Taylor's career in music performance and recording has taken a circuitous path. Born in Chicago 1948, and growing up in Denver after his family relocated there, he began listening to blues and folk-blues in his teens. Through Denver's Folklore Center, he began to play the blues. By 1977, though, he "retired" from music and had a successful antiques business. He returned to music when he was nearly 50, and having immersed himself in the history of the folklore of the blues, he traced the migration of both the blues and the banjo from its roots in Africa to its "birth" in the American south.
His music is uncompromising and fierce, and it walks the line of gritty and gorgeous well. He incorporates elements of the blues masters Johnson, Jefferson, McTell and others, but always makes the resulting music his own.
His return to performance and recording began in 1995, but it was his acceptance of a Sundance Festival composition fellowship in 2000 that sparked his emergence as a preeminent bluesman with When Negroes Walked The Earth. His song, 'Nasty Letter', plays over the credits at the end of the 2007 Mark Wahlberg film Shooter.
Just Live Your Life
Otis Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you die
Just might be for a little while
Just live your life
Before you die
Only might be, for a little while
Death won′t touch you
Won't touch you on your heart
Knock you on your back
Death won′t come and touch you
Touch you on your heart
Just come along
And knock you down
Live your life
Before you die
Just might be, for a little while
You know the trees need water
And the shops need sun
And the baby seals, they know what you're talking about
Just live your life
Before you die
Only might be, might be, for a little while
The song "Just Live Your Life" by Otis Taylor is about the inevitability of death, and the importance of enjoying life before it is over. The chorus repeats the phrase "just live your life before you die," emphasizing the need to make the most of every moment. The lyrics acknowledge that death will come eventually, but urges the listener to not be afraid and to make the most of the time they have.
The second verse speaks to the interconnectedness of nature and the importance of taking care of the world around us. The lines "you know the trees need water, and the shops need sun, and the baby seals, they know what you're talking about" convey the message that we are all part of a larger ecosystem and that it is our responsibility to care for it.
The song's message is ultimately one of optimism and hope - in spite of the inevitability of death, life is worth living and should be enjoyed while we can.
Line by Line Meaning
Just live your life
Live your life according to your own ways and rules
Before you die
Do it before it's too late and you pass away
Just might be for a little while
Living your life may only last for a short time
Just live your life
Live your life according to your own ways and rules
Before you die
Do it before it's too late and you pass away
Only might be, for a little while
Living your life may only last for a short time
Death won't touch you
Death won't affect who you are as a person
Won't touch you on your heart
Death doesn't change the way you feel and who you are
Death will come and knock you
Death is inevitable and it will come for you
Knock you on your back
Death will leave an impact in your life
Death won't come and touch you
Death doesn't change who you are
Touch you on your heart
Death doesn't change the way you feel and who you are
Just come along
Death is inevitable and will come at some point
And knock you down
Death will have a profound impact on you and those around you
Live your life
Live your life according to your own ways and rules
Before you die
Do it before it's too late and you pass away
Just might be, for a little while
Living your life may only last for a short time
You know the trees need water
The world depends on balance and harmony
And the shops need sun
The world depends on balance and harmony
And the baby seals, they know what you're talking about
There are unknown things that are more intelligent than we think
Just live your life
Live your life according to your own ways and rules
Before you die
Do it before it's too late and you pass away
Only might be, might be, for a little while
Living your life may only last for a short time
Writer(s): otis taylor
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vathelosfox4986
Just live your life
Before you die
Just might be for a little while
Just live your life
Before you die
Only might be, for a little while
Death won't touch you
Won't touch you on your heart
Death will come and knock you
Knock you on your back
Death won't come and touch you
Touch you on your heart
Just come along
And knock you down
Live your life
Before you die
Just might be, for a little while
You know the trees need water
And the shops need sun
And the baby seals, they know what you're talking about
Just live your life
Before you die
Only might be, might be, for a little while
@dietmarblankner3677
Absolut geiler Song❤😊
@blacksmith4120
This song saved my worthless poor life
@masterpharao
Super, thanks for this song!
@arnaldodelarosa1620
Beautiful song
@DPW86
Your music runs at a much deeper level than most. Thx.
@frankie8572
with his music he gives me power
@doncornuto1
This...is...awesome.period
@coravisser727
What a great player awesome and a good voice it touch my whole soul.
@huncutAttila1
Yeah, mine too! :)
@dfighternelams6387
great lyrics,amazing what a few chords and a killer artist can do with so little