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.
Tales of Lucy Blue
Bob Seger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Which have never heard
Hollow lies, comin' from
Lost, hung-up and lonely guys
Through the night, make a sight
Other rider looks so true
Sinnin', spinnin' tales of Lucy Blue
For a while
Closin' door, leaving the heart open
And wounded more
Gone away, lonely day
Turning grey with no clue
Faking, making tales of Lucy Blue
Oh, oh, oh
Restless night, longing for love
Beneath the neon light
Desperate hands reachin' for someone
Who'll understand
Stroll around through the town
Lost and found when it's due
Sellin', tellin' tales of Lucy Blue
Yeah Lucy Blue, one or two
Just for you, hey yeah
Tales of Lucy Blue
The lyrics of Bob Seger's song "Tales of Lucy Blue" convey a sense of loneliness, heartbreak and aimlessness. The first verse speaks of empty words and hollow lies coming from lost and lonely men. It suggests that these men are desperate for the attention of someone who will listen to their stories, even if those stories are made up. The line "sinnin', spinnin' tales of Lucy Blue" seems to suggest that these men are willing to do anything for the attention they crave, even if it means fabricating stories.
The second verse is more specific in its depiction of Lucy Blue, who is described as having a piercing smile. The line "closing door, leaving the heart open, and wounded more" seems to suggest that Lucy Blue is not interested in a genuine connection, but rather in playing with the emotions of those around her. Despite this, the men in the song are drawn to her, even though they know she is not good for them. The chorus repeats the phrase "tales of Lucy Blue" as if to emphasize the idea that she is only interested in perpetuating the stories men tell about her.
Overall, "Tales of Lucy Blue" is a poignant exploration of the lengths people will go to feel seen and heard, even if it means sacrificing their own emotional well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Empty words, falling on ears
Fake promises and empty expressions that are falling on deaf ears
Which have never heard
Ears that have never believed these empty words before
Hollow lies, comin' from
Lies that hold no value, coming from
Lost, hung-up and lonely guys
Men who are lost, emotionally entangled and feeling lonely
Through the night, make a sight
Their behavior during the night can be plainly seen
Other rider looks so true
Others who ride alongside look more genuine and real
Sinnin', spinnin' tales of Lucy Blue
They are sinning, spinning stories about Lucy Blue to make themselves seem more interesting
Piercing smile filling her face
A smile so sharp it fills her entire face
For a while
Just for a temporary moment
Closin' door, leaving the heart open
She closes the door but keeps her heart open
And wounded more
Knowing that it's going to hurt more
Gone away, lonely day
Now she is gone and feels more alone than ever before
Turning grey with no clue
Going numb and clueless
Faking, making tales of Lucy Blue
She is pretending and making up stories about Lucy Blue to keep herself company
Restless night, longing for love
A night full of restlessness and longing for someone to love
Beneath the neon light
Under the bright neon lights
Desperate hands reachin' for someone
Desperate for someone to hold onto
Who'll understand
Someone who can empathize and comprehend their emotions
Stroll around through the town
Wandering through the town aimlessly
Lost and found when it's due
Finding out what they've lost when it's already too late
Sellin', tellin' tales of Lucy Blue
Trying to sell false stories about Lucy Blue to make themselves look better
Yeah Lucy Blue, one or two
Just one or two tales of Lucy Blue
Just for you, hey yeah
Just for your entertainment
Tales of Lucy Blue
Stories about a made-up character named Lucy Blue
Contributed by Anna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.