Tobacco Road
Colvin and Earle Lyrics
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Mama died and my daddy got drunk
Left me here to die or grow
In the middle of Tobacco Road
Grew up in a rusty shack
All I had was hangin' on my back
Only you know how I loathe
But it's home, the only life I've ever known
Only you know how I loathe
Tobacco Road
Gonna leave, get a job
With the help and the grace from above
Save some money, get rich and old
Bring it back to Tobacco Road
Bring dynamite and a crane
Blow it up, start all over again
Build a town, be proud to show
Give the name of Tobacco Road
But it's home, the only life I've ever known
Only you know how I loathe Tobacco Road
But it's home, the only life I've ever known
Only you know how I loathe
Tobacco Road
The lyrics to "Tobacco Road" by Colvin and Earle paint a vivid picture of a difficult upbringing and a deep-rooted connection to a place filled with hardship and struggle. The singer begins by reflecting on their humble origins, born in poverty and abandonment as their mother passed away and their father turned to alcohol, leaving them to fend for themselves in a desolate environment represented by the metaphorical "Tobacco Road." The imagery of a dump and a rusty shack conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair, with the weight of their past burdens carried on their shoulders.
Despite the challenging circumstances of their upbringing, the singer expresses a sense of resignation and acceptance towards their roots in Tobacco Road, acknowledging that it is the only life they have ever known. The repetition of the phrase "Only you know how I loathe" suggests a conflicted relationship with this place that has shaped their identity, with a mix of resentment and attachment to the struggles they have endured there. The dichotomy of love and loathing towards Tobacco Road reflects the complexity of their emotional connection to their hometown.
As the lyrics progress, the singer reveals a desire to escape their origins and seek a better life outside of Tobacco Road. They dream of leaving, finding employment, and achieving prosperity with divine assistance, aiming to save enough money to return to their hometown in a position of success and security. The aspiration to rebuild and redefine Tobacco Road symbolizes a yearning for transformation and growth, a longing to break free from the constraints of their past and create a new future for themselves and their community.
In the final stanza, the tension between their yearning for change and their ties to the familiar echoes once more. The repetition of "But it's home, the only life I've ever known" underscores the internal conflict between embracing their origins and striving for a different reality. The song captures the enduring complexity of identity, belonging, and the struggle to reconcile the past with the desire for a better future, encapsulating the universal themes of roots, resilience, and the enduring quest for meaning and belonging encapsulated in the haunting refrain of "Only you know how I loathe Tobacco Road."
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a dump
I come from a place of hardship and struggle
Mama died and my daddy got drunk
After losing my mother and having an absent father, I was left to fend for myself
Left me here to die or grow
My parents' abandonment left me with the choice to either succumb to my circumstances or rise above them
In the middle of Tobacco Road
In the heart of a community filled with poverty and despair
Only you know how I loathe
Only those who have experienced the same struggles understand my deep dislike
Grew up in a rusty shack
My childhood home was dilapidated and in disrepair
All I had was hangin' on my back
I had very few possessions, carrying everything I owned with me
This place called Tobacco Road
Referring to the poverty-stricken area where I grew up
But it's home, the only life I've ever known
Despite its faults, it is still the only place I can call home
Gonna leave, get a job
I plan to escape and find employment to better my situation
With the help and the grace from above
I hope for assistance and guidance to lead me towards a better future
Save some money, get rich and old
My goal is to save money, become successful, and live comfortably in my old age
Bring it back to Tobacco Road
I intend to return and share my success with my hometown
Bring dynamite and a crane
I plan to demolish the old and build something new
Build a town, be proud to show
I want to create a better community that I can take pride in
Give the name of Tobacco Road
Renaming the town to shed its negative association and embrace a fresh start
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John D. Loudermilk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind