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
Settle Down
Steve Forbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but that aint no call to talk behind my back.
Sometimes I go de-railin' when it's chaos in my mind,
but all in all my wheels are mainly on the track...
(So woncha) settle down, settle down,
Baby love, my baby love,
Don't quit your faith in me.
Well, I hear you when you whisper an' I've seen your nervous eyes,
I've known your fear and held your doubtful hand.
You're judging way too soon, you're
underestimating me,
Sometimes I rock a bit but I can stand...
So woncha settle down, settle down,
Baby love, my baby love,
Don't quit your faith in me
Out on the highway, out on the cold road,
some lonesome losin' rounder wears a frown.
An' I could be there, without a notion,
if not for all the love you've brought around...
If I'm caught up in a whirlwind, babe, I know
I'll make it through,
I've seen that spinning power rise an' fall.
I can ride it sailin' higher. I can ride it comin' down.
It's a natchral kind of cycle, babe, that's all...
(So woncha) settle down, settle down,
Baby love, my baby love,
Don't quit your faith in me.
The first verse of "Settle Down" by Steve Forbert clearly indicates that the singer is aware of his crazy and erratic behavior and the fact that people talk behind his back because of that. He admits that chaos in his mind can cause him to go off the rails, but he emphasizes that most of the time, he's able to keep his wheels mainly on track. He then addresses the listener and implores them to settle down and not give up on him. He recognizes that they may have doubts about him, but he asks them to keep their faith in him.
In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that he's heard the listener's whispers and seen their nervous eyes. He understands that they're judging him too soon and underestimating him. The singer has known fear and doubt, but he has also overcome those challenges to stand tall. He assures the listener that he'll make it through any whirlwind because he has faith in his ability to weather the storm. He thanks the listener for all the love they've brought into his life, and he recognizes that without that support, he might be a lonesome loser out on the cold road.
Line by Line Meaning
If I seem a little crazy, well, it's just because I am,
I may act a bit wild, but that's just who I am.
but that aint no call to talk behind my back.
You shouldn't talk about me behind my back just because of my behavior.
Sometimes I go de-railin' when it's chaos in my mind,
My mind can get chaotic, and I may lose control.
but all in all my wheels are mainly on the track...
Overall, I'm able to keep my life together and remain focused.
Well, I hear you when you whisper an' I've seen your nervous eyes,
I can tell when you're worried or anxious, even if you don't say it out loud.
I've known your fear and held your doubtful hand.
I've been there for you during moments of doubt or fear.
You're judging way too soon, you're underestimating me,
You're making assumptions about me too quickly and not giving me enough credit.
Sometimes I rock a bit but I can stand...
I may be a bit unsteady at times, but I can handle it.
(So woncha) settle down, settle down,
Please calm down and relax.
Baby love, my baby love,
I care about you deeply.
Don't quit your faith in me.
Please don't lose faith in me and what we have together.
Out on the highway, out on the cold road,
In the midst of a difficult journey,
some lonesome losin' rounder wears a frown.
someone who's lost and alone is feeling sad.
An' I could be there, without a notion,
I could easily find myself in the same situation.
if not for all the love you've brought around...
But you have brought love and positivity into my life, and that has made all the difference.
If I'm caught up in a whirlwind, babe, I know I'll make it through,
Even if I find myself in a difficult situation, I believe I can overcome it.
I've seen that spinning power rise an' fall.
I've experienced highs and lows in my life and know that everything is temporary.
I can ride it sailin' higher. I can ride it comin' down.
I can handle whatever comes my way, whether it's good or bad.
It's a natchral kind of cycle, babe, that's all...
This is just the natural ebb and flow of life.
(So woncha) settle down, settle down,
Please calm down and relax.
Baby love, my baby love,
I care about you deeply.
Don't quit your faith in me.
Please don't lose faith in me and what we have together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: STEVE FORBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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