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.
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
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
The song "Live Your Life" by Otis Taylor is about embracing life and living it to the fullest. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency, encouraging listeners to live their life before it's too late. The repeated phrase "just might be, for a little while" emphasizes the fleeting nature of life, and the importance of making the most of it while we can.
The lines "death won't touch you, won't touch you on your heart" suggest that death is inevitable, but that we can still make the most of our time on earth. The image of death knocking us down is a reminder that our time is limited, and that we should make the most of every moment.
The song also touches on the importance of taking care of the world around us. The lines "you know the trees need water and the shops need sun" suggest that we should be mindful of our environment and work to preserve it. The reference to baby seals highlights the impact that our actions can have on the natural world.
Overall, "Live Your Life" is a call to action, urging listeners to make the most of their time on earth and to leave a positive impact on the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Just live your life
Enjoy your life to the fullest
Before you die
Before death embraces you
Just might be for a little while
You never know when it will end
Death won't touch you
Death won't harm you
Won't touch you on your heart
It won't affect you emotionally
Death will come and knock you
Death will surprise you
Knock you on your back
It will bring you down
Death won't come and touch you
It won't affect your heart or emotions
Just come along
Will happen without warning
And knock you down
Will bring you down suddenly
You know the trees need water
We are all part of a larger system
And the shops need sun
The world needs commerce and trade
And the baby seals, they know what you're talking about
Even animals understand the importance of life
Only might be, might be, for a little while
Life is temporary and unpredictable
Contributed by Hunter V. 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