He is best known for performing in The Allman Brothers Band. He was born and spent much of his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee, before relocating to Daytona Beach, Florida. He and his brother, Duane Allman, developed an interest in music in their teens, and began performing in the Allman Joys in the mid-1960s. In 1967, they relocated to Los Angeles and were renamed the Hour Glass, releasing two albums for Liberty Records. In 1969, he and Duane regrouped to form the Allman Brothers Band, which settled in Macon, Georgia.
The Allman Brothers Band began to reach mainstream success by the early 1970s, with their live album At Fillmore East representing a commercial and artistic breakthrough. Shortly thereafter, Duane was killed in a motorcycle crash in 1971. The following year, the band's bassist, Berry Oakley was also killed in a motorcycle accident very close to the location of Duane's wreck. Their 1973 album Brothers and Sisters became their biggest hit, and Allman pursued a solo career afterward, releasing his debut album, Laid Back the same year. Internal turmoil took over the group, leading to a 1975 breakup. Allman was married to pop star Cher for the rest of the decade, while he continued his solo career with the Gregg Allman Band. After a brief Allman Brothers reunion and a decade of little activity, he reached an unexpected peak with the hit single "I'm No Angel" in 1987. After two more solo albums, the Allman Brothers reformed for a third and final time in 1989, and continued performing until 2014. He released his most recent solo album, Low Country Blues, in 2011, and his next, Southern Blood, is set to be released in 2017.
For his work in music, Allman was referred to as a Southern rock pioneer and received numerous awards, including several Grammys; he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. His distinctive voice placed him in 70th place in the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Allman released an autobiography, My Cross to Bear, in 2012.
Allman died in Savannah, Georgia, on May 27, 2017.
Demons
Gregg Allman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Surrounded by four walls that can't be seen
He knows this dude that lives uptown and he delivers
He often calls him for that perfect dream
But oh, he's got his demons
And they stay right by his side
Through his everyday hell, yeah
He buys them everything just to stay around
He's got it made cause his daddy's got a bundle
He seldom reaches out but there's no one to be found
Except oh, he's still got them demons
And they stay right by his side
In his man-made hell
Oh, he's got his demons
And they by his side
Another day in the life of the lonely
All alone in a sold out crowd
He can always buy some cheap thrills with his money
His world of silence has become much too loud
But ho, don't forget them demons
They're still right by his side
Causing all kinds of hell, yeah
The lyrics of "Demons" by Gregg Allman describe a man's daily struggle with his inner demons. The first verse talks about a man who is a stranger to the outside world, living within four walls that are invisible to others. He often calls upon a person uptown to fulfill his dreams. However, despite having a friend, this man is weighed down by his demons, which stay with him throughout his daily struggles. The second verse describes a man who has everything he needs - pretty women, wine, and the means to buy them all. He is, however, still deeply troubled by his demons, a constant companion that refuses to leave him alone, even in his man-made version of hell.
Allman's lyrics suggest that the man is trapped in his own mind, trying to escape his demons but never quite succeeding. His loneliness is palpable - he is alone even in a crowded room, with no one to turn to except his demons. In that sense, "Demons" serves as a reminder of how difficult struggling with one's inner demons can be. The song implies that even happiness and success can be overshadowed by internal torment that is hard to escape.
Line by Line Meaning
Another day in the life of a stranger
Every day is the same for this person, they feel disconnected from the world around them
Surrounded by four walls that can't be seen
They feel trapped and isolated even though there is nothing physically stopping them from leaving or connecting with people
He knows this dude that lives uptown and he delivers
They have a drug dealer they go to for their fix
He often calls him for that perfect dream
They are looking for an escape from reality through drugs
But oh, he's got his demons
Despite their attempts to escape, they are haunted by their inner demons
And they stay right by his side
Their demons are a constant presence, always with them
Through his everyday hell, yeah
Their life feels like a living hell because of their struggles and inner turmoil
He loves his wine and his pretty women
They turn to alcohol and relationships with women to try and fill the emptiness inside them
He buys them everything just to stay around
They use material possessions to try and keep people in their life, to avoid being alone
He's got it made cause his daddy's got a bundle
They have money and privilege, but it doesn't bring them happiness
He seldom reaches out but there's no one to be found
They struggle to connect with people even though they try, and often feel alone despite being surrounded by people
Except oh, he's still got them demons
Their inner demons are always with him, despite their attempts to find happiness in external sources
In his man-made hell
Their life, which should be enjoyable, has become a personal hell because of their demons and the way they try to cope with them
Another day in the life of the lonely
They continue to feel lonely despite their attempts to find companionship
All alone in a sold out crowd
They feel isolated even when surrounded by people
He can always buy some cheap thrills with his money
They turn to drugs and other unhealthy habits as a coping mechanism for their inner turmoil
His world of silence has become much too loud
The noise inside their head has become unbearable, even though they appear calm on the outside
But ho, don't forget them demons
Their inner demons cannot be ignored, despite their attempts to escape them
They're still right by his side
Their demons are always with them, no matter what they do
Causing all kinds of hell, yeah
Their inner demons continue to create problems in their life, making it difficult to find peace and happiness
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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