A distant relative of Davy Crockett, Charley was born in San Benito, Texas, United States. The son of a single mother with an older brother and sister, Crockett was raised in a trailer park in Los Fresnos, Texas. His mother relocated the family to Dallas, and Crockett spent the summer months with his uncle, who lived in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Upon leaving high school at the age of 17, Crockett decided to travel with his guitar acquired by his mother from a pawn shop. Crockett noted "I taught myself how to play and started to write songs immediately, without any chord knowledge or anything. I didn't know what key I was in for 12 years, but my ear was really good, and I could play in any key and any chord. I just didn't know what it was." His early musical influences came from hearing hip hop, and he became fascinated with the samples used. Crockett said, "I got into Curtis Mayfield through samples of his songs by other artists, and Nina Simone was through a sample. Even J. Cole, I was listening to a song of his ("Kenny Lofton"), and it was based on the sample from the Manhattans version of 'Hurt'".
Crockett played music on the streets in the French Quarter of New Orleans and in Deep Ellum, Dallas as a teenager. Later he traveled further afield by hitchhiking and riding freight, and by 2009 he was busking in New York City. As he improved his performance skills, Crockett organized a street band called the Trainrobbers, which caught the attention of a Manhattan-based representative for Sony Music. She signed the 26-year-old Crockett to a two-year management contract, although he rejected a publishing deal. Eventually tired of life on the streets and the pending expiration of the contract, Crockett relocated to Northern California, where he combined working on farms and communes with performing for three more years. Crockett then existed on the streets in Paris, France, for a year, and briefly lived in Spain and Morocco.
Borrowed Time
Charley Crockett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's gonna fool you if he can
I'm telling you it's gonna be double
Better leave this gambling man
You've tried and tried
Mama I've lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
You can't stop what's already coming
I thought you'd know by now
Can't you see it's sure to be trouble
You know what I'm talking about
You've tried and tried
Mama I've lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Well this game it don't mean nothing
We're just rolling in the tide
Yes it's true that I've been struggling
I'll never leave this old world alive
You've tried and tried
Mama I've lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Charley Crockett's "Borrowed Time" is a song about recklessness, gambling, and the precarious nature of life. The singer warns about the dangers of a gambling man who will try to deceive you and the inevitable consequences of one's actions. The phrase "tell the truth, shame the devil" is often used to emphasize the importance of being honest, and the singer urges the listener to be wary of those who try to manipulate and deceive. He also foretells that double trouble will come to those who are not careful.
The chorus continues the theme of recklessness and dissatisfaction. The singer admits to lying and wanting to be free, but at what cost? Loving someone on borrowed time is a metaphor for living in a precarious existence, as if life is a loan that has to be paid back at some point. The line "you can't stop what's already coming" suggests that the consequences of one's actions are already set in motion, and there's no turning back.
In the second verse, the singer reiterates that the game of life is just rolling with the tide, and struggling is a part of the journey. He also admits that he'll never leave this old world alive, a reference to the inevitability of death. The chorus repeats the same lyrics, emphasizing that the singer cannot be satisfied and continues to love on borrowed time.
Overall, "Borrowed Time" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of recklessness and the fragile nature of life. The song also acknowledges the inevitability of death and the struggles that come with living. Ultimately, the singer urges the listener to be honest and not be fooled by those who try to deceive.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell the truth, shame the devil
Be honest, even if it's difficult or uncomfortable
He's gonna fool you if he can
The devil will try to deceive you if he can
I'm telling you it's gonna be double
The stakes are high and the risks are doubled in this situation
Better leave this gambling man
It's best to avoid this man who takes risks and gambles
You've tried and tried
You've attempted to help or change me
Mama I've lied and lied
But I'm sorry to say that I've continued to deceive you
It don't matter what you do
Regardless of your efforts or actions
I just can't be satisfied
I remain restless and unsatisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
My desire for freedom is the only wrongdoing
Loving you on borrowed time
I know I don't have much time left to love you
You can't stop what's already coming
It's impossible to prevent what's inevitable
I thought you'd know by now
I assumed you understood this
Can't you see it's sure to be trouble
This situation is bound to cause problems
You know what I'm talking about
You're aware of the risks and dangers involved
Well this game it don't mean nothing
This situation or way of life is meaningless
We're just rolling in the tide
We're going along with the flow, without direction or control
Yes it's true that I've been struggling
I admit that I've been having a hard time
I'll never leave this old world alive
I'll stay in this world until I die
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, ME GUSTA MUSIC
Written by: Charley Crockett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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[Verse 1]
Tell the truth, shame the devil
He's gonna fool you if he can
I’m telling you it's gonna be double
Better leave this gambling man
[Chorus]
You're tried and tried
My mouth I’ve lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
[Verse 2]
You can't stop what's already coming
I thought you'd know by now
Can't you see it’s sure to be trouble
You know what I’m talking about
[Chorus]
You're tried and tried
My mouth I’ve lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Verse 3]
Well this game, it don’t mean nothing
We're just rolling in the tide
Yes it's true that I've been struggling
I'll never leave this old world alive
[Chorus]
You're tried and tried
My mouth I've lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
[Outro]
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
brandon hernandez
[Verse 1]
Tell the truth, shame the devil
He's gonna fool you if he can
I’m telling you it's gonna be double
Better leave this gambling man
[Chorus]
You're tried and tried
Mama, I’ve lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Verse 2]
You can't stop what's already coming
I thought you'd know by now
Can't you see it’s sure to be trouble
You know what I’m talking about
[Chorus]
You're tried and tried
Mama, I’ve lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
[Verse 3]
Well this game, it don’t mean nothing
We're just rolling in the tide
Yes it's true that I've been struggling
I'll never leave this old world alive
[Chorus]
You're tried and tried
Mama, I've lied and lied
It don't matter what you do
I just can't be satisfied
I want to be free, that's my only crime
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Outro]
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Loving you on borrowed time
Christian Cantarutti
This guys swagger is unmatched.
Zachary Taylor
HA! I openly challenge Charley to a swagger match. I got him beat by a looong country mile. Though I'm not sure hes even trying, and man, I am....
Carla
It's what you can do with money backing you up.
Tovah Driggs
FACTS 🙃🤤lol for realsy ive been in love for 3yrs😂
Foreman Joe
Are you kidding look into his eyes and you can really see
guitars & Cadillac's
Yeah this is what Andrew Tate will never be
CowpokeCannoneer
Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, Vincent Neil Emerson, Sierra Ferrell, Lost Dog Street Band, and of course Charley Crockett are saving the country/folk/western genre. And I love it.
Admiral Moose
Don't forget The Devil Makes Three
sam
Benjamin Todd, Ryan Bingham, zach bryan dammint son there's some good artists out there that are gooder than fuck lol
sam
You're missing a few lol fix this please