In the 1960s, McCallum recorded four albums for Capitol Records with music producer David Axelrod: Music...A Part of Me (Capitol ST 2432, 1966), Music...A Bit More of Me (Capitol ST 2498, 1966), Music...It's Happening Now! (Capitol ST 2651, 1967), and McCallum (Capitol ST 2748, 1968). The best known of his pieces today is "The Edge", which was sampled by Dr. Dre as the intro and riff to the track "The Next Episode", "M.I.A" by Missin' Linx, and "No Regrets" by Masta Ace.
McCallum did not sing on these records, as many television stars of the 1960s did when offered recording contracts. As a classically trained musician, he conceived a blend of oboe, English horn, and strings with guitar and drums, and presented instrumental interpretations of hits of the day. The official arranger on the albums was H. B. Barnum. However, McCallum conducted, and contributed several original compositions of his own, over the course of four LPs. The first two, Music...A Part of Me and Music...A Bit More of Me, have been issued together on CD on the Zonophone label. On Open Channel D, McCallum did sing on the first four tracks, "Communication", "House on Breckenridge Lane", "In The Garden, Under The Tree" (the theme song from the movie Three Bites of the Apple), and "My Carousel". The music tracks are the same as the Zonophone CD. This CD was released on the Rev-Ola label. The single release of "Communication" reached No. 32 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1966.
In recent years, McCallum gained renewed international recognition and popularity for his role as NCIS medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the American television series NCIS.
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (Digitally Remaster
David McCallum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the sun refused to shine
People tell me there ain't no use in tryin'
Now my girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know
Watched his hair been turnin' grey
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
Oh yes I know it
(Yeah!) He's been workin' so hard
(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
(Yeah!) Every night and day
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
'cause girl, there's a better life for me and you
Now my girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true, yeah
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know it
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Watched his hair been turnin' grey, yeah
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
I know he's been workin' so hard
(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
(Yeah!) Every day baby
(Yeah!) Whoa!
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Somewhere baby, somehow I know it
We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Believe me baby
I know it baby
You know it too
The lyrics of "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by David McCallum talk about the struggles of living in a working-class environment. The opening lines set the scene and create a dismal atmosphere, with the description of a dirty, sunless area of the city. The people around the singer say that there's no point in trying to change their situation, but he remains hopeful that he and his girlfriend, who is young and pretty, can escape.
The second verse introduces the singer's father, who is dying in bed after a life of hard work and struggling for survival. This motivates the singer to seek a better life and not be content with just surviving. The chorus repeats the idea of needing to get away from their current environment for a better life, highlighting the urgency of their situation.
The lyrics have been interpreted in various ways, from being a call for young people to leave their hometowns and seek their fortunes elsewhere, to a critique of the working-class struggle against oppression. The song's message of hope in dire circumstances has made it resonate with many people over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
In this dirty old part of the city
The area we are in is rundown and unpleasant
Where the sun refused to shine
The environment around us is bleak and depressing
People tell me there ain't no use in tryin'
Others have given up hope and believe we should do the same
Now my girl you're so young and pretty
You are young and beautiful
And one thing I know is true
I am certain of one thing
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know
You will die young and before your expected time
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
I have seen my father on his deathbed
Watched his hair been turnin' grey
I have witnessed the toll that hard work has taken on my father's appearance
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
My father has worked tirelessly his entire life
Oh yes I know it
I am fully aware of the hard work my father has done
(Yeah!) He's been workin' so hard
My father has been working incredibly hard
(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
I have also been working hard
(Yeah!) Every night and day
I work every day and night
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
I am emphasizing my point and expressing my frustration
We gotta get out of this place
We need to leave this area
If it's the last thing we ever do
Even if it's our last action, we must leave
'cause girl, there's a better life for me and you
We both deserve a better life and environment
Now my girl you're so young and pretty
Again, you are young and beautiful
And one thing I know is true, yeah
I am still certain of one thing
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know it
Once more, I am certain you will not live to your expected lifespan
Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Repeating the same experience with my father
Watched his hair been turnin' grey, yeah
Again, witnessing the effect that hard work had on my father's appearance
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
Repeating the line to show the extent of my father's effort
I know he's been workin' so hard
Still expressing just how much work my father has dedicated to his job
(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby
Repeating what I said earlier about my own hard work
(Yeah!) Every day baby
Emphasizing that it is not just a one-time occurrence
(Yeah!) Whoa!
Expressing frustration and exhaustion
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
Repeating the phrase to show frustration
We gotta get out of this place
Repeating the main point
If it's the last thing we ever do
Repeating that even if it's our last action, we must leave
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Repeating the same thought, highlighting that we need to move for a chance at a better life
Somewhere baby, somehow I know it
I am certain that there is a better place for us to be
Believe me baby
I want you to trust and have faith in me
I know it baby
I am sure of what I am saying
You know it too
I am confident you feel the same way and also want a better life
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ALAIN DEWAELE
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