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.
Island
Gregg Allman Lyrics
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Other times more than a million years
Oh little girl, sweeter than an angel
When I think of her I laugh and drown in my own tears
You drew your first breath so close to me
Now we've been apart for years and years
All I really came to say is, I still love you my sweet island
Maybe time will someday build a bridge for us
Somewhere further down the line
As the time to call arise, I know
But for you this song will show you who's on my mind
She can wash the land away, tides turning everyday
All I really came to say is, I still love you my sweet island
Whatever they may say about my silence
Remember I'm an island too
We're connected by more than an ocean
My blood runs in you
She can wash the land away, tides turning everyday
All I really came to say is, come see me
I still love you my sweet island
I still love you my sweet island
The song Island by Gregg Allman is an emotional ballad that reflects the pain and longing of a man who has been separated from someone he deeply cares about for a long time. The artist starts by describing the anguish he feels when he thinks of the little girl who was once so close to him but is now far away. He acknowledges the passage of time, which seems to have done nothing to lessen his feelings for her. The lyrics suggest that the girl is like an island, with the power to wash everything away and turn the tides every day. The artist's love for her remains strong despite the time and distance that keep them apart.
The song's main theme is the deep connection that exists between two people, even when they are separated by time or space. The artist imagines a future where a bridge could be built between them, allowing them to reconnect someday. Still, he acknowledges that, for now, he must content himself with a song that expresses his love and devotion for her.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes it seems like only yesterday
It feels like it was just yesterday when we were together
Other times more than a million years
Other times it feels like it's been an eternity since we were together
Oh little girl, sweeter than an angel
Referring to his loved one, someone who he deeply cares for
When I think of her I laugh and drown in my own tears
Memories of her make him experience both joy and sadness
You drew your first breath so close to me
They were once inseparable, and the loved one was born close to him
Now we've been apart for years and years
They have been separated from each other for a long period of time
She can wash the land away, tides turning everyday
Despite the changes and challenges that life presents, his love for her persists
All I really came to say is, I still love you my sweet island
The song is a message to his loved one, expressing his love for her
Maybe time will someday build a bridge for us
Possibly in the future, a way will be made for them to be together again
Somewhere further down the line
In the future, sometime later
As the time to call arise, I know
Despite their separation, he still feels connected to them
But for you this song will show you who's on my mind
The purpose of the song is to show his loved one that they are on his mind
Whatever they may say about my silence
Regardless of what others may say about his lack of communication, he still cares for his loved one
Remember I'm an island too
He acknowledges that he is also separate from others, like an island
We're connected by more than an ocean
Their connection goes beyond just physical distance
My blood runs in you
They are connected through their familial relationship
All I really came to say is, come see me
He wants his loved one to come see him, to be in each other's presence again
I still love you my sweet island
His love for his island remains strong
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALLMAN, COLTON, NEEL, TOLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind