In 1976, he achieved a national breakout with the studio album Night Moves. On his studio albums, he also worked extensively with the Alabama-based Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, which appeared on several of Seger's best-selling singles and albums.
Seger's first marriage in 1968 lasted for "one day short of a year". He had a long-term relationship with Jan Dinsdale from 1972 until 1983. In 1987, he married actress Annette Sinclair and they divorced one year later. He married Juanita Dorricott in 1993, in a small private setting at The Village Club, in Bloomfield Hills; they have two children. Seger lives mainly at his home in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. He owns a condo in Naples, Florida.
Politically, Seger has characterized himself as a centrist: "[I'm] right down the middle", he remarked. He supported Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. He tackled antiestablishment themes in early songs such as "2+2=?" (1968) and "U.M.C. (Upper Middle Class)" (1974), according to Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press. On his 2014 album Ride Out, he addressed topics such as gun violence, and wrote "It's Your World" about climate change. On the subject, he said, "There are a lot of culprits in climate change, and everybody's responsible, myself included. Nobody gets a free pass on this one. We've got to change our ways and change them fast.
A roots rocker with a classic raspy, shouting voice, Seger wrote and recorded songs that deal with love, women and blue-collar themes and is an example of heartland rock. Seger has recorded many hits, including "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man", "Night Moves", "Turn the Page", "Still the Same", "We've Got Tonight", "Against the Wind", "You'll Accomp'ny Me", "Shame on the Moon", "Like a Rock", and "Shakedown", which was written for Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). Seger also co-wrote the Eagles' number-one hit "Heartache Tonight", and his iconic recording of "Old Time Rock and Roll" was named one of the Songs of the Century in 2001.
With a career spanning six decades, Seger continues to perform and record today. Seger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012. Seger was named Billboard's 2015 Legend of Live honoree at the 12th annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards, held November 18–19 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
Seger was known as one of the last holdouts regarding making his catalog available for digital download and streaming. However, as of 2017, much of his work is available.
Aftermath
Bob Seger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dancin' three-quarter time
The champagne is on ice
No one's gonna guess
In your brand new dress
Girl, you sure look nice
Have a good time
Stone in the middle of the aftermath
Don't wink, don't blink
Don't let 'em think
His leavin's got you down
Stand straight, hang tough
When they bring it up
Baby hold your ground
If they pry, don't sigh
Pass it off with a laugh
It's all part of living through the aftermath
You can do it honey
Keep that smile so sunny
You can show them what they want to see
Yes, you can
It's a cold, hard scene
The singles thing
Losers everywhere
And it hurts to the bone
Headin' home alone
When someone used to be there
So you take a few falls
And you learn to bounce back
It's all part of living through the aftermath
Living through the aftermath
Baby, don't look back
It's the aftermath
The lyrics of Bob Seger's "Aftermath" depict the struggle of moving on after the end of a relationship. In the beginning of the song, the woman is dressed up and ready to go out and have fun despite feeling heartbroken. She is determined to show everyone, possibly her ex-partner, that she is okay and ready to move on. However, she still feels the pain of being alone and reminded of her past relationship when people ask her about it. The chorus of the song urges her to keep going, to not let her past hold her back, and to continue living her life.
Seger's lyrics are concise and poignant, portraying the emotional journey of a person trying to overcome the aftermath of a breakup. The words suggest that it's difficult but not impossible to move on, even though it's painful. The chorus encourages the woman to hold up her head and face the world with confidence, to show that she can still enjoy life despite the heartache.
Overall, "Aftermath" is a song that speaks to the common experience of heartbreak and the process of healing that follows. It reminds us that moving on requires courage, determination and the ability to see the positive side of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Dressed up to the nines
Wearing fancy clothes and looking stylish
Dancin' three-quarter time
Dancing to a specific rhythm and tempo
The champagne is on ice
A celebratory drink is ready to be served
No one's gonna guess
The situation is not evident to others
In your brand new dress
Wearing a new outfit for the occasion
Girl, you sure look nice
Complimenting someone's appearance
Have a good time
Wishing someone to enjoy themselves
Honey, don't look back
Encouraging someone to move forward
Stone in the middle of the aftermath
Feeling stuck in the aftermath of a break-up
Don't wink, don't blink
Avoiding any signs of weakness
Don't let 'em think
Hiding emotions from others
His leavin's got you down
Feeling sad and down after a break-up
Stand straight, hang tough
Being strong and resilient
When they bring it up
When others discuss the break-up
Baby hold your ground
Being confident and not backing down
If they pry, don't sigh
Not showing any signs of distress or discomfort
Pass it off with a laugh
Making a joke to deflect from the situation
It's all part of living through the aftermath
Going through the pain of a break-up is a natural part of life
You can do it honey
Encouraging someone to be strong
Keep that smile so sunny
Maintaining a positive attitude
You can show them what they want to see
Putting on a brave face for others
Yes, you can
Reinforcing that someone can handle the situation
It's a cold, hard scene
The dating scene can be harsh and unforgiving
The singles thing
Being single and dating
Losers everywhere
Meeting people who are not a good match
And it hurts to the bone
Feeling emotional pain
Headin' home alone
Going home without a partner
When someone used to be there
Missing a former partner
So you take a few falls
Experiencing setbacks
And you learn to bounce back
Becoming more resilient
It's all part of living through the aftermath
Going through the ups and downs of dating is a natural part of life
Living through the aftermath
Surviving the aftermath of a break-up
Baby, don't look back
Encouraging someone to move forward
It's the aftermath
Acknowledging the aftermath of a break-up
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOB SEGER, CRAIG FROST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steven Harbers
on No Man's Land
I always liked 'No Man's Land' and equated it to all the times I'd get underway (ships at sea) especially when I was a younger Sailor. I always felt safer away from shore riding a wave that never crested.