Get Back
Richard Merk Lyrics

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Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it couldn'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

Get back to where you once belonged
Get back Jo Jo

Go home
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
Get back, get back
Back to where you once belonged
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
Get back Loretta

Ah, get back
Yeah, get back
Get back to where you once belonged
Yeah get back

Get back to where you once belonged
Get back, Ooo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Richard Merk's song "Get Back" describe the story of two characters, Jo Jo and Sweet Loretta Martin. Jo Jo is a man who believed he was a loner, but he moved to California to consume some marijuana. However, he understood that he couldn't stay there forever and needed to get back to where he once belonged. The phrase "Get back to where you once belonged" functions as a refrain throughout the song, emphasizing the theme of returning to one's roots.

The second character, Sweet Loretta Martin, is described as a woman by herself, but other girls believe that she's actually a man. She takes advantage of her femininity while she can. The song doesn't explore Sweet Loretta's story as deeply as Jo Jo's, but her story serves as another example of someone who needs to get back to where they once belonged.

The song's message is about returning to one's true roots and identity. Jo Jo, though he enjoyed consuming marijuana in California, knew he couldn't stay there indefinitely. Likewise, Sweet Loretta may be a woman pretending to be a man, but she's ultimately taking advantage of an identity that isn't truly hers. The lesson is that it's important to live an authentic life and to return to one's true self, rather than pretending to be someone or something else.

Line by Line Meaning

Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
Jo Jo considered himself isolated from the others around him.

But he knew it couldn't last
Jo Jo was aware that his solitude would eventually end.

Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
Jo Jo departed from his domicile in Tucson, Arizona.

for some California grass
Jo Jo travelled to California to obtain marijuana.

Get back, get back
Please return to your original location.

Get back to where you once belonged
Please go back to where you originated from.

Get back Jo Jo
Please return to your previous location, Jo Jo.

Go home
Return to your residence.

Get back, get back
Please return to your original location.

Back to where you once belonged
Return to where you came from.

Get back Loretta
Please return to your previous location, Loretta.