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."
Ol' Man River
Jim Croce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He must know something, but he don't say nothing
That ol' man river, he just keep rollin' along
He don't plant 'taters
He don't plant cotton
Cause them that plants them is soon forgotten
And ol' man river, he just keeps rollin' along
'Cause you and me, we sweat and strain
Body all achin' and wracked with pain
Tote that barge, lift that bale
Get a little drunk and you land in jail
But I get weary and sick of tryin'
'Cause I'm tired of livin'
That ol' man river, he just keeps rollin' along
You and me, we sweat and strain
Body all achin' and wracked with pain
Tote that barge, lift that bale
Get a little drunk and you land in jail
But I get weary and sick of tryin'
'Cause I'm tired of livin'
But I'm scared of dyin'
That ol' man river, he just keeps rollin' along
In Jim Croce's song Ol' Man River, the lyrics describe the endless flow of the river and the struggles of the people who work alongside it. The singer remarks that the river seems to know something important but never speaks, merely continuing to roll along. The lyrics suggest that the river is a symbol of nature's unyielding and impersonal force, a stark contrast to the human struggle for survival. The singer notes that the people who work the land, planting crops and performing backbreaking labor, are soon forgotten, but the river remains a constant presence.
The lyrics also describe the hardships of the laborers, who work tirelessly to make a living but are constantly fighting against their own bodies, which ache and struggle with pain. The singer talks about the toll that hard work takes, both physically and mentally, and laments the difficulty of life. He wonders aloud why he should continue to try when it seems like the river will just keep rolling along regardless of what happens to him.
Overall, the lyrics of Ol' Man River paint a bleak portrait of humanity's struggles and the indifferent forces of nature that surround us. The song's message is a somber one, suggesting that life is a constant struggle against an uncaring world.
Line by Line Meaning
Ol' man river, that ol' man river
The constant flow of the river symbolizes life and its hardships while the words 'ol' man' suggest that it has been around since before humans and will continue long after us.
He must know something, but he don't say nothing
The river has been around for so long that it has seen everything humanity has to offer multiple times, and yet it remains silent, perhaps suggesting that the struggles of the human condition will always be futile.
That ol' man river, he just keeps rollin' along
Despite whatever issues humanity has faced, the river will continue its journey, a constant reminder that it's possible to overcome the hardships and keep moving forward.
He don't plant 'taters
The river needs no human intervention, and it does not require food or work. It moves on, regardless of our contribution.
He don't plant cotton
The river does not need the crops that humans cultivate to survive, indicating that nature is self-sufficient.
Cause them that plants them is soon forgotten
Human achievements and accomplishments, represented by the crops and fields, are eventually lost to the sands of time, but the river remains to remind us of our impermanence.
And ol' man river, he just keeps rollin' along
Again, the meaning of the river's constant journey is that humans can move on and push forward despite hardships and struggles.
'Cause you and me, we sweat and strain
The 'you and me' indicates that the hard work and struggle of life are universal, and everyone goes through them.
Body all achin' and wracked with pain
The consequences of hard work are exhaustion and physical pain, further emphasizing the difficulties of the human condition.
Tote that barge, lift that bale
The physical labor of taking care of oneself and supporting loved ones is challenging and unending.
Get a little drunk and you land in jail
Escaping hardships through substance abuse will only lead to more problems, as indicated by the reference to jail time.
But I get weary and sick of tryin'
Despite the constant struggle, human perseverance can eventually run out.
'Cause I'm tired of livin'
The hardships of life can make it feel like living is more trouble than it's worth.
But I'm scared of dyin'
Despite the struggle, the fear of the unknown and what comes after prevents many people from giving up or giving in too easily.
That ol' man river, he just keeps rollin' along
As it has always done, the river continues its journey, unchanged and implacable, serving as a reminder that even the toughest times will pass.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerome Kern, Oscar Ii Hammerstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TobinHolz
Everything about this kid is sad... I feel better about my own sad self the more I listen <3 Makes me feel good to be alive still!!!
@teresatrimm2454
This man's voice is truly missed.
@butimar68
Each time I listen to this song I feel like crying. Amazing lyrics, amazing music, and Jim... he's perfect description to the word "amazing" anyway. Love you so dearly Jim.... my sweet daddy.
@jasonc1270
Just beautiful. Not one of Jim Croce's big hits...but ....goddamn, gotta love it, huh? Only someone with soul finds this song, imo
@whyisthecatoutofthebox4858
I'm 11 and I love this guy's music I don't care it's not a top hit it's great 😊😇
@andrewgonzalez8679
Kate Sagan it’s a cover
@butimar68
@@andrewgonzalez8679 did I say anything about song being his own? showboat, yeah.
@andrewgonzalez8679
@@butimar68 wtf bitch its been two years💀 leave me alone
@robinleebraun7739
I learned this song from this version. James Taylor has a great cover too. Oscar Hammerstein was a master of lyrics.
@lauramalek3128
Tears. Just tears. 😢 So evocative. This was always one of my favorites from the Faces I've Been double album.