Started A Band
Bobby Pinson Lyrics

I turned sixteen got a brand new six-string
At 16 years old, I received a new acoustic guitar

Haggard and Hank, Sting and Springsteen
I listened to country singers like Merle Haggard and Hank Williams, as well as rock artists like Sting and Bruce Springsteen.

Peelin' the paint every chance I got.
I practiced my guitar every chance I got, improving my skills.

Daddy said "You're pretty good, but it's tough out there,
My father recognized my talent but warned me that being a musician would not be easy.

Now 'Stairway To Heaven' won't get ya anywhere,
He advised me that playing mainstream songs like Stairway to Heaven wouldn't help me succeed.

Otta cut your hair, and get a real job."
My dad suggested that I should cut my hair, give up my dream of playing music, and get a real job.

So I started a band, and we got out of dodge,
I decided to form a band and leave my hometown behind.

In a Dodge van with no exhaust,
We traveled in a Dodge van without a proper exhaust system.

Got high off the fumes, but we played our tunes,
The van's fumes caused us to feel high, but we continued playing music.

Ain't no one gonna say I can't,
No one could stop me from pursuing my dream of playing music.

Yeah, I started a band, stared a band.
I was proud of the fact that I started a band.

Started a band and I met a girl,
I met a girl while playing music with my band.

Sang my songs and rocked her world,
I sang my original songs, and she was impressed.

Goin' strong but out of the blue one day,
Unexpectedly, one day she told me something that broke my heart.

She said "I can't love a music man",
She confessed that she couldn't be with a musician like me.

So I dropped my dream and sold my amp,
I gave up my dream of playing music and sold my amplifier.

But I'll be damned if she didn't leave me anyway.
Unfortunately, she still left me despite me giving up my dream for her.

So I stared a band, with a couple new guys,
I formed a new band with some new members.

We played those same ol' dives.
We continued playing shows at the same old venues.

Yeah, we never sold gold, okay, we never sold,
Our band never achieved mainstream success, despite our efforts.

But the lead picker always played too loud,
One of our band members, the lead guitarist, played too loud and caused issues.

And him and the drummer had a fallin' out,
The lead guitarist and drummer had a disagreement that caused more problems within the band.

Bass man stayed out of it and just got drunk,
The bassist didn't get involved and instead drank to avoid the drama.

I was Nashville bound, my dreams were bigger,
I decided to pursue my dreams of playing music in Nashville, Tennessee.

I knocked 'em out they just couldn't pull the trigger,
I worked hard to impress music industry executives in Nashville, but they weren't interested in signing me.

And that's Nashville speak for I stunk, as a solo man.
In Nashville music industry lingo, this meant that I wasn't good enough to succeed as a solo performer.

So I started a band, we play what we like,
After my unsuccessful solo attempt, I formed another band and decided to play music that I enjoyed.

On a stage that's eight feet wide,
Our performances were in small venues with limited space.

But I got my pride, and I got my van,
Despite our humble beginnings, I remained proud of my music career and we continued to travel in our van.

I kept who I am, I started a band,
I never lost sight of who I was and continued to pursue my dream of playing music.

Started a band, can't get this guitar out my hand,
I remained committed to my love of music and playing my guitar.

Yeah I started a band.
I was proud of the fact that I started a band and was determined to keep playing music.