GARY CLARK JR.began playing guitar in 1996 at the ripe young age of 12. Born and raised in Austin, TX, Gary continued to play small gigs throughout his early teens, until he popped on the radar of legendary promoter Clifford Antone, owner of the Austin blues club Antone's. Through Clifford's connections, Gary soon began sitting in and learning from an array of musical icons, including the incomparable Jimmie Vaughan.
Jimmie and others in the Austin music community mentored Gary along his path, facilitating his steady rise, and continued ascent in the Texas music scene. Gary's musical peers, as well as the Austin music community at-large, have showered him with critical acclaim for his galvanized live performances, and fervid expression. At one unexpected point of political recognition, mayor of Austin Kirk Watson proclaimed May 3, 2001 Gary Clark Jr Day. Gary was 18 years old at the time.
Gary went on to win the Austin Music Award for Best Blues and Electric Guitarist on three separate occasions, in addition to receiving awards from various Blues magazines and associations around the country. After playing the nationally televised show Austin City Limits and touring with the likes of artists such as Jimmie Vaughan, Pinetop Perkins, and Doyle Bramhall II, he continued his recording pursuits by releasing three self-produced albums, and creating the original score for the major motion picture Full Count. His creative versatility allowed him to transcend his own musical talents, while also starring as a principal character in John Sayle’s film Honeydripper, alongside actors Danny Glover and Stacy Keach.
Originally known as a blues musician and even compared to such greats as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins and Albert King, Gary is stepping out...way out. His upcoming CD will really test his blues fans. Will they appreciate Gary's guitar chops and his soulful voice as he explores other genres? Gary hopes so and he hopes they will continue with him on his journey. And with this new sound, we're thinking Gary will pick up some new fans along the way.
HIs first major label LP "Blak and Blu" was released on October 22, 2012
This Land
Gary Clark Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now that I got the money
Fifty acres and a model A
Right in the middle of Trump country
I told you, "there goes a neighborhood"
Now mister Williams ain't so funny
I see you looking out your window
Can't wait to call the police on me
When I know you think I'm up to something
I'm just eating, now we're still hungry
And this is mine now, legit
I ain't leaving here you can't take it from me
I remember when you used to tell me
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
We don't want, we don't want your kind
We think you's a dog born
Fuck you, I'm America's son
This is where I come from
This land is mine
This land is mine
This land is mine
This land is mine
Up 'til the sun comes up
No I can't stop grinding
And I can't let 'em break me
No I can't let 'em find me
You can meet my friend the governor
Only if you wanna try me
Or you can meet my other friend the judge
Just in case you think I'm lying
When I know you think I'm up to something
I'm just eating, now we're still hungry
And this is mine now, legit
I ain't leaving here you can't take it from me
I remember when you used to tell me
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
We don't want, we don't want your kind
We think you's a dog born
Fuck you, I'm America's son
This is where I come from
This land is mine
This land is mine
This land is mine
(This land is mine)
This land is mine (this land is)
This land is mine (this land is)
This land is mine (this land is)
This land is mine (this land is)
Gary Clark Jr.'s song "This Land" is a powerful piece that speaks against racial discrimination and prejudice towards African Americans in the United States. The opening lines of the song, "Paranoid and pissed off, now that I got the money, fifty acres and a Model A, right in the middle of Trump country," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is a black man who has come into some wealth and has purchased land in an area where he is not welcomed simply because of the color of his skin.
The line, "I told you, 'there goes a neighborhood,' now Mister Williams ain't so funny," suggests that the singer's presence is disrupting the social order and making some people uncomfortable. This is further evidenced in the line, "I see you looking out your window, Can't wait to call the police on me," which highlights the fact that being black in certain areas in the US is still considered a crime.
Line by Line Meaning
Paranoid and pissed off
Feeling anxious and angry
Now that I got the money
After becoming wealthy
Fifty acres and a model A
Owning a large land and an old car
Right in the middle of Trump country
In an area that supports Donald Trump
I told you, "there goes a neighborhood"
Said when the area changed
Now mister Williams ain't so funny
No longer amusing
I see you looking out your window
Observing one's actions
Can't wait to call the police on me
Excited to report to the authorities
When I know you think I'm up to something
Aware that suspicious thoughts exist
I'm just eating, now we're still hungry
Satisfied temporarily, but long-term issues still exist
And this is mine now, legit
Ownership is legal
I ain't leaving here you can't take it from me
Won't vacate my property
I remember when you used to tell me
Recalling past events
Nigga run, nigga run
Derogatory term towards African Americans, advised to escape
Go back where you come from
Return to the place of origin
We don't want, we don't want your kind
Not accepting certain groups of people
We think you's a dog born
Perceived to be inferior
Fuck you, I'm America's son
Proud to be American
This is where I come from
This is my heritage
Up 'til the sun comes up
Working hard continuously
No I can't stop grinding
Can't cease working hard
And I can't let 'em break me
Can't allow others to crush spirit
No I can't let 'em find me
Can't let enemies have power over me
You can meet my friend the governor
Introducing to powerful contacts
Only if you wanna try me
Only if they provoke me
Or you can meet my other friend the judge
Another influential person I know
Just in case you think I'm lying
Preparation for being accused of dishonesty
This land is mine
Ownership and pride over land
This land is mine
Ownership and pride over land
This land is mine
Ownership and pride over land
This land is mine
Ownership and pride over land
This land is mine (this land is)
Ownership and pride over land
This land is mine (this land is)
Ownership and pride over land
This land is mine (this land is)
Ownership and pride over land
This land is mine (this land is)
Ownership and pride over land
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gary Lee Jr. Clark, Woody Guthrie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aaron Nichols
Proud Mississippian!!! As a white southerner I’ve never flown the rebel flag or wore it on my clothes, but I was once ardent supported keeping our old state flag. I am a traditionalist by nature, afraid of change and that was my only argument for keeping the old flag. I have many black friends and live in MS, the state with the highest population of blacks in the country. I began to study my state’s history and The more I fear he’s the more I began to accept the fact that I was completely ignorant of the racial history. I asked my black friends what they thought and they all expressed to me the feeling of discomfort they got when seeing the Confederate emblem on our flag. Mississippi’s demographics have changed drastically since the Great Migration but prior to 1930 Blacks made up as much as 58% of the population.
