He bought his first harmonica when he was 16, for $2 at a flea market in Bessemer, Alabama, and taught himself to play blues harp. He discovered that he possessed absolute pitch when he was able to recognize the pitches of ordinary noises and mimic them on the harmonica. Hicks was 18 when he wrote his first song, "In Your Time", and he taught himself to play guitar when he was 19.
While in college, Hicks was part of a band called Passing Through, which he later quit to start his own band. He recorded In Your Time, an album which included both studio and live tracks, independently in 1997. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000 to pursue a music career. There, he worked with Nashville veterans Billy Earl McClelland and Percy Sledge and recorded a three-track demo but was unable to find a label that would sign him. He left Nashville after a year due to what he called the "oversaturation of the market". Hicks returned to Alabama and launched a professional music career, performing at various venues and parties, mostly around the Southeastern United States.
He recorded, produced, and released a second album, Under the Radar, in 2005. Despite releasing two albums prior to appearing on American Idol, he did not violate their requirements for contestants, as he had never held a recording contract.
Studio recording sessions for the eponymous major label debut Taylor Hicks ran in Calabasas, California between October and November 2006, and took six weeks in total. The album was produced by Matt Serletic, who has produced for Collective Soul, matchbox twenty, and Rob Thomas. The album was released on December 12, 2006 and debuted at the number two spot on the Billboard 200 charts. It was certified as a platinum album by the RIAA on January 17, 2007.
On February 21, 2007, Hicks launched a a three-month US promotional tour for his album, followed almost immediately by a summer tour. One of the high energy shows was captured on film and appeared on HDNet under the title "Whomp At The Warfield."
In 2009 Hicks released his second album, The Distance, on his own label, Modern Whomp Records, on March 10, 2009. The first single, "What's Right Is Right", was added to AC adds on January 27, 2009. So far the single reached #24 on Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. It was produced by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan.
Hicks returned to the American Idol stage on April 29, 2009 during Season 8 and performed the second single from The Distance, Seven Mile Breakdown, which was re-released in a country format.
Both "What's Right is Right" and "Seven Mile Breakdown" were made into music videos.
In May 2009, Taylor Hicks made Forbes "Top Ten earning American Idol stars" list, coming in at number 10, with over $300,000 earned from album sales and from his role as "Teen Angel" in the national tour of Grease.
Takin' It To The Streets
Taylor Hicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was raised here in this living hell
You don't know my kind in your world
Fairly soon the time will tell
You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me
I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see
Takin' it to the streets
Takin' it to the streets
Takin' it to the streets
You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me
I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see
Takin' it to the streets
Takin' it to the streets
Takin' it to the streets
Takin' it to the streets
In the lyrics of Taylor Hicks's popular song "Takin' It To The Streets," the singer is essentially speaking to someone from a different world. He explains that he is from a difficult background, a "living hell," and that the person he is addressing cannot possibly understand what it's like to come from his world. However, he is still hopeful that the person is genuine in their intentions, saying that time will soon tell whether or not they are.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's frustration with the person's attitude, emphasizing that he doesn't believe the promises being made to him, and feels that he needs to take matters into his own hands, taking to the streets to make a difference. It's clear that the singer feels that genuine change and progress can only be made through action, not just empty promises.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know me but I'm your brother
Although we may be strangers, I shall consider you my equal and will always strive to treat you as such.
I was raised here in this living hell
Growing up in this disadvantaged environment has shaped me into the person I am today.
You don't know my kind in your world
Your life experiences may be vastly different from mine, making it difficult for you to truly understand where I come from and what I go through on a daily basis.
Fairly soon the time will tell
The future is uncertain, but eventually, the truth will reveal itself and justice will prevail.
You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me
I am aware of your promises to help me, but I am not convinced that your actions align with your words.
I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see
I may not be physically impaired, but I am not naive enough to believe in empty promises or false hope.
Takin' it to the streets
I am no longer content with waiting for someone else to improve my situation. It is time for me to take action and demand change.
Takin' it to the streets
I am willing to stand up for myself and others who are also struggling, and I am not afraid to demand justice and equality.
Takin' it to the streets
I am ready to fight for a better future and a world where everyone has equal opportunities and access to basic necessities.
Takin' it to the streets
I believe that collective action and solidarity are the key to achieving meaningful change and a better world for all.
You, telling me the things you're gonna do for me
Despite your promises, I refuse to wait idly for someone else to fix what is broken. I am taking matters into my own hands.
I ain't blind and I don't like what I think I see
I am not ignorant to the problems in our society, and I am not satisfied with the status quo. I want to see real change and improvement for everyone.
Takin' it to the streets
I refuse to be complacent or accept a life of struggle and hardship. I am mobilizing myself and others to demand action and progress.
Takin' it to the streets
I am stepping out of my comfort zone and into the public space to demand accountability and progress from those in power.
Takin' it to the streets
I am committed to using my voice and my experience to inspire and unite others in the fight for justice and equality.
Takin' it to the streets
Through collective action and determination, we can create a better future for ourselves and future generations.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Michael H McDonald
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind