Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Going To The Country
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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Gonna find myself a new love
Been too long in the city
Bring down mountain showers
Let them fall down on my head
Chase the blues away
Goin' down goin' down
Been so long since I've seen
My mother, father or my sister
On the blue-banked bayou
Remember when we used to drink
Our booze together
Like them southern folks do
Goin' down goin' down
We're all goin' down to the country
Goin' to the country
Gonna find myself a new love
Been too long in the city
Bring down mountain showers
Let them fall down on my head
Chase the blues away
In the song "Going To The Country," Roger McGuinn sings about his desire to leave the city and its blues behind and head to the country in search of a new love. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as McGuinn expresses a strong urge to find a fresh start in life outside of the urban confines that he has grown tired of. He hopes to experience something new and invigorating by surrounding himself with the natural beauty of the countryside, symbolized by the "mountain showers" that he longs for.
The second verse of the song reveals that McGuinn is not only seeking a new love but a renewed connection with his family, whom he misses dearly. The setting of the "blue-banked bayou" adds to the southern charm of the song, with McGuinn reminiscing about the good old days spent drinking "booze together" with his kin like "southern folks do." This part of the song creates a nostalgic feeling about the singer's roots and the familiar comfort that comes with it, which makes his journey to the countryside and new love more palpable.
Overall, the song "Going To The Country" by Roger McGuinn tells a story of a man who seeks a fresh start in life by leaving his blues behind and reconnecting with his roots while longing for a new love that he hopes to find in the countryside.
Line by Line Meaning
Goin' to the country
I am leaving the city and going to the countryside for a fresh start.
Gonna find myself a new love
I hope to find a new romantic partner in the countryside.
Been too long in the city
I have spent too much time in the urban environment and need to escape it.
Bring down mountain showers
I am looking forward to experiencing the refreshing rain of the mountains in the countryside.
Let them fall down on my head
I want the rain to literally fall onto my head and wash away my troubles.
Chase the blues away
I hope that the change of scenery and experience will remedy my melancholy mood.
Goin' down goin' down
We are all descending (physically and metaphorically) into the countryside.
We're all goin' down to the country
Everyone is heading towards the countryside for similar reasons.
Been so long since I've seen
A long time has passed since I last saw my family.
My mother, father or my sister
I am specifically talking about missing my immediate family members.
On the blue-banked bayou
I have fond memories of my family and I spending time near a river in the southeastern United States.
Remember when we used to drink
I am reminiscing about the times my family and I would share drinks together.
Our booze together
We would all partake in drinking alcoholic beverages.
Like them southern folks do
This was a common pastime in the southern United States, where I grew up.
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