Tobacco Road
Nashville Teens Lyrics
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Mama died and my daddy got drunk
Left me here to die alone
In the middle of Tobacco Road
Grew up in rusty shack
All I had was hangin' on my back
Only you know how I loathe
But it's home, the only life I ever known
Only you know how I loathe
Tobacco Road
Gonna leave, get a job
With the help and the grace from above
Save some money, get rich and old
Bring it back to Tobacco Road
Bring that dynamite and a crane
Blow it up, start all over again
Build a town, be proud to show
Gives the name Tobacco Road
But it's home, the only life I ever known
I despise you 'cause yer filthy
But I love you 'cause yer home
The lyrics to Nashville Teens' song "Tobacco Road" tell the story of a person who was born on the titular road, which is a poor area in Georgia, USA, known for tobacco plantations. The person's mother died, and their father became an alcoholic, leaving them alone in the middle of Tobacco Road. The individual grew up in a rusty shack, with all they owned hanging on their back. They despise this place where they grew up, but it's the only home they've ever known. The song portrays the person's desire to leave Tobacco Road for a better life, to get a job, earn some money, and come back to the area, intending to blow it up and build a new town. However, despite their hatred for the place, they still love it because it's the only home they've ever known.
The lyrics of "Tobacco Road" are a remarkable mix of defiance, despair, hope, and irony. Smoking is a recurrent theme, as is alcoholism and poverty. The song's opening line sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics, suggesting that the individual was born into a difficult and tragic situation. The rest of the lyrics highlight the poverty, hopelessness, and dead-end nature of living on Tobacco Road, while the last verse provides a glimmer of hope with the person's resolve to leave and come back to start over.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in a bunk
I was born in a cramped and uncomfortable space.
Mama died and my daddy got drunk
My mother passed away and my father turned to alcohol.
Left me here to die alone
He abandoned me to face this difficult life on my own.
In the middle of Tobacco Road
In a place that's despised and poverty-stricken.
Grew up in rusty shack
I was raised in a dilapidated dwelling.
All I had was hangin' on my back
I had no possessions to call my own except those I carried with me.
Only you know how I loathe
Only you understand how much I despise living in this place.
This place called Tobacco Road
This economically-depressed region where tobacco is grown.
But it's home, the only life I ever known
Despite my hatred for this place, it's where I grew up and it's all I've ever known.
Gonna leave, get a job
I plan to leave this place and find work elsewhere.
With the help and the grace from above
I hope to receive divine intervention and assistance in making this happen.
Save some money, get rich and old
I aim to accumulate wealth and live to an old age.
Bring it back to Tobacco Road
I want to return to this region with my wealth.
Bring that dynamite and a crane
I want to use explosives and heavy machinery to demolish existing structures.
Blow it up, start all over again
I want to completely destroy the existing buildings and start anew.
Build a town, be proud to show
I want to construct a new town that I can show off and take pride in.
Gives the name Tobacco Road
I want to name the new town after the old one, as a tribute to my roots.
I despise you 'cause yer filthy
I hate this place because it's squalid and impoverished.
But I love you 'cause yer home
Despite my loathing for this place, I can't help but feel a deep connection to it because it's where I come from.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John D. Loudermilk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crlguitar1
Loved it back then....Love it even more today!
So great to see The Nashville Teens in full color....Bravo!
@balanb312
Bravo Zulu
@Tearstolaughter
60 years later, such a cool song!
@redpower690
For all you people out there that think life goes by real slow. These guys are in their mid-70s to early 80s now in some cases they're not around anymore don't waste it.
@sleeplessaquarius
❤❤❤
@eligiotello9337
I used to have an old 40's radio with a 14 inch speaker an. Boy this song sound great on it.!!!!!
@sleeplessaquarius
@@eligiotello9337 Oh wow‼
@charliebures4032
Thankyou oh great guru,
@user-bs4fy1gu7v
Для меня время медленно шло в школе,особенно на уроках,мысли были быстрее бы уроки закончились и домой,на улицу))И в армии время тянулись долго.А сейчас время бежит((Не знаю слышали ли вы песню в исполнении Аллы Пугачевой припев "жизнь не возможно повернуть назад и время не на миг не остановишь"Слова в точку Раньше не придавал значения этим словам,улица,приятели)И что мне в садике не сиделось))Капец время летит))как у нас говорят "столько не живут"))это я о себе))
@calvinbealer7264
Nearly 60 Years Ago. This Song is Pure as a Driven Snow ❄️🌨️🌨️🌨️