Forbert signed a recording contract with Nemperor in 1978, and they released his debut album, Alive on Arrival, that same year. His song "Romeo's Tune", although "dedicated to the memory of Florence Ballard" on the sleeve of Forbert's second album Jackrabbit Slim (released in 1979), is not about Supremes singer Ballard who died in 1976. "Forbert admits that Ballard became a timely connection for "Romeo's Tune", written about a girl from Meridian. "That seemed like such bad news to me and such sad news. She wasn't really taken care of by the music business, which is not a new story". At around this time critics hailed Forbert as "The new Bob Dylan" because of a similar vocal timbre and thoughtful songwriting. The front cover of Jackrabbit Slim encourages such comparisons with its simplicity: a black and white photo of Steve Forbert playing a well-worn Martin acoustic guitar with a capo on it, his shirt tinted green. The record was recorded in Nashville and produced by John Simon who had worked with The Band.
After many successful years, Forbert sought out new inspiration and found it when he relocated to Nashville in 1985. Forbert's tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Any Old Time, was nominated for a 2004 Grammy in the best traditional folk category. In 2006, he was inducted into the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame.
Recent albums include Strange Names & New Sensations (2007), The Place And The Time (2009), and Over With You (2012).
www.steveforbert.com
Don't Stop
Steve Forbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So it's hard,
Don't stop,
Don't stop now.
Stop an' you're negating
Ev'rything that you've been waiting for so long;
Stop an' you're denying
So you're down,
So it's hard,
Don't stop,
Don't stop now.
What you gonna do when
You're not in there tryin' t' do what you can do?
I know you can do it
If you'll only just stick to it's up to you.
There comes a time when things look so uncertain,
Seems like fate just won't allow
Reason's rhyme, but you set sail for something
And I'm on that dream boat now.
So you're down,
So it's hard,
Don't stop,
Don't stop now.
Don't say you don't care about
The whereabouts of why it's not insane;
Don't say it don't matter,
Got to climb that broken ladder in the rain.
In your eyes I look to find the person
That I've always found before,
If she's gone, I just can't say for certain
I belong here anymore.
So you're down,
So it's hard,
Don't stop,
Don't stop now.
World don't owe you nothing
An' the world don't show you nothing but the door,
But when you surrender
All your hopes an' dreams will end there, that's for sure.
So you're down,
So it's hard,
Don't stop,
Don't stop.
In "Don't Stop," Steve Forbert encourages his listeners who may be going through tough times not to give up, but to keep pressing forward. The recurring phrase "Don't stop, don't stop now" serves as a call to action. Forbert cautions against giving up, stating that stopping would mean negating and denying everything one has been waiting and trying for so long. He reminds listeners that it is up to them to reach their goals, and that the only way to do so is by persisting even when things look uncertain.
Forbert then likens life to a broken ladder that one has to climb in the rain. He acknowledges that it can be challenging, but ultimately fulfilling if one stays the course. He strives to find hope and the courage to keep going, citing the need to hang on to one's dreams in the face of a world that owes one nothing and may even show one the door.
Overall, "Don't Stop" delivers a message of hope, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity. It urges listeners not to give up on their dreams and to keep moving forward in the face of uncertainty and hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
So you're down,
Acknowledging that things may not be going well.
So it's hard,
Recognizing that it may be difficult to keep going.
Don't stop,
Encouraging to keep moving forward.
Don't stop now.
Emphasizing that this is not the time to give up.
Stop an' you're negating
Stopping would mean undoing all the progress made so far.
Ev'rything that you've been waiting for so long;
Giving up would mean losing everything waited for, for so long.
Stop an' you're denying
Ceasing efforts would mean admitting defeat.
Ev'rything that you've been trying for so long.
Acknowledging the hard work and determination that has been put in so far.
What you gonna do when
Posing a question that demands action.
You're not in there tryin' t' do what you can do?
Highlighting the importance of trying one's best.
I know you can do it
Reassuring that it is indeed possible to succeed.
If you'll only just stick to it's up to you.
Encouraging to persevere, as success ultimately depends on individual effort.
There comes a time when things look so uncertain,
Acknowledging that things can sometimes be unclear and unpredictable.
Seems like fate just won't allow
Commenting on how external circumstances can sometimes seem to conspire against us.
Reason's rhyme, but you set sail for something
Believing in following one's aspirations, despite challenges and uncertainties.
And I'm on that dream boat now.
Expressing that the singer is pursuing their own dreams and aspirations.
Don't say you don't care about
Asserting that it is important to care about the outcome of one's actions.
The whereabouts of why it's not insane;
Encouraging to investigate why things may not be progressing as expected.
Don't say it don't matter,
Encouraging to place importance on the situation at hand.
Got to climb that broken ladder in the rain.
Metaphorically expressing the need to persevere despite challenging circumstances.
In your eyes I look to find the person
Referencing the idea of identifying oneself through one's own perceptions.
That I've always found before,
Recalling a past sense of self.
If she's gone, I just can't say for certain
Uncertain about the present sense of self.
I belong here anymore.
Expressing doubt about a sense of belonging.
World don't owe you nothing
Commenting on the idea that the world is not obliged to provide anything for anyone.
An' the world don't show you nothing but the door,
Suggesting that the world can be challenging and even cruel at times.
But when you surrender
Disapproving of giving up or surrendering.
All your hopes an' dreams will end there, that's for sure.
Asserting that giving up will lead to the end of any aspirations and dreams.
Lyrics © DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: STEVE FORBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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