Early life
Croce was born in South Philadelphia. He graduated from Upper Darby High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania in 1960 where in 1976, he was the first former student to be added to the high school's Wall of Fame. Then, while attending Villanova University (1965 graduate), Croce became interested in becoming a professional musician and met his future wife, Ingrid, at a hootenanny at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, where he was a judge for the contest.
Early career
During the early 1960s, Croce formed a number of college bands and performed at coffee houses and universities, and later with his wife Ingrid as a duo in the mid-1960s to early 1970s. At first their performances included songs by Ian and Sylvia, Gordon Lightfoot, Joan Baez, and Woody Guthrie, but in time they began writing their own music, such as "Age", "Hey Tomorrow", and "Spin, Spin Spin" which later led to Croce's hit songs in the early seventies.
At the same time, Croce got his first long-term gig at a rural bar and steak house in Lima, Pennsylvania, called the Riddle Paddock. There, over the next few years, Croce developed a very engaging rapport with tough audiences and built his musical repertoire to over 3,000 songs. His set list included every genre from blues to country, rock 'n roll to folk, with tender love songs and traditional Bawdy Ballads, always introduced with a story and an impish grin.
In 1968, Jim and Ingrid Croce were encouraged to move to New York City to record their first album with Capitol Records. For the next two years, they drove over 300,000 miles playing small clubs and concerts on the college concert circuit promoting their album Jim & Ingrid Croce.
Then, disillusioned by the music business and New York City, Croce sold all but one guitar to pay the rent, and they returned to the Pennsylvania countryside where Croce got a job driving trucks and doing construction to pay the bills. He called this his "Character Development Period" and spent a lot of his time sitting in the cab of a truck, composing songs about his buddies and the folks he enjoyed meeting at the local bars and truck stops.
Success
In 1970, Croce met classically trained pianist/guitarist, singer-songwriter Maury Muehleisen from Trenton, New Jersey. Initially, Croce backed Muehleisen on guitar at his gigs. But in time, their musical strengths led them each to new heights. Muehleisen's ethereal and inspired guitar leads became the perfect accompaniment to Croce's down-to-earth music.
In 1972, Croce signed to a three record deal with ABC Records releasing You Don't Mess Around with Jim and Life & Times in the same year. The singles "You Don't Mess Around with Jim", "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)" and "Time In A Bottle" (written for his newborn son, A. J. Croce) helped the former album reach #1 on the charts in 1974. Croce's biggest single "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", hit number 1 on the US charts in the summer of 1973, selling two million copies.
Sudden death
Croce, 30, and Muehleisen, 24, died in a small commercial plane crash on September 20, 1973 in Natchitoches, Louisiana one day before releasing his third ABC album, I Got a Name. The posthumous release included three hits, "I Got A Name", "Workin' At The Car Wash Blues" and "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song."
Musical legacy
In 1990, Croce was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In the late 1990s, Ingrid Croce, Croce's widow, and their son, A.J. Croce obtained the publishing rights for Croce's entire catalog of songs. Since then they have released Jim Croce Home Recordings, Facets, Jim Croce: Classic Hits, and the first-ever DVD of Jim's television performances on "Have You Heard – Jim Croce Live", with their most recent release in January 2006 of a CD of the same title. They also co-produced a PBS special, with archive footage from the Croce family collection, along with excerpts of their DVD Have You Heard – Jim Croce Live.
In 1985, Ingrid Croce opened "Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar", located in the historic Gaslamp District in San Diego, California, partially as a tribute to her late husband.
Quotes
His personal motto: "If you dig it, do it. If you really dig it, do it twice."
On his roots: "I never really thought of my neighborhood in South Philly as being a neighborhood, it was more a state of mind. For people who aren't familiar with those kind of places, it's a whole different thing. Like 42nd Street in New York City is a state of mind."
I've Got a Name
Jim Croce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a name, I've got a name
Like a singin' bird and a croakin' toad
I've got a name, I've got a name
And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I'm livin' the dream that he kept hid
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Like the North wind whistlin' down the sky
I've got a song, I've got a song
Like the welcome wail and the babies' cry
I've got a song, I've got a song
And I carry it with me and I sing it loud
If it gets me nowhere, I got there proud
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
And I'm gonna go there free...
Life the fool I am and I'll always be
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
They can change their minds but they can't change me
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
And I know I can share it if you want me to
If you're goin' my way, I'll go with you
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
Jim Croce's "I've Got a Name" is a poignant song about self-discovery and the universal human desire to find one's place in the world. The opening lyrics, "Like the pine trees lining the winding roads, I've got a name," suggests a sense of identity and belonging that transcends location. The comparison of the singer to a singing bird and a croaking toad infers the idea that everyone has a voice and something to contribute to the world, whether it is a beautiful melody or a less pleasant noise.
The line "I carry it with me like my daddy did, but I'm livin' the dream that he kept hid" is particularly poignant. The singer is acknowledging that they are building their own path in life, but they are still carrying their father's influence with them. The chorus "Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway, Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by" serves as a reminder that life is always moving forward and we must keep up and pursue our dreams if we want to achieve them.
The mention of the North wind whistling down the sky and having a song is another instance of the songwriter expressing the idea of freedom and the importance of expression. The singer celebrates their own voice and the ability to share their dream with others. The final lyrics, "And I know I can share it if you want me to, If you're goin' my way, I'll go with you," convey the importance of human connection and the possibility of joining forces to achieve shared goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the pine trees lining the winding roads
I am steady and strong, much like the trees that guide the path on this winding journey of life.
I've got a name, I've got a name
I am more than just a person without identity. My name gives me purpose and direction.
Like a singin' bird and a croakin' toad
My voice is unique and distinct, much like the songs of birds or the croaks of toads.
I've got a name, I've got a name
My name is a symbol of my individuality and the essence of who I am as a person.
And I carry it with me like my daddy did
My name is a part of my heritage passed down from my father, and I carry it with me wherever I go.
But I'm livin' the dream that he kept hid
Despite my father's unfulfilled dreams, I choose to pursue my own dreams and aspirations.
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
Life is a journey that I am constantly moving forward on, never staying in one place for too long.
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
I don't want to waste my life standing still. I want to keep moving forward and experiencing everything that life has to offer.
Like the North wind whistlin' down the sky
I have a voice that can echo across the world, much like the howling winds that stretch across the sky.
I've got a song, I've got a song
My voice and my music are a part of who I am and what I have to offer the world.
Like the welcome wail and the babies' cry
My voice can evoke strong emotions, much like the cries of a newborn baby or the welcome sound of a familiar voice.
I've got a song, I've got a song
My song is my message to the world, a reflection of my experiences and my hopes for the future.
And I carry it with me and I sing it loud
I am proud of my voice and my music, and I will always share it with the world in the loudest and most passionate way possible.
If it gets me nowhere, I got there proud
Even if my music doesn't lead me to fame and fortune, I will always be proud of what I have created and shared with the world.
And I'm gonna go there free...
I will never be held back by fear or doubt. I will always pursue my dreams with freedom and passion.
Life the fool I am and I'll always be
I may not have all the answers or all the successes in life, but I will always be true to myself and my dreams.
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
My dreams are what motivate me to keep moving forward and pursuing my passions no matter what obstacles may come my way.
They can change their minds but they can't change me
No matter what other people may say or do, I will always remain true to my dreams and my sense of self.
I've got a dream, I've got a dream
My dreams are my compass, my guiding light that leads me into a future full of hope and possibility.
And I know I can share it if you want me to
I am always willing to share my dreams and my passions with others who want to hear them and take part in my journey.
If you're goin' my way, I'll go with you
I am always open to new experiences and new relationships, and I am willing to join with others who share my vision and my passion for life.
Movin' me down the highway, rollin' me down the highway
I will always keep moving forward, never stopping or slowing down in my quest to pursue my dreams and to experience everything that life has to offer.
Movin' ahead so life won't pass me by
I refuse to let life pass me by without experiencing all the joy, all the wonder, and all the meaning that it has to offer.
Contributed by Stella I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Cuenca
on Operator
I like this song!