock band from the South The band unofficially formed in 1970 as former members of the Candymen and the Classics IV became the session band for the newly opened Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, near Atlanta. After playing on other artists' recordings, they decided to become a true band in their own right. The members of the original band were Rodney Justo (singer), Barry Bailey (guitarist), Paul Goddard (bassist), Dean Daughtry (keyboardist) and Robert Nix (drummer). Justo left the band after the first album and was replaced by Ronnie Hammond. Buddy Buie, the band's manager and producer, is listed first on almost all of the songwriting credits of the band's songs.

While ARS would never reach the commercial success of Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Marshall Tucker Band, the group had a strong following in the south and charted a number of hits such as "Imaginary Lover," "I'm Not Going to Let it Bother Me Tonight," "Champagne Jam," "So Into You," and a remake of a Classics IV hit, "Spooky."

The band also influenced a number of rock and country artists, notably Travis Tritt, who recorded a cover of the ARS songs, "Back Up Against the Wall" and "Homesick." The group Shudder to Think covered "So Into You."

Everybody Gotta Go
Atlanta Rhythm Section Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybody's gotta go sometime, but I'm so far from ready

Ain't gonna let it, mess my mind,
I'm gonna keep on rockin' steady

Don't you know, everybody's gotta go sometime

You can drink, you can smoke,

You can do your dope, take a pill to ease your tension
You can dose, and dose, until you overdose,
It's called suicide prevention
But, don't you know, everybody's gotta go

Everybody's gotta go sometime, but I'm so far from ready
Ain't gonna let it, mess my mind,
I'm gonna keep on rockin' steady

Don't you know, Lord, don't you know

Don't you know, we all gotta go sometime

Take monkeys, and rabbits,
And little white rats, shoot 'em full of this and that
There's cancer in your food,
Cancer in the air, cancer in your cigarettes
Take vitamin C, B-12 and E, for your eyes, teeth, skin and bones
But, when the good Lord calls,
You can forget it all, don't you know you're good as gone

Don't you know, Lord, don't you know
Don't you know, we all gotta go sometime

You can drink, you can smoke,
You can do your dope, take a pill to ease your tension
You can dose, and dose, until you overdose,
It's called suicide prevention
But, don't you know, everybody's gotta go

Everybody's gotta go sometime, but I'm so far from ready
Ain't gonna let it, mess my mind,
I'm gonna keep on rockin' steady

Everybody know, everybody gotta go sometime
That's means me and you baby,
As long as we're goin' to heaven, I don't mind

Everybody know, everybody gotta go sometime
That's means me and you baby,
As long as we're goin' to heaven, I don't mind

Everybody know, everybody gotta go sometime

That's means me and you baby,
As long as we're goin' to heaven, I don't mind

Overall Meaning

The song Everybody Gotta Go by the Atlanta Rhythm Section is a reflection on the inevitability of death. The lyrics are a reminder that everybody will die eventually, and while death may be frightening, the singer is determined to stay strong and "keep on rockin' steady" until it's his time to go.

Throughout the song, the singer offers various examples of ways that people try to avoid or delay death, such as drinking, smoking, using drugs, or even taking vitamins. However, he ultimately acknowledges that these efforts are ultimately futile, and that "when the good Lord calls, you can forget it all."

The repetition of the phrase "Everybody's gotta go sometime" underscores the universality of death, and makes the song a poignant reminder to appreciate life while we have it.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody's gotta go sometime, but I'm so far from ready
Although everyone has to die eventually, I personally am not prepared for it.

Ain't gonna let it, mess my mind,
I won't allow the thought of death to negatively affect my mental state.

I'm gonna keep on rockin' steady
I will continue with my life and maintain a stable, consistent approach.

Don't you know, everybody's gotta go sometime
It's a universal truth that every living being has a limited amount of time on this earth.

You can drink, you can smoke, You can do your dope, take a pill to ease your tension You can dose, and dose, until you overdose, It's called suicide prevention
Although you can engage in destructive behaviors or even attempt suicide, it's not a true prevention or solution to the inevitable reality of death.

But, don't you know, everybody's gotta go
Once again emphasizing that death is an unavoidable aspect of life.

Don't you know, Lord, don't you know
Addressing a higher power, acknowledging that even they understand the reality of death.

Take monkeys, and rabbits, And little white rats, shoot 'em full of this and that There's cancer in your food, Cancer in the air, cancer in your cigarettes
Highlighting the many different ways in which we are exposed to cancer-causing agents, ultimately leading to death.

Take vitamin C, B-12 and E, for your eyes, teeth, skin and bones But, when the good Lord calls, You can forget it all, don't you know you're good as gone
While you can take measures to maintain your physical health with vitamins, when death comes calling, none of those efforts will make a difference.

Everybody know, everybody gotta go sometime
Reiterating the fact that it's a universally acknowledged truth that everyone has to die eventually.

That's means me and you baby, As long as we're goin' to heaven, I don't mind
Acknowledging that both the person singing and their partner will eventually die, but as long as they believe they are going to heaven, they are at peace with it.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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