After the guys worked on their sound for a while, inspired by gritty rock n roll, they finally recorded and released their first album, 1978's 'Molly Hatchet'. Then, in 1979, 'Flirtin' with Disaster' came out. The group's work earned them both critical praise and commerical success, the album hitting the #19 slot on the Billboard top 200 chart. Allmusic's Rob Theakston has spoken for many in writing that the "tour de force" of a record shows that " the band means business".
Yet the group's history would prove to be a rocky one. In 1980, Brown left the group to form The Danny Joe Brown Band (with future Molly Hatchet guitarist Bobby Ingram). He was replaced by vocalist Jimmy Farrar. After the release of Beatin' the Odds in 1980 and Take No Prisoners in 1981, Farrar left as well.
Brown rejoined the band in 1982 and Banner Thomas left and was replaced by Riff West. In 1983, a new album was released titled No Guts... No Glory. Steve Holland left and was replaced by keyboardist John Galvin.
In 1984 came the release of a new album The Deed Is Done. In 1985 Dave Hlubek left and he was replaced by Bobby Ingram. Then in 1985, the double live album Double Trouble Live was released.
The band continued to tour regularly, and then in 1989 the album Lightning Strikes Twice was released.
1990s
In 1991, the greatest hits collection Greatest Hits was released. Molly Hatchet was in ways similar to fellow Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd in that it paired strong guitar work with a pounding boogie beat. When Brown left the band after Flirtin' with Disaster and was replaced by Farrar, the band's sound turned more to jamming and free form. When Brown returned in time for No Guts...No Glory, the original sound returned as well.
In 1996 due to a stroke and illness Brown had to leave the band, bringing in lead singer Phil McCormack to finish the album Devils Canyon in 1996.
At this point, the band consisted of members: vocalist Phil McCormack, guitarists Bobby Ingram and Bryan Bassett, keyboardist John Galvin, bassist Andy McKinney, and drummer Mac Crawford.
In 1998 Silent Reign Of Heroes was released. And in 1999 the band traveled coast to coast with Charlie Daniels and the Volunteer Jam.
2000s
In 2000, the album The Kingdom Of XII was released in Europe. The band went on tour to promote this album. It was released in the United States in 2001. Locked and Loaded (2003) and Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge (2005) followed. In January of 2005, Ingram invited Hlubek to rejoin Molly Hatchet and in doing so became the only current member who was a part of the original band.
On Thursday, March 10, 2005, after Brown was hospitalized for four weeks, he died less than an hour after returning to his home in Davie, Florida with his family and friends at his side, at the age of 53 from complications from pneumonia. He had previously left the group due to the suffering from a massive stroke in 1995 while driving to his brother's house. After a long battle with diabetes and the effects of the stroke, Brown was able to take the stage one last time at the Jammin' for DJB benefit concert in 1998 where with the help of his friends he ended the show with "Flirtin' with Disaster."
On Monday, June 19, 2006, founding guitarist Duane Roland died in St. Augustine, Florida at the age of 53. He had been playing with the band Gator Country, consisting of former members of Molly Hatchet, as late as May of 2006. His death was listed as being of "natural causes".
Bruce Crump (July 17, 1957 – March 16, 2015) was the original drummer from 1976 to 1983 (including their 1980 hit song "Flirtin' with Disaster" ) and 1984 to 1991. He also played as a member of Canadian band Streetheart in the early 1980s, and joined several of his former Molly Hatchet bandmates in the band Gator Country in the mid-2000s. At his death, Crump was in the Jacksonville, Florida-based band White Rhino and the newly reformed China Sky.
Bass guitarist Banner Thomas died of complications of pneumonia, at 63, on April 10, 2017.
Dave Hlubek died of a heart attack on September 3, 2017, at the age of 66.
Jimmy Farrar, who was frontman from 1980 to 1982, died of heart failure on October 29, 2018, at 67. Singer Phil McCormack died on April 26, 2019 at 58 (McCormack had been sidelined in early 2019, after suffering from health troubles that affected his voice andwas replaced by singer Jimmy Elkins, who continued on with Hatchet after McCormack's death).
Steve Holland, the last original member of Molly Hatchet, died on August 2, 2020.
Let The Good Times Roll
Molly Hatchet Lyrics
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About the long days on the road.
Each man can do just what he wants,
But we've all got to pull our load.
As for myself, I'm gonna take the highway,
It ain't as bad as they say.
Give me wine, women, whiskey, and rock 'n roll,
And let me sleep my days away.
[Chorus]
C'mon baby, let the good times roll.
C'mon baby, let the good times roll.
I've been all throughout the South land.
Keep moving on down the line.
I ought to settle down some place,
But I just can't find the time.
As for myself, gonna take this highway,
It ain't as bad as they say.
Give me wine, whiskey, women, and rock 'n roll,
And let me sleep my days away.
[Chorus:Repeat x3]
The lyrics of Molly Hatchet's song "Let The Good Times Roll" express the sentiments of a musician who is on the road, facing the trials and tribulations that come with it. Some people complain about the long days on the road, but the singer believes that each man has to pull his own load. For him, he is going to take the highway, which might not be as bad as people say it is. He wants to be left alone with his preference for wine, women, whiskey, and rock 'n roll, and wants to sleep his days away.
The singer has been all over the South land, moving down the line, but he can't find the time to settle down in one place. He repeats his desire to take the highway and insists that it is not as bad as people claim. For him, the key to happiness is to have wine, whiskey, women, and rock 'n roll, and spend his days sleeping away.
In summary, this song is about the desire of a musician to take control of his life, live it on his own terms, and enjoy the good things in life while spending his days away. It is a classic rock anthem that celebrates the freedom of the open road and the joy of living life on your own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Well some people bitch, Lord, some people holler,
Some people complain while others yell about the long days on the road.
About the long days on the road.
The long days spent on the road traveling.
Each man can do just what he wants,
Everyone has the freedom to do what they want.
But we've all got to pull our load.
But we all have to do our part and contribute to the group effort.
As for myself, I'm gonna take the highway,
Personally, I will take the highway route.
It ain't as bad as they say.
The highway is not as terrible as people make it out to be.
Give me wine, women, whiskey, and rock 'n roll,
I want to enjoy wine, women, whiskey, and rock 'n roll.
And let me sleep my days away.
And I want to sleep all day and night, enjoying my life.
[Chorus]
Let's have some good times.
C'mon baby, let the good times roll.
Come on, let's have a great time!
I've been all throughout the South land.
I have traveled all over the southern part of the country.
Keep moving on down the line.
Continuing to travel down the road.
I ought to settle down some place,
I should find a place to settle down.
But I just can't find the time.
But I am too busy and cannot find the time to do so.
[Chorus:Repeat x3]
Let's continue having good times.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DANNY JOE BROWN, DAVID LAWRENCE HLUBEK, STEVEN JEROME HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind