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.
Back in 72
Bob Seger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Went out in norfork hung on a short short
Livin' with a bottle of wine
To music, ladies and burned out babies
Sherriff gribbs with his grim ad libs
Spoutin' 'bout the crime in the streets
And women were screamin' and some were dreamin'
'bout the crowd between the sheets
You know that music died, hurt my pride
Somehow I got through, back in '72
Somehow we made it to baton rouge
We stayed inside for a week
We weren't in town for no mardi gras
So we decided to sleep
Houston, yes, was a good old guest
Tho knows how bad we wanted to play
But we got homesick for lincoln park
(imagine that) and then we just couldn't stay
Tricky dick, he played it slick
Something I was afraid he'd do
Back in '72 , oh, '72
Then all our new born philosophers
Out went to alert the world
Then some psuedo-intellectuals
Even got it unfurled
Takin' notes on that harvard course
And got me on a bottle of seed
It was so hip to be negative
So square to try and leave
When the waters cleared, it was what we feared
We learned nothin' new,
Back in '72
'72
'72
In '72
Back in '72
Back in '72 back in '72,...
Bob Seger's "Back in '72" is a nostalgic reflection of the golden era of music, the chaos, and the rampant lifestyle that took place in 1972. The song speaks of a time when Seger traveled to Norfolk, carrying only wine and inspiration, attempting to write a song while music, women, and a constant flow of alcohol surrounded him. Sheriff Gribbs, an authority in Norfolk, then interrupts the scene with his declarations of the prevalent criminal activity on the streets. The scene is interspersed with women screaming, some dreaming about the crowd between the sheets. Seger then laments how the music died, hurting his pride, but that he somehow got through it.
Seger then describes how he and his friends went to Baton Rouge, got homesick, and came back to Lincoln Park. There was no Mardi Gras going on, so they decided to sleep, even though they were in town for a week. The song then shifts to focus on President Richard Nixon, who was slick and played his cards right. He fooled people with his plausible words and actions, which Seger feared was going to happen. The song concludes with a commentary on the intellectuals of that time and how they were taking notes on Harvard's courses, consuming drugs, and thinking themselves hip to be negative. However, in the end, nothing was learned, and everyone was back where they started.
Line by Line Meaning
Went out in norfork hung on a short short
I went out in Norfolk with a short skirt on
Livin' with a bottle of wine
I was drinking a lot and that was my lifestyle
To music, ladies and burned out babies
I was listening to music and spending time with women and people who were in bad condition
I was tryin' to write a couple of lines
I was trying to write some lyrics for a song
Sherriff gribbs with his grim ad libs
Sheriff Gribbs was using unpleasant and negative expression while talking
Spoutin' 'bout the crime in the streets
He was warning people about crimes happening on the streets
And women were screamin' and some were dreamin'
Women were screaming and some were fantasizing
'bout the crowd between the sheets
About the people who were together perceived as sexual partners
You know that music died, hurt my pride
I felt upset when I realized that the music scene wasn't as good as I thought it was
Somehow I got through, back in '72
But somehow I managed to survive during that time which was back in 1972
Somehow we made it to baton rouge
We went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana even though it was difficult to get there but somehow we made it
We stayed inside for a week
We spent a week indoors
We weren't in town for no mardi gras
We were not present for the Mardi Gras celebrations
So we decided to sleep
So we decided we would just rest
Houston, yes, was a good old guest
Houston was a good place to stay
Tho knows how bad we wanted to play
Even though we wanted to play music really badly
But we got homesick for lincoln park
But we felt homesick and wanted to go back to Lincoln Park in Michigan
(imagine that) and then we just couldn't stay
So we left Houston and didn't stay there anymore, can you imagine?
Tricky dick, he played it slick
Tricky Dick (Richard Nixon) was playing politics in a subtle and deceptive way
Something I was afraid he'd do
This was something I had been afraid he might do
Then all our new born philosophers
Then, all of a sudden, everyone suddenly became philosophers
Out went to alert the world
They started to warn the world
Then some psuedo-intellectuals
Then some people who pretended to be intellectual
Even got it unfurled
Even they started to talk about it in public
Takin' notes on that harvard course
They were even taking notes as if they were attending a Harvard course
And got me on a bottle of seed
And they got me hooked on a certain type of alcohol
It was so hip to be negative
It was considered cool to be negative and pessimistic at that time
So square to try and leave
It was considered out of place to try to be positive and optimistic
When the waters cleared, it was what we feared
When the situation became clearer, it was just as bad as we had feared
We learned nothin' new,
We didn't learn anything new
Back in '72
All this happened back in 1972
'72
1972
'72
1972
In '72
During 1972
Back in '72
Again, all of this happened during 1972
Contributed by Peyton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
spikebuck53
I've always thought this was Seger's greatest song. I hope he does it live this tour.
Bitch
Achei essa música por acaso, mas que música boa!!
mitch1835
I know many people feel the same as I do about Bob. His songs have been in the weave of my life for the past 40yrs. You could always count on the man to help you get thru the walls and obstacles that folks laid down for you. Thanks Bob for being there!
reereerobin
Mitch, He’s the Real Deal.
There 100% raw talent in Seger. In his songwriting and you hear a man whose voice cries “Live your life”.
Awesome artist.
Chuck P
You got that right, nice job!!👍
Rick Hibdon
Very well stated, Mitch! I started listening yo Seger at the very beginnings. From playing Autorama at Cobo, Greens Pavilion (in Irish Hills), to local skating rinks. Bob was ALWAYS part of my life. Something so "pure", authentic, and vital.
D Franks
+mike67006700 prolly some record contract conflict bs
mike67006700
SO RIGHT.......
dusty katt
My Granddaughter just asked to borrow my Bob Seger CDs. I told her I have to get some of them back from my Dad and Son. Four generations, all rocking out to the same tunes. :)
Jeff G
That the Back in '72 album hasn't been released in remastered, pristine audio IS, and continues to be, A CRIME!!! Bob, you listening? I'm already almost 57 yrs-old and don't want to die without hearing the dang album the way it should be. Whatever qualms, beefs or grudges you have against releasing it get over it, will ya! Your fans want to hear it.