Tobacco Road
McDuff Jack Lyrics
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Mama died and my daddy got drunk
Left me here to die or grow
In the middle of Tobacco Road
I grew up in a dusty shack
And all I had was a'hangin' on my back
Only you know how I loathe
But it's home
The only life I've ever known
Only you know how I loathe
Tobacco Road
I'm gonna leave and get a job
With the help and the grace from above
Save some money, get rich I know
Bring it back to Tobacco Road
Bring dynamite and a crane
Blow it up, start all over again
Build a town, be proud to show
Give the name Tobacco Road
Cause it's home
The only life I've ever known
I despise you ''cause your filthy
But I love ya, 'cause it's home
These lyrics from McDuff Jack's song "Tobacco Road" tell a story about a man who was dealt a tough hand in life. He was born into poverty on Tobacco Road to a mother who died and a father who turned to alcoholism. Despite his difficult upbringing in a dusty shack, the man calls Tobacco Road home- the only life he's ever known. He has a love-hate relationship with the place where he was raised, and although he despises it for the filth and challenges he faced, he also loves it because it's where he grew up and where he calls home.
The man in the song has aspirations beyond Tobacco Road. He plans to leave, get a job, and save his money with the help of grace from above. He dreams of using that money to blow up Tobacco Road and build a brand new town in its place. This shows that while the man may love the place where he grew up, he also wants to improve it and make it a better place to live.
The lyrics of "Tobacco Road" are a reflection of the struggles and challenges faced by many people growing up in poverty, and the desire to overcome those challenges and create a better life. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of having a place to call home, even if that place has its flaws.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a bunk
I was born in a small house, likely in poverty.
Mama died and my daddy got drunk
My mother passed away and my father turned to drinking.
Left me here to die or grow
My father left me alone to either die or fend for myself and grow up.
In the middle of Tobacco Road
This all took place in Tobacco Road, a rough part of town.
I grew up in a dusty shack
I spent most of my childhood in a small, dusty, and likely run-down house.
And all I had was a'hangin' on my back
The only possessions I had were the clothes on my back.
Only you know how I loathe
Only other people who have lived in this area know how much I hate it here.
This place called Tobacco Road
I can't stand living in this neighborhood.
But it's home
Despite my dislike for this area, it's where I grew up and is home to me.
The only life I've ever known
This area is all I've ever experienced in life.
I'm gonna leave and get a job
I want to leave and find a job somewhere else.
With the help and the grace from above
I hope that some higher power will help me find a job and start a better life.
Save some money, get rich I know
I want to save up money and become wealthy.
Bring it back to Tobacco Road
I plan to come back to Tobacco Road with my newfound wealth.
Bring dynamite and a crane
I want to blow up the area and rebuild it completely.
Blow it up, start all over again
I want to completely redo the area and start fresh.
Build a town, be proud to show
I want to build a new town that I can be proud to call home.
Give the name Tobacco Road
Despite my dislike for the name, I want to keep the name of the area I grew up in.
I despise you ''cause your filthy
I hate this area because it's rundown and dirty.
But I love ya, 'cause it's home
Despite my dislike for the area, I still have a fondness for it since it's where I grew up and is home to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDGAR WINTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind