In 1975, Rabbitt signed on with Elektra Records, who had recently created a country music division. His early pieces were strongly C&W, such as "Two Dollars in the Jukebox." Later, his music began to be influenced by R&B and pop. He scored some of his biggest hits with tunes such as "Drinkin' My Baby Off My Mind" (1976), "You Don't Love Me Anymore" (1978), "I Love a Rainy Night" (1980), "Drivin' My Life Away" (1980), "Step by Step" (1981), and a duet with Crystal Gayle, "You and I" (1982) which broke over into the adult contemporary charts. He was also well-known for writing and recording the theme song for the 1978 Clint Eastwood movie "Every Which Way But Loose."
During the late 1980s, Rabbitt was one of many pop-influenced country stars who lost ground on the charts to more traditional-sounding artists. He recorded very little during the 1990s, in part because of the illness and subsequent death of his young son. After his son died, Rabbitt became active in raising money for organizations that aid sick children. Rabbitt himself died of lung cancer at the age of 56.
During his career, Rabbitt scored 26 #1 hits on the country charts, and had 8 Top 40 pop hits. He was named the Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music in 1977, and he won an American Music Award for Best Pop Male Vocalist in 1981.
Eddie Rabbitt is interred in Calvary Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Wanderer
Eddie Rabbitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lifted some stones
Saw the skin and bones
Of a city without a soul
I went out walking under an atomic sky
Where the ground wont turn
And the rain it burns
Like the tears when I said goodbye
Yeah I went with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering
I went drifting through the capitals of tin
Where men cant walk
Or freely talk
And sons turn their fathers in
I stopped outside a church house
Where the citizens like to sit
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it
I went out riding
Down that ol' eight lane
I passed by a thousand signs
Looking for my own name
I went with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you
I went out there
In search of experience
To taste and to touch
And to feel as much
As a man can
Before he repents
I went out searching, lookin' for one good man
A spirit who would not bend or break
Who would sit at his fathers right hand
I went out walking with a Bible and a gun
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
I was sure I was the one
Now Jesus, don't you wait up
Jesus, Ill be home soon
Yeah I went out for the papers
Told her Id be back by noon
Yeah I left with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you
Yeah I left with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering
The song 'The Wanderer' by Eddie Rabbitt is a reflection on the emptiness and lack of spirituality in modern society. The opening lines describe a city "without a soul," painting the picture of a place that is materially wealthy but spiritually deprived. Rabbitt goes further to describe the emotional pain that he feels, with his tears burning like the rain, as though he is searching for something that will fulfil him on a deeper level.
Throughout the song, Rabbitt is shown to be searching for something more meaningful. He describes wandering through the "capitals of tin," where people are unable to communicate freely, preferring instead to turn on their own families. The melancholy tone of the song continues, and Rabbitt feels disillusioned when he stops outside a church and realizes that people want the kingdom, but not the spiritual aspect that comes with it.
The final verse shifts to Rabbitt's search for spirituality, as he describes himself as looking for "one good man" who would not break under pressure. He then goes out walking with a Bible and a gun, suggesting that he is seeking a greater understanding of faith and spirituality, possibly to find redemption for his sins. Overall, 'The Wanderer' is a poignant reflection on the emptiness and lack of spirituality in modern life, and the search for meaning that many people embarks on.
Line by Line Meaning
I went out walking through the streets paved with gold
I strolled along the wealthy areas with paved gold looking for something.
Lifted some stones
I looked through and paid attention to small details and changes in the surroundings.
Saw the skin and bones
I saw the inner workings or structure of the city that seemed to lack a soul or spirit.
Of a city without a soul
The city had no personality or spirit unlike its appearance suggested.
I went out walking under an atomic sky
I took a walk when everything around me seemed messed up and chaotic.
Where the ground won't turn
I walked on uneven roads that seemed to lead nowhere.
And the rain it burns
The rain had an intense effect on me like the tears shed during the final farewell.
Like the tears when I said goodbye
The rain hurt me as much as the tears I shed when I took leave.
Yeah, I went with nothing
I didn't have any plans or concrete ideas when I started my journey.
Nothing but the thought of you
The only thing I had in mind was the thought of meeting you again.
I went wandering
I went aimlessly, unsure of what I was looking for.
I went drifting through the capitals of tin
I wandered through lifeless places, where people walked around like robots without any genuine emotion.
Where men can't walk
People were not allowed to show who they really were beneath the surface.
Or freely talk
Freedom of expression appeared to be non-existent in these places.
And sons turn their fathers in
Men couldn't trust their own sons even, as they were afraid of their own skin.
I stopped outside a church house
I took a moment to pause outside of a religious sanctuary.
Where the citizens like to sit
It was a place where people gathered to reflect and pray.
They say they want the kingdom
People claimed that they believed in heavenly justice & fairness.
But they don't want God in it
However, when it came to applying communication with deity in reality, most of them would refuse.
I went out riding
Then, I moved quickly to another area outside of the cities.
Down that ol' eight lane
I followed the wide, long, and empty road that many others had gone down before.
I passed by a thousand signs
I saw plenty of signs that showed where I could go or what I could do.
Looking for my own name
I was searching for something that would give me a sense of identity.
But the thought you'd be there too
Nevertheless, the thought of meeting you was always there in my mind as the ultimate goal.
I went out there
I decided to put myself into an unknown and new experience.
In search of experience
I was looking forward to finding something new that would help me grow.
To taste and to touch
I wanted to gain more knowledge and broaden my perceptions of the world and its phenomena.
And to feel as much
Feeling new emotions and sensations would allow me to open up as a person.
As a man can
I wanted to enjoy the most of my life and experiences as a human.
Before he repents
Before becoming a regretful, broken individual due to life's challenges and hardships.
I went out searching, looking for one good man
I was hoping to encounter an honest, flawless person whom I could follow and learn from.
A spirit who would not bend or break
I hoped to find someone whose courage and strength were incorruptible.
Who would sit at his father's right hand
To meet a person who has won his father's appreciation and honor.
I went out walking with a Bible and a gun
I stepped out with a holy book and a weapon, symbolizing my purpose to seek out both external and internal peace.
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
The message I received from my holy book showed me the distress my heart had previously endured.
I was sure I was the one
I believed that I was strong enough to handle the life's trials.
Now Jesus, don't you wait up
I don't need any more time or divine help to set my path right.
Jesus, I'll be home soon
I'll be soon returning to a peaceful state of mind that I have always been looking for.
Yeah, I went out for the papers
I went out to gain knowledge and increase my awareness at a grander scale.
Told her I'd be back by noon
I let her know that my pursuit would not take long and that I would return home soon enough.
Yeah, I left with nothing
I embarked on this journey with almost no pre-existing knowledge or skills to guide me.
Nothing but the thought of you
The only idea that encouraged me to move forward was the possibility of reconnecting with you in the end.
Looking for you
With my discovery of new knowledge and self-awareness, I hoped to maintain and achieve a stronger relationship with you.
Yeah, I left with nothing
Starting my journey without any expectations gave me the freedom to explore without limitations.
Nothing but the thought of you
The anticipation of meeting you once again gave me something to hold onto during my journey.
I went wandering
Through my search and discoveries, I uncovered a path that eventually led me back to you.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ernie Maresca
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joseph Amari
on Gotta Have You
These are the correct lyrics for Gotta Have You Eddie Rabbitt
Standing at the window
Waiting for the light
Staring down the barrel
Of a rainy night
Mister Walker, help me kill the pain
'Cause red is his color
And John is his name
Help me kill the pain
I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you
I used to listen to your heartbeat every night
It was such a good love, and it felt so right
And I still don't know what made me stray
But I took you for granted, and I gave you away
I just gave you away
I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you, you
I feel like I'm living on borrowed time
I've got a damn good reason for walking the line
I keep praying for the ringing of the telephone
I'm gonna hope these tears will bring you home
Won't you please come home, yeah
'Cause I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do
When I let you get away from me
I was a fool in the first degree
And I gotta have you
Nothing's ever gonna be right
If I don't have you
Another string of these lonely nights
Ain't never gonna do