Robertson's work with the Band was instrumental in creating the Americana music genre. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Band, and into Canada's Walk of Fame, with the Band and on his own. He is ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists. He wrote "The Weight", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and "Up on Cripple Creek" with the Band and had solo hits with "Broken Arrow" and "Somewhere Down the Crazy River", and many others. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters.
Robertson collaborated on film and TV soundtracks, usually with director Martin Scorsese, beginning in the rockumentary film The Last Waltz (1978) and continuing through dramatic films including Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1983), Casino (1995), Gangs of New York (2002), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Silence (2016), The Irishman (2019), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
Robbie Robertson died in Los Angeles on August 9, 2023, at the age of 80, after a year-long battle with prostate cancer.
Go Back To Your Woods
Robbie Robertson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been to the house of the rising sun
Come down here trying to make a connection
Must have a bad sense of direction
Go back go back to your woods
(Go back go back go back to your woods)
Go back go back go back to your woods
Carry a torch and an old stiletto
The sound of thunder all over the ghetto
One-eyed jacks and king with the axe
Come from the wrong side of the tracks
Go back go back to your woods
(Go back go back go back to your woods)
Go back go back go back to your woods
(Go back go back to your woods)
When the night goes down on Storyville
If the women don't get ya the music will
Catch a thrill
You come down here in a four piece suit
Pork pie hat and the alligator boots
Keep jerking rabbits outta your hat
Now can ya pull a disappearing act
Go back go back to your woods
(Go back go back go back to your woods)
Go back go back go back to your woods
(Go back go back to your woods)
When the night goes down on Storyville
If the women don't get ya the music will
Get your thrills
Go back go back go back to your woods
Go back go back go back to your woods
Go back go back go back to your woods
Go back go back go back to your woods
Go back go back to your woods
(Go back go back go back to your woods)
Go back go back go back to your woods
(Go back go back to your woods)
Back to your woods
***?Names of various Mardi Gras Indian groups?***
Going downtown all turned around
Before we came into this world
We came from a far off land
And now we are here to tell the story
And we comin from way back, way back
We got fire on the bayou,
Injuns here they come
From the reservations
Here they come, here they come
Injuns here they come
The song "Go Back To Your Woods" by Robbie Robertson, which was released in 1991 on his album "Storyville", is a mix of rock, blues and a Louisiana-style swamp boogie. The lyrics tell the story of someone who has come down to Louisiana, possibly New Orleans, but doesn't quite fit in with the surroundings. They are carrying a torch, an old stiletto and have come from the wrong side of the tracks. The song suggests that they may have come down to "make a connection" but have a "bad sense of direction". The repeated plea to "go back to your woods" implies that they should return to where they came from, as Louisiana is not the place for them.
The song references several key themes of Louisiana culture and history. The bayou, a body of water often associated with the state, is mentioned in the first line. The famous music venue "The House of the Rising Sun" is also referenced. The song mentions "One-eyed jacks and king[s] with the axe", which is a reference to the Mardi Gras Indian culture, in which tribes dress in elaborate costumes and parade through the streets, with "One-eyed jacks" and "Kings with the ax" being names of various tribes. The song also refers to Storyville, which was a red-light district in New Orleans in the early 20th century known for its jazz music and prostitution.
Line by Line Meaning
Hide in the bayou under the gun
I'm hiding out in the bayou, armed and dangerous
Been to the house of the rising sun
Been around the block, seen some things
Come down here trying to make a connection
I came down here to make some friends
Must have a bad sense of direction
I must've taken a wrong turn somewhere
Go back go back go back to your woods
You should go back to where you came from
(Go back go back to your woods)
You should go back to where you came from
Carry a torch and an old stiletto
I'm armed and dangerous
The sound of thunder all over the ghetto
It's a rough place down here
One-eyed jacks and king with the axe
There are some dangerous people lurking around
Come from the wrong side of the tracks
I come from a sketchy background
When the night goes down on Storyville
When night falls, this place really comes to life
If the women don't get ya the music will
The women and music will both capture your attention
Catch a thrill
Have some fun
You come down here in a four piece suit
You look out of place in your fancy suit
Pork pie hat and the alligator boots
You're not fooling anyone with your flashy outfit
Keep jerking rabbits outta your hat
You're putting on a show, but it's not impressive
Now can ya pull a disappearing act
Can you leave quickly and quietly?
When the night goes down on Storyville
When night falls, this place really comes to life
Get your thrills
Have some fun
Go back go back go back to your woods
You should go back to where you came from
Back to your woods
Go back to where you belong
Going downtown all turned around
Lost in the city
Before we came into this world
Before we were born
We came from a far off land
We all have our roots somewhere else
And now we are here to tell the story
We're here to share our experiences
And we comin from way back, way back
We've come a long way
We got fire on the bayou,
We're passionate about this place
Injuns here they come
Here come the Native Americans
From the reservations
From their homes on the reservations
Here they come, here they come
They're making their presence known
Injuns here they come
Here come the Native Americans
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROBBIE ROBERTSON, BRUCE HORNSBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind