The Rhythm Kings are renowned for their popular live performances as they frequently tour through Europe and the United Kingdom. The group has conducted only one tour in the United States, during the middle of 2001. The touring unit often is compared to Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band for its somewhat revolving door of membership as established musicians move from project to project.
Tobacco Road
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings Lyrics
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Mama died and my daddy got drunk.
Left me here to die alone
in the middle of Tobacco Road.
Growin' up rusty shack,
all I had was hangin' on my back.
Only you know how I loathe
But it's home, the only life I ever known.
Only you know how I loathe Tobacco Road.
Gonna leave, get a job
with the help and the grace from above.
Save some money, get rich and old,
bring it back to Tobacco Road.
But it's home, the only life I ever known.
Only you know how I loathe Tobacco Road.
Bring that dynamite and a crane,
blow it up, start all over again.
Build a town, be proud to show.
Gives the name Tobacco Road.
The lyrics to Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings' song Tobacco Road tell the story of a person's difficult upbringing in a place called Tobacco Road. The singer was born in a trunk and left to die alone because their mother had died and their father became an alcoholic. The only place they have ever known is this rusty shack where they have grown up, carrying everything they own on their back. The person admits to loathing this place but also acknowledges that it is the only home they have ever known.
However, the lyrics suggest that the person has aspirations to make a better life for themselves. They want to leave and get a job with the help and grace of God, save some money, get rich and old so they can bring it back to Tobacco Road. The person dreams of blowing up the shack and starting anew, building a town they can be proud of and naming it Tobacco Road. The lyrics suggest that the person wants to escape their difficult past and build a better future, but at the same time, they are tied to this place emotionally, despite its hardships.
Overall, the song showcases the theme of perseverance despite challenging circumstances, as well as the pull that one's hometown can have on their heartstrings, even if it is not a place they love.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a trunk.
I was born into a life of poverty and hardship.
Mama died and my daddy got drunk.
My mother passed away and my father turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Left me here to die alone
in the middle of Tobacco Road.
My father deserted me in an impoverished area known as Tobacco Road.
Growin' up rusty shack,
all I had was hangin' on my back.
I grew up in a dilapidated home and had very little in terms of possessions.
Only you know how I loathe
this place called Tobacco Road.
Tobacco Road is a place that I despise deeply, only you can truly understand why.
But it's home, the only life I ever known.
Despite my disdain for Tobacco Road, it is still the only place I have ever lived and thus, my home.
Gonna leave, get a job
with the help and the grace from above.
I plan to leave Tobacco Road, find employment, and hope that some higher power will aid me in this endeavor.
Save some money, get rich and old,
bring it back to Tobacco Road.
I intend to accumulate wealth and return to Tobacco Road with the hopes of improving its conditions.
Bring that dynamite and a crane,
blow it up, start all over again.
To truly transform Tobacco Road, we must demolish and rebuild the entire area.
Build a town, be proud to show.
Gives the name Tobacco Road.
We can create a new and improved version of Tobacco Road that we can take pride in and continue to bear its name.
Contributed by Sophia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.