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.
Bo Diddley
Bob Seger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama gonna buy you a mockingbird
If that mockingbird don't sing
She gonna buy you a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine
Baby gonna take it to a private eye
If that private eye can't see
He gonna have to come an talk to me
Said hey Bo Diddley
Hey now Bo Diddley
Hey Bo Diddley
I walked forty seven miles of barbed wire
Use a cobra snake for a necktie
Got a brand new house on the roadside child
Made out of rattlesnake hide
Brand new chimney on top
Made out of human skulls
Come and take a little walk with me Arlene
Tell me who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love
Arlene took me by my hand
Said cool it Robert you know your my man
Who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love
Night was dark the sky was blue
Down the alley we was swingin' through
Lord I heard just what I seen
Who do you love
Who do you love
Who do you love
The lyrics of Bob Seger's song Bo Diddley recount a conversation with the legendary singer and guitarist Bo Diddley. The song opens up with a lullaby from the mother to her child, which is about buying a mockingbird for the child, and then progressing to a diamond ring if the mockingbird doesn't sing, and finally to taking the diamond to a private eye if it doesn't sparkle. The last line of this lullaby involves Seger telling Bo Diddley that if any of these things happen, Bo Diddley will have to talk to him.
In the subsequent verses, Seger goes on to describe his journey of forty-seven miles of barbed wire while wearing a cobra snake for a necktie. He also speaks of his "brand new house made out of rattlesnake hide," and a "brand new chimney made out of human skulls." In between, he brings Arlene along for the ride and quizzes her on who she loves. The song culminates in a final refrain where he repeats the line "Who do you love?" after describing what he saw and heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard
Referencing musician Bo Diddley, the lyrics inquire if he has heard this song.
Mama gonna buy you a mockingbird
The singer’s mama is buying him a mockingbird.
If that mockingbird don't sing
If the mockingbird does not sing, there will be consequences.
She gonna buy you a diamond ring
If the mockingbird does not sing, the singer’s mama will buy him a diamond ring.
If that diamond ring don't shine
If the diamond ring does not shine, the singer’s lover will take it to a jeweler.
Baby gonna take it to a private eye
The lover is taking the diamond to a private investigator.
If that private eye can't see
If the investigator cannot figure out what is wrong with the diamond ring, there will be repercussions.
He gonna have to come an talk to me
The private eye will need to speak with the singer.
Said hey Bo Diddley
The singer is speaking to Bo Diddley again.
Hey now Bo Diddley
The singer repeats his greeting to Bo Diddley.
Hey Bo Diddley
Once more, the singer greets Bo Diddley.
I walked forty seven miles of barbed wire
The singer is expressing the difficult journey he has been on, which has brought him pain.
Use a cobra snake for a necktie
Despite his troubles, the singer has come out on top and demonstrates his uncommon and fierce aesthetic.
Got a brand new house on the roadside child
The singer has recently procured a new house, which is situated off the roadway.
Made out of rattlesnake hide
The house is made of rattlesnake skin.
Brand new chimney on top
There is a new chimney on top of the house.
Made out of human skulls
The chimney is made of human skulls.
Come and take a little walk with me Arlene
The singer is inviting Arlene to join him on a walk.
Tell me who do you love
The singer is asking Arlene who she loves.
Who do you love
The singer restates his question to Arlene.
Arlene took me by my hand
Arlene held the singer’s hand.
Said cool it Robert you know your my man
Arlene tells the singer, Robert, to calm down since he is her man.
Night was dark the sky was blue
The scene the singer describes is set at night, under a blue sky.
Down the alley we was swingin' through
The singer and Arlene were walking down an alleyway.
Lord I heard just what I seen
The singer confirms that he knew what he saw and heard.
Who do you love
The singer repeats his question to Arlene about who she loves.
Who do you love
The singer reiterates the question again.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
midnight rider71
One of the best live albums of all time😎
GBeret83
Makes my list for top 5 live albums from the classic rock era all day, every day!
Farrah
Get your Yas Yas out , the Rolling Stones is right up there.
Joey D
It's funny how some songs never get old; this is one of them. A very complete arrangement from one of the best live performances in rock history. "Who do you love?"
Kelly Craig-Slogar
Live Bullet is one of the best, if not the best, live album EVER!!!
Kevin Brown
Joey D TY😁😁😁😁😁
Mr. Breeze
I hear ya Joey
Mr. Breeze
@Kelly Craig-Slogar Agreed, And this is one of the lesser tunes on this LP
mike67006700
@Mr. Breeze that may be but it's one of the most exciting cuts on the album
Andrew Thomas
This is Bob as real fans know him. Amazing talent and energy.