The Ozark Mountain Da… Read Full Bio ↴Alternative tag The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils started in 1971 in Springfield, Missouri in an attempt by the singer/songwriter members to have a vehicle in which to display and promote their music. At first, they played in bars and on porches. However, a record executive from A&M records discovered the band, and they began their recording path.
The original members of the band consisted of:
John Dillion - (vocals, guitars, mandolin, fiddle, piano, harp, autoharp, dulcimer, jawbone, percussion, keyboards)
Mike "Supe" Granda - (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, mandolin, percussion, chicken squawks)
Buddy Brayfield - (vocals, oboe, piano, harpsichord, organ, percussion, electric piano)
Randle Chowning - (vocals, lead electric & acoustic guitars, harp, national steel, mandolin)
Steve Cash - (vocals, harp, percussion, harpsichord)
Larry Lee - (vocals, drums, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, piano, percussion, saw, saw & board)
The Daredevils peaked commercially in 1973-1974 and were best known for "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get To Heaven", which both got national coverage. However, there was a wide range of music that the Daredevils produced that was widely missed. The influences of the locale and the talents of the band members produced some unique sounds that could be related to "rockabilly" influences. There was also a good body of music that could be classified as country, rock, ballads, folk or blues.
The band changed throughout the years, but played prevantly throughout the '70s and gained and lost members during that time. To this day, there is still a loyal and avid fan following. There are discs still being released by the group, mostly of past performances in the '70s. In addition, many of the members are currently still working on other interests including Randle Chowning, Larry Lee ("Beyond Reach") Mike "Supe" Granda, and possibly others.
A reunion concert was held in Springfield, Missouri at the refurbished Gilloiz Theatre, in May of 2007. The three nights they performed were entirely sold out, weeks in advance of the concert.
Establish Yourself
Ozark Mountain Daredevils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
establish yourself, get down
establish yourself
establish yourself, boogie
establish yourself (whooh)
establish yourself
establish yourself
hey
Lyrics are copyright 1975, 1976, Brayfield, Cash, Chowning, Dillon, Granda & Lee
The lyrics in this song from Ozark Mountain Daredevils are all about taking control of your own life, defining who you are and establishing your own presence in the world. The repeated phrase "establish yourself" is a call to action, encouraging the listener to make their own mark on the world and create their own existence, rather than simply going through the motions and following the crowd. The phrase "get down" and "boogie" suggest that establishing yourself should be a joyful process, one in which you can let loose and express yourself freely.
The upbeat, energetic tone of the song reinforces this message of empowerment, as the music inspires listeners to feel confident and enthusiastic about their ability to take action and create their own destiny. Overall, the song is a powerful anthem for anyone who wants to break free from the constraints of society or conventional expectations and establish their own unique identity.
Line by Line Meaning
establish yourself, get down
Formulate and solidify your identity and presence, lower your body in a crouched position
establish yourself
Set up and establish your place, status, and authority
establish yourself, boogie
Create and verify your position while having a fun, energetic time
create your existence
Generate and build your being, essence, and importance to the world
establish yourself (whooh)
Affirm your established position with enthusiasm and energy
establish yourself
Make your mark, establish yourself as a significant figure
establish yourself
Secure and confirm who you are and the space you occupy
hey
A casual, informal expression of greeting or getting someone's attention
Contributed by Stella A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.