Tennessee
Captain Ivory Lyrics
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where the roses grow like trees
The smell of this engine lord
is ever sweet to me
Nothing beats this country
nothing feels like home
never said I was a rambling man
And I'm driving, down to the city lawd
down them ol' dirt roads
I made up my mind
cus it's time, to find a new home there
past the trees with the breeze
that I'd once know
Said it's Tenn, Tennessee
Tennessee
Approximately
Southern women square dance
while the men just slowly glance
I don't know whether to cry
or beg for one last chance
but it's the lay of the land
a new immortal man
sees the distant skyline
where the easy livin' began
And I'm driving, down to the city lawd
down them ol' dirt roads
I made up my mind
cus it's time, to find a new home there
past the trees with the breeze
that I'd once know
Said it's Tenn, Tennessee
Tennessee
Approximately
In the song "Tennessee," Captain Ivory describes driving down to Tennessee, where the roses grow like trees and the smell of the engine is ever sweet to him. He talks about how nothing beats the feeling of being in the country and how it feels like home to him. He never considered himself a rambling man but knows he's not alone in his desire for a home in Tennessee.
As he drives down to the city, past the trees with the breeze that he once knew, he sees southern women square dancing while men slowly glance. He doesn't know whether to cry or beg for one last chance. But it's the lay of the land, and a new immortal man sees the distant skyline where the easy living began.
The song seems to be about a journey to finding a new home, leaving behind what he once knew, and embracing change. The lyrics paint a picture of nostalgia, mixed with a sense of adventure and hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm heading to Tennessee
I am on my way to Tennessee.
where the roses grow like trees
Tennessee has an abundance of rose-filled landscapes.
The smell of this engine lord
I love the smell of the engine, it reminds me of home.
is ever sweet to me
The engine fragrance is always delightful to me.
Nothing beats this country
Rural areas of the country have a unique charm that nothing else can match.
nothing feels like home
It feels like home to me.
never said I was a rambling man
I am not a wanderer by nature.
never said I was alone
I never said I was lonely.
And I'm driving, down to the city lawd
I am driving to the city right now.
down them ol' dirt roads
I'm driving through old, dusty roads.
I made up my mind
I have decided already.
cus it's time, to find a new home there
It's time to find a new home in Tennessee.
past the trees with the breeze
I'm driving through the trees while feeling the breeze.
that I'd once know
I'm getting reacquainted with a familiar place.
Said it's Tenn, Tennessee
It's Tennessee indeed.
Southern women square dance
Women in the south love to square dance.
while the men just slowly glance
Men watch women intently while they square dance.
I don't know whether to cry
I'm torn between feeling emotional or not about leaving.
or beg for one last chance
Or plead for one more chance to stay.
but it's the lay of the land
But it's how life is in Tennessee.
a new immortal man
I have become so enamored of Tennessee that I feel almost immortal here.
sees the distant skyline
I am admiring the horizon.
where the easy livin' began
This is where a life of ease began.
Said it's Tenn, Tennessee
It's Tennessee indeed.
Tennessee
Tennessee is the best.
Approximately
More or less! (used sarcastically, meaning Tennessee is so amazing that there's no room for doubt).
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.