Get Back
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Lyrics
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But he knew it wouldn't last
Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
For some California grass
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Ooh, get back Jo
Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
But she was another man
All the girls around her say she's got it coming
But she gets it while she can
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Ooh, get back ?
Yeah, get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
You once belonged
Ooh, get back Jo
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Get Back" is a classic rock song that incorporates the band's folk influences with a rollicking, upbeat sound. The song is largely a narrative about two people who are experiencing discontent in their lives, and the lyrics encourage them to "get back" to where they once belonged. Jo Jo is a man who thinks he is alone and leaves his home in search of something more, while Sweet Loretta Martin is a woman who is struggling with her identity and is judged by those around her.
The song's chorus encourages Jo Jo and Loretta Martin to "get back" to where they once belonged, which can be interpreted as returning to a place in their lives where they were happier and more content. This idea is reinforced by the repeated refrain of "you once belonged", suggesting that the characters have lost their way and need to rediscover their roots. Additionally, the song's use of California as a symbol for escape and freedom is a common theme in American music, particularly during the 1960s counterculture era.
Overall, "Get Back" is a catchy and memorable song that combines rock and folk influences with insightful lyrics about the human experience. With its message of finding one's way home and returning to a place of comfort and familiarity, it continues to resonate with listeners today, more than five decades after its initial release.
Line by Line Meaning
Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
Jo Jo felt detached from the world around him, like he was on his own
But he knew it wouldn't last
He understood this feeling was temporary and wouldn't go on forever
Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
He left his hometown, in search of something else
For some California grass
To get some marijuana
Get back, get back
Return to where you used to be
Get back to where you once belonged
Go back to the place where you felt you belonged
Ooh, get back Jo
Jo should go back home to where he once belonged
Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman
A man who lived as a woman, named Loretta Martin
But she was another man
In reality, Loretta was biologically male
All the girls around her say she's got it coming
Other women felt like Loretta deserved what was coming to her
But she gets it while she can
Despite the judgment and negativity, Loretta lives her life as she sees fit
You once belonged
There was a moment in time when you felt at home
Yeah, get back, get back
Affirmation to return back
You once belonged
There was a place or state of being where you felt you belonged
Ooh, get back Jo
Jo should go back home to where he once belonged
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind