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.
Tightrope
Bob Seger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' to slip away
Did you find someone to take your money
And did it make your day
Take a lesson from someone who's been there
There are lots of roads that lead you nowhere
I can see it in your blank stare baby
Everybody hits the hard truth some time
It's your time again
So you're lonesome and the night's approachin'
Honey this is where the tough get goin'
Welcome to the tightrope
Between memory and pain
Welcome to the tightrope
Between the freedom and the chain
Welcome to the tightrope
Stretched high above the street
Welcome to the tightrope
It's right beneath your feet
Once you learn to balance truth and sorrow
You can worry about the rest tomorrow
Up there on the tightrope
Oh it's a tightrope
You're walkin' on a tightrope
The lyrics of "Tightrope" convey a message of resilience and perseverance despite the challenges and disappointments one may face in life. The song begins with the singer seeing someone trying to escape from something, perhaps a problematic situation or a person who took advantage of them. The singer warns them to beware of dead-end roads and offers advice on how to move forward. He recognizes that the person he is addressing feels defeated, and that they are essentially walking on a tightrope between their memories and their pain.
The chorus of the song welcomes the person to the tightrope, acknowledging that they are in a difficult but necessary place, and that they are not alone in their struggles. The tightrope becomes a metaphor for the balancing act of life, where one must navigate the pain and struggle while still seeking a sense of freedom and joy. The song encourages the listener to focus on balancing truth and sorrow, and to keep moving forward despite the challenges.
Overall, "Tightrope" is a powerful and uplifting song that speaks to the endurance of the human spirit. It recognizes that life can be difficult and painful, but it also offers hope and encouragement for those who may be struggling.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw you walkin' on a backstreet honey
I noticed you walking on a deserted street
Tryin' to slip away
Attempting to flee, covertly
Did you find someone to take your money
Did you give your money away to someone?
And did it make your day
Did it satisfy you?
Take a lesson from someone who's been there
Listen to someone with similar experiences
There are lots of roads that lead you nowhere
Many paths lead to disappointment
I can see it in your blank stare baby
Your empty expression is telling
Someone's done you in
You have been victimized
Everybody hits the hard truth some time
Everyone has to face harsh reality eventually
It's your time again
It's your turn to face it
So you're lonesome and the night's approachin'
You're alone and the night is closing in
Honey this is where the tough get goin'
This is where the strong persevere
Welcome to the tightrope
Welcome to the precarious situation you find yourself in
Between memory and pain
Balancing between the two feelings
Between the freedom and the chain
Balancing between liberty and restraint
Stretched high above the street
Extended high up in the air
It's right beneath your feet
It's just below where you're standing
Once you learn to balance truth and sorrow
When you can equally manage honesty and sadness
You can worry about the rest tomorrow
You can worry about the other issues later
Up there on the tightrope
Balancing on the precarious wire
Oh it's a tightrope
Oh, it's a dangerous situation
You're walkin' on a tightrope
You are progressing cautiously and precariously
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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.