During Reconstruction George Washington Gayles served as the only Black man in the Senate from 1882 to 1886. Nine Black men served in the House in 1888, six in 1890, and two in 1892 and 1894. There would not be another African American elected to the Mississippi state legislature until Robert G. Clark Jr won his historic election in 1968. Even with a black majority in the state MS has never had a Black governor nor have Blacks ever comprised a majority in the state legislature.
Fifteen years after Reconstruction ended in Mississippi held a convention to write a new state constitution, only specially elected delegates were invited to the capitol in Jackson. All but one of the delegates were white - Isaiah Montgomery was the lone black representative.
According to census data, Mississippi’s total population was 1,289,600, blacks 742,559 (56.2%) whites 544,851 (43.7%) yet whites made up 99% of the delegates at the 1890 convention.
One the hottest debates at the convention were literacy tests and poll taxes as requirements for voting. The tests, usually unfair, kept almost all Black voters from the polls. The poll tax also kept large numbers of Black Mississippians, as well as White ones, from voting. Jim Crow laws in Ms were codified by law by a white minority in 1890 and perpetuated until the Civil Rights movement in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Former MS Gov. James Kimble Vardaman said of his assessment of the 1890 Constitution’s purpose: “There is no use to equivocate or lie about the matter. Mississippi’s constitutional convention was held for no other purpose than to eliminate the n*gger from politics; not the ignorant—but the n*gger,” said Vardaman, who was known as “The Great White Chief” for his steadfast defense of white supremacy.
The old flag was a symbol of white supremacy in 1890 and it was used as a symbol of white supremacy by segregationists like James Eastman and George Wallace in the 60’s to resist the racial integration of schools.
William Jones
Still in my top ten list....it's just as powerful now as it was the first time I heard it.
Jason Abernethy
same here, very powerful song
Aaron Nichols
Proud Mississippian!!! As a white southerner I’ve never flown the rebel flag or wore it on my clothes, but I was once ardent supported keeping our old state flag. I am a traditionalist by nature, afraid of change and that was my only argument for keeping the old flag. I have many black friends and live in MS, the state with the highest population of blacks in the country. I began to study my state’s history and The more I fear he’s the more I began to accept the fact that I was completely ignorant of the racial history. I asked my black friends what they thought and they all expressed to me the feeling of discomfort they got when seeing the Confederate emblem on our flag. Mississippi’s demographics have changed drastically since the Great Migration but prior to 1930 Blacks made up as much as 58% of the population.
During Reconstruction George Washington Gayles served as the only Black man in the Senate from 1882 to 1886. Nine Black men served in the House in 1888, six in 1890, and two in 1892 and 1894. There would not be another African American elected to the Mississippi state legislature until Robert G. Clark Jr won his historic election in 1968. Even with a black majority in the state MS has never had a Black governor nor have Blacks ever comprised a majority in the state legislature.
Fifteen years after Reconstruction ended in Mississippi held a convention to write a new state constitution, only specially elected delegates were invited to the capitol in Jackson. All but one of the delegates were white - Isaiah Montgomery was the lone black representative.
According to census data, Mississippi’s total population was 1,289,600, blacks 742,559 (56.2%) whites 544,851 (43.7%) yet whites made up 99% of the delegates at the 1890 convention.
One the hottest debates at the convention were literacy tests and poll taxes as requirements for voting. The tests, usually unfair, kept almost all Black voters from the polls. The poll tax also kept large numbers of Black Mississippians, as well as White ones, from voting. Jim Crow laws in Ms were codified by law by a white minority in 1890 and perpetuated until the Civil Rights movement in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Former MS Gov. James Kimble Vardaman said of his assessment of the 1890 Constitution’s purpose: “There is no use to equivocate or lie about the matter. Mississippi’s constitutional convention was held for no other purpose than to eliminate the n*gger from politics; not the ignorant—but the n*gger,” said Vardaman, who was known as “The Great White Chief” for his steadfast defense of white supremacy.
The old flag was a symbol of white supremacy in 1890 and it was used as a symbol of white supremacy by segregationists like James Eastman and George Wallace in the 60’s to resist the racial integration of schools.
DeeZee!
Thank you Gary for not pulling any punches. I salute you for using your platform to keep this message at the forefront.
Ezbeatz101
Man I never thought this song would actually get the recognition it deserves
Andrew Beshears
It doesnt deserve any ....its not rock
Andrew Beshears
4evermrez wtf is that lol
Elizabeth McLeod
Andrew Beshears It’s fusion rock blues.
Max Thaddeus
It didn’t get the recognition because of its musical qualities, it got the recognition because of virtue signaling. Everything in the mainstream media is pushing an agenda and they are not on your side.
C U
It still hasn't