The Charlie Daniels Band was formed in 1970, with Charlie Daniels joined by Barry Barnes (guitar), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Fred Edwards and Gary Allen (drums), and Taz DiGregorio (keyboards). They started recording southern rock-styled albums for Kama Sutra. Although a multi-instrumentalist, Daniels was a limited vocalist, but his voice was well suited to the talking-style "Uneasy Rider", which reached the US Top 10 in 1973. He followed it with his anthem for southern rock, "The South's Gonna Do It". In 1974, Daniels had members of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Allman Brothers Band join him onstage in Nashville. It was so successful that he decided to make his so-called Volunteer Jam an annual event. It led to some unlikely combinations of artists such as James Brown performing with Roy Acuff, and the stylistic mergers have included Crystal Gayle singing the blues with the Charlie Daniels Band.
The Charlie Daniels Band underwent some personnel changes on 1975's 'Nightrider", with Tom Crain, Charlie Hayward and Don Murray replacing Barnes, Fitzgerald and Allen respectively. When Daniels moved to Epic in 1976, there was a concerted effort to turn the band into a major concert attraction, despite the fact that at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 20 stone Daniels was no teenage idol: he hid his face under an oversized cowboy hat. The albums sold well, and in 1979, when recording his "Million Mile Reflections" album, he recalled a 20s poem, "The Mountain Whipporwill", by Stephen Vincent Benet. The band developed this into "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", in which Johnny outplays the Devil to win a gold fiddle. Daniels overdubbed his fiddle seven times to create an atmospheric recording that topped the US country charts and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. It was also a UK Top 20 success.
In 1980 the band recorded "In America" for the hostages in Iran, and then in 1982, "Still In Saigon", about Vietnam. The band were featured on the soundtrack for Urban Cowboy and also recorded the theme for the Burt Reynolds movie "Stroker Ace". The 13th Volunteer Jam was held in 1987, but financial and time constraints meant the event was put on temporary hiatus (it resumed four years later). In the late 80s Daniels appeared in the movie "Lone Star Kid" and published a book of short stories, but continued touring and playing his southern boogie to adoring audiences.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
http://www.charliedaniels.com/
Carolina
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
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The kinfolks gather up at Grandma's house
And they fill the house with love
And they honor God above
They remember what the season's all about
It's been ten long years since I've been there with them
And I can't face another holiday alone
And if this train don't jump the track
I'll spend Christmas Eve with all the folks at home
Carolina I hear you calling
I just have to close my eyes and I'll be there
Carolina I hear you calling
I can almost touch the mountains in your hair
When I left my home in Carolina
I never thought that things would get this far
I was only seventeen when I struck out for New Orleans
Trying to do or die on my guitar
Well I always thought someday I'd be returning
But I kept drifting with that same old traveling wind
Can I still call you home or have I stayed away too long
Carolina would you have me back again
Carolina I hear you calling
I just have to close my eyes and I'll be there
Carolina I hear you calling
I can almost touch the mountains in your hair
(Carolina)
Carolina I hear you calling
I just have to close my eyes and I'll be there
Carolina I hear you calling
I can almost touch the mountains in your hair
I can almost touch the mountains in your hair
The lyrics of Charlie Daniels Band's song "Carolina" take the listener on an emotional trip down memory lane. The song talks about how Christmas time in Carolina brings together all the extended family members at the grandparents' house, where they fill the house with love, honor God, and reminisce about the true meaning of the holiday season. The singer, who left his home in Carolina ten years ago in search of his dreams, is feeling lonely during the holidays and can't bear another year spent alone. He decides to return to his roots and spend Christmas Eve with his folks back home, hoping that the train he's on stays on track. He wonders if his home still recognizes him as family or if he's been away for too long.
The song's lyrics beautifully capture the longing of someone who has been away from home for so long but wants to come back and reconnect with their roots. It speaks about the importance of family, tradition, and faith during the holiday season. The vivid descriptions of the mountains in Carolina add to the sentimental ambiance of the song, reminding listeners of the beauty of the place and the heartwarming memories that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
When it's Christmas time in Carolina
During the holiday season in Carolina
The kinfolks gather up at Grandma's house
Family members come together at their grandmother's house
And they fill the house with love
They show affection and care for each other
And they honor God above
They respect and worship God
They remember what the season's all about
They recall the true meaning of the holiday season
It's been ten long years since I've been there with them
The singer has not seen his family for a decade
And I can't face another holiday alone
The singer cannot bear to spend another holiday by himself
And tonight I'm going back
The singer is returning home tonight
And if this train don't jump the track
Assuming the train does not derail
I'll spend Christmas Eve with all the folks at home
The singer will spend the holiday with his family
When I left my home in Carolina
When the singer departed from his hometown
I never thought that things would get this far
The singer did not anticipate how long he would stay away
Trying to do or die on my guitar
The singer attempted to succeed in his music career
Well I always thought someday I'd be returning
The singer expected to come back home eventually
But I kept drifting with that same old traveling wind
The singer continued to wander and travel
Can I still call you home or have I stayed away too long
The singer questions if he is still welcome at home
Carolina would you have me back again
The singer asks if his hometown would accept him once more
Carolina I hear you calling
The singer senses his hometown beckoning him
I just have to close my eyes and I'll be there
The singer can feel like he is back home just by imagining it
I can almost touch the mountains in your hair
The singer can vividly picture the scenery of his hometown
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STUART HAMBLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind