Derek Truck's musical career began at the age of nine, when he picked up a five dollar acoustic guitar at a yard sale. "It was nothing special," he claims, “It was just the only thing that looked interesting." But that seemingly inconsequential purchase changed his life. After learning what he could from his father and a family friend, Derek began playing with other musicians around town. "It happened pretty quick," Derek remembers. Within the span of a single year, he had purchased an instrument, learned how to play, and began touring - with his father acting as road manager/chaperone. What had begun as a weekend activity quickly became a life’s pursuit, and would eventually result in Derek being the youngest player to make Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list.
Derek got his first paying gig at age 11 and formed his first band at age 12. Todd Smallie, who played with many jazz and blues musicians in the Atlanta area, entered the picture in 1994, when Derek was 15 years old. "We have so many stories and so much in common,” says Derek, “It's been an amazing experience with him.”
In 1995, Yonrico Scott rounded out the band's permanent rhythm section. More than 20 years older than Derek, Yonrico brings an incredible lifetime of experience to the table. Like Derek, Yonrico began to play music at an extremely early age, picking up the drums when he was only 7 years old, playing gospel music in church. While growing up in Detroit, Yonrico studied under Motown drummer George Hamilton before moving south to attend the University of Kentucky, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in percussion performance.
Born in the Bronx, raised in Washington, DC, Kofi Burbridge first picked up the flute at age 6. He soon began ear training and studying theory at the same time. Kofi's musical education was rooted in classical and jazz -- for the flute. While attending college at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Kofi landed his first touring gig. Eventually making his home in Atlanta, Kofi took advantage of numerous opportunities to play with his brother Oteil (bassist extraordinaire) and a host of like-minded, enthusiastic musicians. He joined the Derek Trucks Band in 1999.
In 2002, The Derek Trucks Band heard about vocalist Mike Mattison after recommendations by both DTB producers Craig Street and John Snyder in the same week. Mike had been performing and recording as part of a duo called Scrapomatic in the New York area. Mike performed with The Derek Trucks Band for several gigs and Derek soon realized he had found the final piece of the puzzle. Mike’s soulful voice and understated stage presence fit the band’s musical vision and Mike worked into a full time position with the band shortly thereafter. Mike, originally from Minneapolis, lived and played in Brooklyn for a number of years before finally being drawn to the Southeast and settling in Atlanta with the rest of his DTB bandmates.
Count M’Butu has been the mysterious sixth member of The Derek Trucks Band for the last six or more years. He is the only band member that doesn’t perform on every tour, but his presence with the band has become more frequent over time and the band always elevates their playing when he graces the stage. Born in Georgia in 1945, Count M'Butu studied music at Georgia State University and learned the art of drum making while in Africa, where he developed his love for and prowess on a variety of percussion instruments. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, including Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Frank Zappa, and Chuck Leavell and has shared stages with Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler, the Allman Brothers Band, and Phish.
Chevrolet
Derek Trucks Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gonna buy you a watch and chain
Buy a watch and chain
Just do somethin' for you
Baby, just do somethin' for you
Buy you a Chevrolet
Gonna buy you a Chevrolet
Buy a Chevrolet
Just do somethin' for you
I wanna do somethin' for you
Build you a house and home
Gonna build you a house and home
Build a house and home
Just do somethin' for you
Baby, just do somethin' for you
Gonna buy you a Chevrolet
Gonna buy you a, a Chevrolet
Buy a Chevrolet
Just do somethin' for you
Just do somethin' for you
Buy you a diamond ring
Gonna buy you a diamond ring
Buy a diamond ring
Just do somethin' for you
Baby, just do somethin' for you
Buy you a Chevrolet
Buy you a Chevrolet
Buy a Chevrolet
Just do somethin' for you
Just do somethin' for you
Just to do somethin'
I wanna do somethin'
The Derek Trucks Band's song "Chevrolet" is a simple love song that speaks of a man’s desires to do something special for his lover. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes those desires, with lines such as "Buy you a watch and chain/Gonna buy you a watch and chain/Buy a watch and chain/Just do somethin' for you...,” “Gonna buy you a Chevrolet/Gonna buy you a, a Chevrolet/Buy a Chevrolet/Just do somethin' for you...” and “Buy you a diamond ring/Gonna buy you a diamond ring/Buy a diamond ring/Just do somethin' for you…” delivering the message straight to the heart of the listener. The song starts with the man’s wish to buy a timepiece and a Chevrolet for his love, then escalate to building her a house and getting her a diamond ring, all in an effort to show her just how special she is. The love and commitment portrayed in the song is palpable, with the repetition of the last line “Just to do somethin’, I wanna do somethin’” emphasizing the desperate need to express his love to her in meaningful ways.
The song "Chevrolet" was written and first recorded by the Delta Blues singer-songwriter Taj Mahal. The Derek Trucks Band covered the song in 2002 for their album "Joyful Noise" and their high-energy instrumental arrangement added a new dynamic to the original. The song has a timeless quality, with a message that resonates with listeners of all ages. Interestingly, Derek Trucks, who played the guitar on the track, later married Susan Tedeschi, who provided vocals for the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Buy you a watch and chain
I want to show my affection for you by buying you a valuable gift
Gonna buy you a watch and chain
I am committed to buying you a valuable gift to show my love for you
Buy a watch and chain
I think you deserve something special and valuable, like a watch and chain
Just do somethin' for you
I want to express my affection for you and show you how much you mean to me
Baby, just do somethin' for you
I care about you deeply and want to demonstrate my love for you
Buy you a Chevrolet
I want to provide you with a way to get around, so you don't have to worry as much about transportation
Gonna buy you a Chevrolet
I am committed to buying you a car to make your life easier and to show you how much I care about you
Build you a house and home
I want to provide you with a stable and comfortable environment, so you always have a place to call home
Gonna build you a house and home
I am committed to building you a home, so you always have a safe and secure space to live in
Buy a diamond ring
I want to give you something beautiful and valuable to show you how much I love you
Just do somethin' for you
I want to show you how important you are to me and express my love for you in a tangible way
Baby, just do somethin' for you
I want to make you happy and demonstrate how much I care about you
Just to do somethin'
I want to do something special for you, just because I love you.
I wanna do somethin'
I want to make a special gesture to show you how much you mean to me
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BILLY GIBBONS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind