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
Lonesome Cowboy Bill's Song
Steve Forbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I waited for midnight, I waited for calls
I waited for daylight, I waited for signs
I waited for love, I guess I wasted my time
[Chorus]
So long, don't you ask me to stay
Goodbye, all you sleepytime days and nights
Down to sleepytown way
If you want me to I'll remember you . . .
I stood in the street where the rain made it shine
I turned up my collar and I made up my mind
I gotta be leavin', gotta leave you today
My future alone is just a whisper away
[Chorus]
So long, baby--I say bye, bye, now
I says so long, babe
Hey, hey goodbye, bye now...
I got to be leavin', I got to be gone
Sleepy town waiting, hung me up for too long
I got to be leavin', I can't hang around
It's bringin' me down, already down to the ground
[Chorus: x 2]
In Steve Forbert's song "Lonesome Cowboy Bill's Song," the singer describes his longing for love and the waiting game he played in the hopes of finding it. He waited for different things such as moonlight, fall, midnight, and many other signs that would lead him to love. However, he finds himself in a place where he lost hope and feels like he wasted his time waiting. He says goodbye to the "sleepytime days and nights" and decides to leave "Sleepytown" behind. He stands in the rain, turns up his collar, and makes up his mind to leave. He recognizes that he needs to leave because he can't stand being brought down anymore by the place that kept him waiting for so long.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of waiting for something that may never come, and it's time for him to move on. It is a reflection of the feeling of being stuck and realizing that it's time for change to happen. The imagery of the rain and the darkness adds to the overall gloomy theme of the song. The chorus repeats goodbye and highlights that it's time to say goodbye to what is comfortable and venture into the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
I waited for moonlight, I waited for fall
I anticipated better times, a change in seasons
I waited for midnight, I waited for calls
I hoped someone would reach out to me in the darkest hours
I waited for daylight, I waited for signs
I searched for hope and clarity in the light of day
I waited for love, I guess I wasted my time
I wanted love but it never came, I feel like I wasted my time hoping for it
So long, don't you ask me to stay
I'm leaving and don't try to make me stay
Goodbye, all you sleepytime days and nights
Farewell to the monotonous and uneventful days and nights
Down to sleepytown way
Going to a place where things move slowly and little happens
If you want me to I'll remember you . . .
I'm leaving but if you want me to, I'll keep a memory of you
I stood in the street where the rain made it shine
I was standing in the street while the rain washed everything clean
I turned up my collar and I made up my mind
I made the decision to leave and prepared for it
I gotta be leavin', gotta leave you today
I must depart, and it has to be today
My future alone is just a whisper away
My future is uncertain, but I'm ready to face it
I got to be leavin', I got to be gone
I need to depart, I need to be out of here
Sleepy town waiting, hung me up for too long
This slow-paced town held me back for too long
I got to be leavin', I can't hang around
I can't stay any longer, it's time for me to go
It's bringin' me down, already down to the ground
This place is depressing me, I'm already feeling defeated
So long, baby--I say bye, bye, now
Farewell, my dear, I'm leaving now
I says so long, babe
I'm saying goodbye
Hey, hey goodbye, bye now...
I'm saying goodbye, see you later
[Chorus: x 2]
Repeating the chorus
Lyrics © DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: STEVE FORBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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