Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent (born December 13, 1948) (aka "The Nuge", "Mo… Read Full Bio ↴Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent (born December 13, 1948) (aka "The Nuge", "Motor City Madman", "Uncle Ted", or just plain Ted) is a guitarist and singer from Detroit, Michigan that has performed for over four decades. He originally gained fame as a guitarist for the The Amboy Dukes, a 60s psychedelic band best known for their hit "Journey to the Center of Your Mind". In the 70s, he went solo and had a string of bestselling albums with hits including "Stranglehold", "Free For All", "Dog Eat Dog", "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" and, perhaps his best known song, "Cat Scratch Fever". He's also a notable public commentator for various right-wing social and political causes, especially gun rights.

He got his start around 1965 when, as a teenager living in Chicago inspired by contemporary rock n roll, he formed the first version of The Amboy Dukes. The name harks back to a somewhat infamous exploitation novel of the time. When Nugent went back to his Michigan roots in 1967, he assembled what would be the classic line-up of the Dukes, and they built a reputation as a raucous group. Their 1968 album Journey to the Center of the Mind, the title track blasting into the top 20, brought the band national stardom, but they would become bogged down in inter-group conflicts that left the Nuge the sole constant member.

Going solo, Nugent achieve fame as a solo artist for an arena-ready mix of hard rock with blues and psychedelic influences, particularly getting a reputation for wild stage performances by antics such as playing dressed as Tarzan (with just a loincloth on). In the 80s, the Nuge even tried his hand at acting in a haunting episode of the TV drama Miami Vice. It received both a strong critical and fan response.

In 1989, he joined Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, and drummer legend Michael Cartellone to form the hard rock supergroup Damn Yankees, which produced the 90s chart toppers "Come Again", a Billboard's #1, and "High Enough", an emotional power ballad (backed by a string section no less). The latter track led to the creation of a popular music video, the song reaching #3 on the U.S. Hot 100 and #2 on the AOR charts. After the band's folding, the Nuge continued his solo career and even managed yet another stint in a rock supergroup, this one being the TV series produced Damnocracy

Outside of music, Nugent has gained fame and notoriety, leading to widespread controversy, for his support of hunting and for various conservative political causes. His comments vehemently blasting various public figures from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have brought his name frequently to the headlines. He's also an important member of the NRA (National Rifle Association). He's written four books and numerous articles while also appearing many times in the news media, with his autobiography appropriately titled 'God, Guns, & Rock n' Roll.'

Besides a regular reality type show on cable showcasing Ted's outdoorsman skills, his most recent foray in music was the aformentioned reality television show, titled 'Supergroup', which resulted in the creation of band called Damnocracy. The band's other members were Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row), Scott Ian (Anthrax) Jason Bonham ("Bonham", son of Zeppelin's John Bonham) and Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard). Though coming to an end quickly, it generated a large fan response.

Throughout his career, Nugent has climbed up the Billboard charts with multiple singles and albums. His latest album was titled 'Ultralive Ballisticrock', and he released it in 2013 through Frontiers Records. He continues to tour as of 2014, and plans for yet another album is in the works.

American rocker Ted Nugent has unveiled a lyric video for his new single “Come And Take It” from his upcoming studio album Detroit Muscle, which will be released via Pavement Music on April 29, 2022.

For photographs and more information see Ted Nugent's official website, www.TedNugent.com

Hammerdown
Ted Nugent Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Aww go ahead, Ted

Beats in the street and I'm coming
Dead headed over the map
Highway trains keep on rollin'
Sneakin' right through the traps (?)

White line

Double time
Come around with a hammerdown

Hammerdown
Hammer

Last night saw me in Detroit
Hotel bar lookin' good
Well I think we stink in the daylight
Play rock and roll like I should

White line
Double time
Come around with a hammer, hammer, hammer hammerdown

Hammerdown
Hammerdown
Hammerdown
Hammer

Thousand gigs in Chicago
Never played Delaware
There are places where I'll go
I fly by night, love affair

White line
Double time
Come around with a hammer, hammer, hammer hammerdown

Hammerdown
Hammerdown
Hammerdown
Hammer

Last night saw me in Detroit
Hotel bar lookin' good
Well I think we stink in the daylight
Play rock and roll like I should

White line
Double time
Comin' 'round with a hammer, hammer, hammer hammerdown

Hammerdown
Hammerdown
Hammerdown
Hammer

Hammerdown
Hammerdown

Hammerdown
Hammer

Overall Meaning

The song Hammerdown by Ted Nugent is all about the thrill and the adrenaline rush of being on the road as a musician. The lyrics begin with the excitement of hitting the pavement for another show, with Nugent proclaiming that he's "coming" and "dead headed over the map". He mentions the highway trains that keep rolling, "sneaking" through the traps. This can be interpreted as the musician's lifestyle of constantly being on the move and avoiding any obstacles that may come their way.

The chorus of the song revolves around the idea of "hammerdown", which is slang for full throttle, a term often used in street racing. Nugent sings "white line, double time, come around with a hammerdown" in a way that almost mimics the sound of an engine revving up at the start of the race. This again emphasizes the idea of the thrill and excitement of pushing the limits, both on the road and on stage. The verses touch on Nugent's experiences playing rock and roll across the country, including a stint in Detroit.

Overall, Hammerdown is a song that celebrates the freedom and rush of being a traveling musician, and the energy and excitement of live performance.

Line by Line Meaning

Beats in the street and I'm coming
I can hear the music playing on the streets as I approach

Dead headed over the map
I'm traveling aimlessly over the map

Highway trains keep on rollin'
Traffic keeps moving on the highway

Sneakin' right through the traps
I'm avoiding any obstacles or pitfalls on the way

White line
The white line on the road that separates the lanes

Double time
I'm driving fast and covering more ground in less time

Come around with a hammerdown
I'm going full throttle and speeding up

Hammerdown
I'm accelerating at full speed

Hammer
I'm using force to make something happen

Last night saw me in Detroit
I was in Detroit last night