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.
The Long Way Home
Bob Seger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do what they must on their own
Lovers, dreamers and beautiful schemers
All take the long way home
Some have their reasons
Some lose their way
They all want so much to succeed
How do you tell them apart
Now that it's summer
I went to the river
The water was never too cold
Always together through all kinds of weather
We took the long way home
She was the best
I ever knew
Somehow she drifted away
Now that I'm older
The nights seems much colder
I spend too much time alone
Sometimes in summer
I kept thinking of her
And I'll take the long way home
I'll still take the long way home
The lyrics of Bob Seger's song, The Long Way Home, depict the struggles of different people who want to succeed in life. The song categorizes them into three groups: winners, losers and small time misusers who do what they must on their own, lovers, dreamers and beautiful schemers who all take the long way home. The long way home represents the journey one takes to reach their significant goal in life. Some people may have their reasons for taking this path while others lose their way, but they all have one thing in common: the desire to attain success. However, this journey can be very challenging that it becomes hard to differentiate the best from the others. The best of them who leave with their hearts are the ones who undoubtedly reach their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Winners, losers and small time misusers
People from all walks of life, including those who have succeeded, failed, and those who have been caught up in wrongdoing
Do what they must on their own
Everyone is responsible for their own actions and decisions
Lovers, dreamers and beautiful schemers
People who are in love, have big aspirations, and are clever in their actions and ideas
All take the long way home
Regardless of what they've been through in life, everyone wants to take the scenic route home and enjoy the journey
Some have their reasons
Some people have a clear purpose, ambition or motive in life
Some lose their way
Some people get sidetracked or become lost in life
They all want so much to succeed
All people have the desire to accomplish their goals and meet their definition of success
How do you tell them apart
It's difficult to distinguish between people's motives and intentions
The best of them leave with their hearts
Even if people don't always succeed, they leave with the satisfaction that they gave it their best effort and followed their hearts
Now that it's summer
Referring to a particular time, the beginning of summer
I went to the river
Taking a trip to the river for leisure or relaxation
The water was never too cold
The water temperature was just right
Always together through all kinds of weather
Throughout the good and bad times, people should stick together
We took the long way home
Instead of taking the quickest route, they chose to take the longer, more scenic route home
She was the best
Referring to a particular person, she was the best person in the singer's life
I ever knew
Emphasizing the relationship and admiration the artist had for her
Somehow she drifted away
The artist lost touch with this person and is unsure how it happened
Now that I'm older
At a particular point in time in the singer's life when they are older
The nights seems much colder
The singer feels more alone and isolated now that they are older
I spend too much time alone
The artist is alone more often than they'd like
Sometimes in summer
Occasionally in the summertime
I kept thinking of her
This person is still on the artist's mind
And I'll take the long way home
The singer will continue to take the longer, more scenic route home despite feeling alone
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB SEGER
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.