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
Thinkin'
Steve Forbert Lyrics
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and [E] thinkin' so [A] much 'till you're [E] stranded be[B]hind
[E] Don't ya go [A] thinkin', and [E] thinkin', and [B] thinkin',
and [E] thinkin' so [A] much 'till you're [B] losin' your [E]mind
There's so [G#min] many [B]depressions all [C#min]plowed in your [E] brain
[A]Trace 'em too [E]far, and they'll drive you [B] insane
[A]You're twisted so [E] tight now, you [A] hardly can [E] talk
Get out in the [F#min]daylight and [A] go for a [B] walk
All the tension inside has gone through to your face
You're flashin' your madness all over the place
You stand in the hallway an' try to explain
I look in your eyes, I see shackles an' chains, aw
You're chasin' some notion you've misunderstood
You're tryin' so hard, can't you tell it's no good?
You analyze everything into a "No"
You're fallin' apart, you got nothing to show
The lyrics of Steve Forbert's song "Thinkin'" describe the dangers of overthinking and the negative effects it can have on an individual's mental health. The song warns against excessive rumination, cautioning listeners that thinking too much can lead to feeling stranded and losing one's mind. The lyrics suggest that constantly thinking and analyzing everything can cause depression and anxiety, and ultimately result in falling apart with nothing to show for it.
The song portrays a character who is overthinking and obsessing to the point of madness. This individual is described as having so many "depressions plowed in" their brain that they're twisting themselves too tight, and can hardly communicate. The lyrics suggest that the character needs to "get out in the daylight and go for a walk" to clear their head. The songs also describes the negative consequences of this mindset on one's relationships with others. The person's madness is described as being "flashed all over the place" and it is suggested that they are unable to communicate their thoughts effectively.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the importance of finding balance in one's thinking and not getting stuck in a cycle of overthinking. It emphasizes the need to take breaks to clear one's head and step back from the constant stream of thoughts.
Interpretation by an insightful lyrics interpreter
Line by Line Meaning
Well don't ya go thinkin', and thinkin', and thinkin'
Don't overthink things and get stuck in your head
and thinkin' so much 'till you're stranded behind
Overthinking can cause you to be left behind and miss opportunities
Don't ya go thinkin', and thinkin', and thinkin',
Reemphasizing the need to not overthink
and thinkin' so much 'till you're losin' your mind
Overthinking can drive you crazy
There's so many depressions all plowed in your brain
There are negative thoughts and emotions embedded in your mind
Trace 'em too far, and they'll drive you insane
Dwelling on negative thoughts can lead to mental instability
You're twisted so tight now, you hardly can talk
Overthinking has caused so much tension that communication is difficult
Get out in the daylight and go for a walk
Suggesting a solution to alleviate overthinking is to go outside and exercise
All the tension inside has gone through to your face
The stress and anxiety from overthinking is visible on your facial expressions
You're flashin' your madness all over the place
Your negative thoughts are causing you to act irrationally and it's noticeable to others
You stand in the hallway an' try to explain
You attempt to justify your negative thoughts and emotions
I look in your eyes, I see shackles an' chains, aw
The artist sees the burden of negative thoughts and emotions in the person's eyes
You're chasin' some notion you've misunderstood
You're obsessing over something that you don't fully understand
You're tryin' so hard, can't you tell it's no good?
Despite your efforts, your overthinking is not productive
You analyze everything into a "No"
You have a negative outlook on everything and can't see the positive
You're fallin' apart, you got nothing to show
Overthinking has left you feeling broken and unproductive
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: STEVE FORBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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