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/
Homesick
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
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The scene was so blue and sound so right
Your homesick
Listen close to the guitar man
A native son in a foreign land
Boy's homesick
Smokin' that dope and drinking that wine
And you were an outlaw
Piston drums beat an old refrain
Shakes your feet and it pounds your brain
Like a buzz saw
He's homesick
For days by gone
He's homesick
For home sweet home
In the darkness down the hall
Black light posters on the wall
Jimi Hendrix
Someone's lost in yesterday
Hazy dreams of Monterey
And Woodstock
Listen close to the guitar man
A native son in a foreign land
Makes you homesick
Listen close to the guitar man
A native son in a foreign land
The boy is homesick
He's homesick
For days by gone
He's homesick
For home sweet home
He's homesick
For days by gone
He's homesick
For home sweet home
He's homesick
For them times gone by
He's homesick
For that kickin' southern sky
He's homesick
(Listen close to the guitar man)
Said he's homesick
Boy is homesick
(Listen close to the guitar man)
(He's homesick)
The song Homesick by Charlie Daniels Band is a reflective tribute to a displaced southern boy who yearns to go back to the days of his youth. It reminisces on the experiences of the main character, who got caught up in the drug and alcohol culture of the late 60s and early 70s as an outlaw. The opening line of "guitars ring in the dead of night" sets the mood of the song as if the music is calling out to the boy. The lyrics "Listen close to the guitar man, A native son in a foreign land" signify the boy's longing for his southern roots, feeling like a foreigner in a strange land. The song mentions Jimi Hendrix, Monterey, and Woodstock as nostalgic elements of the past that the boy reminisces about.
The beat and melody of the song have a nostalgic undertone that complements the lyrics about the boy's longing for his past. The music builds up and draws the listener into the sense of yearning felt by the boy. As the song progresses, the lyrics become more emotive, and the chorus repeats the phrase "he's homesick" to emphasize the theme of the song. The repetition makes it both memorable and easy to relate to, as most people have experienced homesickness. Overall, the song carries a message of longing and nostalgia for the past, making it a touching tribute to the southern roots of the boy in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Guitars ring in the dead of night
The music of guitars echoes in the quiet of the night
The scene was so blue and sound so right
The atmosphere was perfect, with the music and mood in sync
Your homesick
You feel a longing to return to a familiar place
Listen close to the guitar man
Pay attention to the musician playing the guitar
A native son in a foreign land
A person who belongs to a certain place, but currently in a different place
Boy's homesick
The person is feeling nostalgic for a place they used to call home
Where were you in '69
Asking where the person was during a certain year (1969)
Smokin' that dope and drinking that wine
The person was indulging in drugs and alcohol
And you were an outlaw
The person felt like a rebel or criminal
Piston drums beat an old refrain
The beats of the drums repeat an old and familiar tune
Shakes your feet and it pounds your brain
The music evokes physical and emotional sensations
Like a buzz saw
The impact of the music is strong and intense
He's homesick
The person is yearning for a place they once called home
For days by gone
For a time long past
For home sweet home
For the familiarity and comfort of one's own home
In the darkness down the hall
In a dimly lit corridor
Black light posters on the wall
Posters that glow in the dark under black light
Jimi Hendrix
Referring to the musician Jimi Hendrix
Someone's lost in yesterday
Someone is trapped in the memories of the past
Hazy dreams of Monterey
Vague recollections of a place (likely referring to the Monterey Pop Festival)
And Woodstock
Referring to the famous music festival in Woodstock, NY
He's homesick
The person is longing for a place they remember fondly
For them times gone by
For moments and memories that have passed
For that kickin' southern sky
For the beauty and energy of the southern skies
Said he's homesick
Confirming that the person is feeling nostalgic for their former home
Boy is homesick
Reiterating that the individual strongly misses their home
Lyrics © EUFAULA MUSIC, INC. , Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EUGENE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind