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."

My Song
Atlanta Rhythm Section Lyrics

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My life is a stage, music's my trade
I play the crowd's request
The songs they like the best in a style

But once in a while when no one's around
I get my guitar down and play it from the heart
And I don't play no part, it's real, it's just what I feel

Let this be a song for me
Yours is next but this song's mine
Oh, this song's mine
Yours is next but this song's mine

This won't take long, it's just a song
Just a player's mood, it might not mean much to you
But you're kind for takin' the time

So, when I'm done, I'll play you one
Anything you choose but right now I'd rather do my own
So, don't sing along

Let this be a song for me
Yours is next but this song's mine

Oh, this one's mine, play it for you some other time
Yours is next but this song is mine

Overall Meaning

In this song, Atlanta Rhythm Section's lead singer is expressing the duality of being a performer. On one hand, he's a professional musician who aims to satisfy the audience by playing their requests and performing in a stylized manner. On the other hand, he's also an artist at heart who occasionally feels the need to play from the heart without any pretense or facade. The chorus emphasizes this point by saying, "Let this be a song for me / Yours is next but this song's mine."

The artist acknowledges that this song might not mean much to the listener, but he appreciates them for taking the time to listen to his personal creation. He promises to play something else for them afterward, but for now, he wants to indulge in his own creation without any external influence or participation. This part of the song is both humble and confident, effectively conveying the importance of artistic expression and the beauty of individuality.

In conclusion, "My Song" is a reflective piece that highlights the struggles and joys of being a performer. The artist's ability to balance his role as a professional with his desire for authentic expression is commendable and inspiring.

Line by Line Meaning

My life is a stage, music's my trade
My life is like a play and music is what I do for a living.

I play the crowd's request
I play the songs that the audience wants to hear.

The songs they like the best in a style
I play the popular songs that people enjoy listening to in my own style.

But once in a while when no one's around
Sometimes when I am alone, without anyone watching or listening,

I get my guitar down and play it from the heart
I take out my guitar and play music that is true to my heart.

And I don't play no part, it's real, it's just what I feel
I don't pretend or act, it's just the genuine emotions that I am expressing.

Let this be a song for me
This song is for me, to express my own thoughts and feelings.

Yours is next but this song's mine
I will play your song next, but for now I want to play this one that I have written.

Oh, this song's mine
This is my song, which I want to play right now.

This won't take long, it's just a song
This song won't take too long to play, it's just a short piece of music.

Just a player's mood, it might not mean much to you
This song is just a reflection of my current mood, and it may not have much significance to you.

But you're kind for takin' the time
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my song, I appreciate it.

So, when I'm done, I'll play you one
After I finish playing this song, I will play another one for you.

Anything you choose but right now I'd rather do my own
You can choose any song you like, but for now I want to play my own song.

So, don't sing along
Please don't sing along, this is my song and I want to be the only one singing it.

This won't take long, it's just a song
Again, this song won't take too long to play, it's just a short piece of music.

Let this be a song for me
Once again, this song is for me, to express my genuine emotions and thoughts.

Yours is next but this song's mine
As before, your song is next but for now I want to play my own song.

Oh, this one's mine, play it for you some other time
Once more, this is my song which I want to play right now, but I will play your song at a later time.

Yours is next but this song is mine
As a final statement, I will play your song next, but currently this song is mine and I want to play it.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Pinder

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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