James Gang was an American rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1966. Th… Read Full Bio ↴James Gang was an American rock band formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1966. Though the band was not a huge commercial success, the fame garnered by guitarist Joe Walsh (who replaced the original guitarist in 1968) has since made the group more notable. After the group split in early 1977, there have been reunion concerts at various times in 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2005–2006.

The founding members of the band were drummer Jim Fox, bassist Tom Kriss, guitarist Ronnie Silverman, keyboardist Phil Giallombardo, and guitarist Glen Schwartz. In 1968 Joe Walsh replaced Schwartz when Schwartz left the band to join Pacific Gas & Electric. The band then released its debut album Yer' Album. In July of 1970, the band released its second album James Gang Rides Again which included the hit single "Funk #49." By this time, Dale Peters had replaced Kriss on bass. The band opened for The Who during a tour of Britain. After two more albums, Thirds, with the single "Walk Away,", and the live album James Gang Live in Concert, Walsh left the band to perform solo and later join the Eagles.

Vocalist Roy Kenner and guitarist Domenic Troiano then joined the band. Troiano left to join Guess Who and was replaced by Tommy Bolin. Bolin left in 1974 to replace Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple. After two albums, "Bang" and "Miami", Bolin was replaced by vocalist Bubba Keith and guitarist Richard Shack, who made "Newborn" (which featured a cover of the Elvis Presley song "Heartbreak Hotel"). The band broke up following a final recording, "Jesse Come Home" (which referred to the band's namesake, the outlaw Jesse James), which was made with the collaboration of early member Phil Giallombardo. Fox was the only remaining member of the original quintet when they disbanded early in 1977.

The "classic" lineup of the band (Walsh, Peters, Fox) reunited to perform at an election rally for Bill Clinton in 1996, appearances on The Drew Carey Show in the 1998-99 season, and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February 2001, drawing fans from all over the globe.

As of May 2004, Glenn Schwartz was playing guitar and singing Thursday nights at "Major Hooples" in the Flats, Cleveland.

In summer 2006 the Walsh/Peters/Fox lineup of the group toured the United States. In August 2006, the trio appeared performing live on The Howard Stern radio show on Sirius satellite radio.

Dreamin' in the Country
James Gang Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sittin' here, thinkin' 'bout the fix I'm in
Ain't no time to write a line, is it ever gonna end?
Spent my whole mornin' at the corner store
Just a-smokin' and a-jokin' with the kid next door
Gettin' aggravated 'cause my mind's gone dead
Think I'll have a little drink and then just jump right into bed

Ridin' down the street in a big ol' Cadillac

Seems to me that yesterday is at least a mile back
Havin' such a good time, havin' so much fun
Just a-dancin' and a-drinkin', probably never get done
Then all at once I hear a ringin' in my ears
Guess it must've been a dream 'cause I'm still right here

Come one day, I'll be leavin' this old country town
Come one day, I'll be headin' for the city
Havin' fun and drinkin' some, everything's gonna work out fine
One day I'll come back again, if I get the time

Eatin' maple candy underneath the maple tree
Just a-sittin' in the shade thinkin' what I wanna be
Maybe some day I'll be a movie star
Kissin' pretty girls and drivin' fancy cars
Then everybody's gonna be so proud of me
Say they knew it all along, just you wait and see

Sittin' here, thinkin' 'bout the fix I'm in
Ain't no time to write a line, is it ever gonna end?
Spent my whole mornin' at the corner store
Just a-smokin' and a-jokin' with the kid next door

Gettin' aggravated 'cause my mind's gone dead
Think I'll have a little drink and then just jump right into bed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of James Gang's "Dreamin' in the Country" paint a picture of a person who is stuck in a small town and dreaming of a better life in the city. The song begins with the singer feeling stuck and frustrated, spending his time at the corner store smoking and joking with the kid next door. He is agitated because he can't think straight, and decides to have a drink and go to bed.

As the song progresses, the singer reminisces about having fun and drinking in a big Cadillac, but is brought back to reality by the ringing in his ears. He then goes back to dreaming about leaving the small town and heading to the city, where he hopes to have fun and drink some more. He also dreams of becoming a movie star, a glamorous image that seems like an escape from the dullness of his current life.

Overall, "Dreamin' in the Country" captures the feeling of being restless and wanting more out of life. It speaks to the universal desire for adventure and excitement, as well as the frustration of feeling trapped and stagnant.

Line by Line Meaning

Sittin' here, thinkin' 'bout the fix I'm in
Reflecting on my current situation and the troubles I'm facing

Ain't no time to write a line, is it ever gonna end?
Feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities and unable to find the time to relax

Spent my whole mornin' at the corner store
Wasting time loitering and chatting with acquaintances

Just a-smokin' and a-jokin' with the kid next door
Engaging in aimless conversation with a nearby neighbor

Gettin' aggravated 'cause my mind's gone dead
Feeling frustrated and mentally drained

Think I'll have a little drink and then just jump right into bed
Planning to consume alcohol to numb my anxieties and escape reality

Ridin' down the street in a big ol' Cadillac
Cruising down the road in a luxurious car

Seems to me that yesterday is at least a mile back
Reflecting on how far in the past recent memories feel

Havin' such a good time, havin' so much fun
Enjoying life and feeling carefree

Just a-dancin' and a-drinkin', probably never get done
Dancing and consuming alcohol, with no intention of stopping anytime soon

Then all at once I hear a ringin' in my ears
Suddenly hearing a loud, jarring sound

Guess it must've been a dream 'cause I'm still right here
Considering the possibility of an alternate reality, but ultimately acknowledging the present moment

Come one day, I'll be leavin' this old country town
Dreaming of a future in which I escape my current rural surroundings

Come one day, I'll be headin' for the city
Anticipating the excitement and allure of urban life

Havin' fun and drinkin' some, everything's gonna work out fine
Believing that indulging in jovial activities will ultimately lead to a positive outcome

One day I'll come back again, if I get the time
Planning to return to my hometown after some time spent away, if it proves feasible

Eatin' maple candy underneath the maple tree
Enjoying a sweet treat whilst relaxing under a mighty maple tree

Just a-sittin' in the shade thinkin' what I wanna be
Contemplating my aspirations and long-term goals

Maybe some day I'll be a movie star
Dreaming of attaining fame and success

Kissin' pretty girls and drivin' fancy cars
Visualizing an extravagant lifestyle filled with romance and luxury

Then everybody's gonna be so proud of me
Hoping to earn admiration and respect from others as a result of my achievements

Say they knew it all along, just you wait and see
Expecting others to acknowledge and appreciate my talents and potential

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DALE PETERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS